Eduardo Verchez Garcia is the real name of Eddie Garcia. A veteran, legendary Filipino actor, he was born in Sorsogon, Philippines on May 2, 1929. His family had said to belong among the descendants of the Spanish Pinaminomons settlers. He is fondly called Manoy by most of showbiz personalities in Philippine entertainment. Eddie Garcia is also a film director in his own right. During World War II, he was one of the Philippine Scouts and was stationed as a military policeman in Okinawa, Japan before he started his career as a movie actor. He was also adopted as one of the honorary classmate by the Philippine Military Academy together with Mike Arroyo because of his exemplary service to the country during the war.
He continued to be private about his wife and family, the only known information is that his daughter’s name is Lisa Ortega and she is residing in San Diego, California, USA. Eddie Garcia has never been linked to any other woman nor been rumored to have relationships with any other actresses unlike his contemporaries.
Dolphy and the late Fernando Poe, Jr. are considered to be his best and personal friends in this industry. He was even there to witness the last moments of Fernando Poe, Jr. Eddie was then helping in the campaign for presidency of Poe together with Dolphy in the early part of 2004 presidential elections.
Eddie Garcia starred in his first ever movie in 1949 entitled “Siete Infantes.” In the Filipino-American film “The Debut,” he was Lolo Carlos, in the movie “Deathrow,” he was Lolo Sinat. “Kapag Puno Na Ang Salop,” the movie which starred Fernando Poe Jr. in two sequels, he played the role of a wicked judge. In the TV drama hit “Kung Mawawala Ka,” he played the part of a fictional President, Leandro Montemayor which earned him the first Best Actor Award in a drama series in the 2002 Star Awards for television.
No doubt, his acting power and exceptional acting made him the best actor of all times in the history of Philippine cinema. He was the only actor that was granted the FAMAS Hall of Fame in three categories as Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Director under the movies “Taga Sa Bato”(1957), “Condenado” (1958) and “Tanikalang Apoy” (1959) respectively.
The most nominated and awarded showbiz personality in the history of FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards), Eddie Garcia had received a total of 34 nominations to wit: 13 Best Supporting Actor, 10 Best Actor and 11 Best Director Awards. Out of these nominations he had successfully garnered 6 Best Supporting Actor, 5 Best Actor and 5 Best Director wins, a Lifetime Achievement Award and the Fernando Poe, Jr. Memorial Award. The most decorated and recognized actor, Eddie was awarded his first FAMAS in 1957 and his last FAMAS, Hall of Fame, in 2003.
Eddie Garcia has participated and appeared in a hundred movies more, which clearly explains his excellence in his career. When asked what is his secret, he says, there is no secret because everyday you learn something new. Acting is a process of learning and giving your best in whatever role you are asked to do. Eddie Garcia is a unique example of what a perfect man is and a true performer.
