Movies

Jesse Garcia and his epic, winding hero’s journey to Hollywood

BBG News

In the glow of the fluorescent lights within his hotel room in Pylos, Greece, Jesse Garcia meticulously brushes through his oily locks following a full day of shooting scenes for “The Odyssey” – an upcoming film by Christopher Nolan that reimagines the classic Greek epic.

On our video call, Garcia casually mentions, “I’ve had my hair styled.” Despite his busy schedule, he’s enjoyed working in Morocco and Greece with big names like Matt Damon and Zendaya. Reflecting on his career path, it seems that Garcia’s experience navigating Hollywood is similar to Odysseus’ journey through ancient Greece: a man overcoming daunting challenges that prove both challenging and transformative.

Garcia remarks that this large-scale movie project, slated for a 2026 premiere, feels unlike anything he’s tackled before,” suggests a rephrasing.

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42-year-old actor recently concluded a unique journey – he’s also leading in a fresh Latino road trip comedy on Disney+ titled “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip.” Debuting on March 28, this family movie features Garcia as the affectionate head of the fictional Garcia clan, portrayed by an ensemble cast that includes Eva Longoria, Paulina Chávez, Thom Nemer, Rose Portillo, and Cheech Marin.

The movie “Road Trip” is a follow-up to the 2014 film “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” which was adapted from Judith Viorst’s 1972 children’s book. In the original film, Garcia portrayed an animal wrangler; however, in this new film, he takes on the role of a chef. “Perhaps I became an animal wrangler to finance my culinary education,” he muses.

Marvin Lemus directs this latest film, which mirrors an upside-down journey that Garcia recognizes well. “Every year, my parents would take us to visit my father’s family in Durango,” Garcia recalls. “So, as children, we made that road trip quite frequently.

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Unlike most of his Hollywood peers, who hailed from wealthy backgrounds and attended elite institutions, Garcia originated from a Mexican-American family in the modest mining town of Rawlins, Wyoming. With limited opportunities for aspiring actors, he reminisces about auditioning for a school play, admitting that he didn’t get the part because he was inexperienced.

In high school, Garcia focused on perfecting cheerleading routines and stunts; his dedication earned him a scholarship to study exercise science at the University of Nebraska. This background subsequently allowed him to create a scene for the 2007 sports comedy “The Comebacks,” starring former NFL tight-end Tony Gonzalez.

Looking back, if I had more knowledge then, I would have chosen some fascinating courses at college,” Garcia laughs lightly.

At his friend’s urging, he relocated to Atlanta in search of his path. This journey brought him to WHAT Films, an innovative theater school, where he honed skills in writing, directing, acting, and producing original content under the guidance of actor-director Judson Vaughn. “That was a truly distinct approach — it laid the groundwork for my work,” Garcia remarks.

In 2003, Garcia moved to Los Angeles with just $2,000 and a roommate he found on Craigslist. Initially, the city’s vibrant Chicano community was overwhelming to him, but he eventually became a part of it. “I didn’t have a strong Latino community growing up in Wyoming,” he shares. “Upon arriving in L.A., I worked on a film called ‘Walkout’ with Edward James Olmos and began learning about the history of Latinos in Los Angeles.

In 2006, Garcia starred in his breakout movie titled “Quinceañera,” a coming-of-age drama helmed by directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. His character in the film was Carlos, a young man who is estranged from his Mexican family, sharing the screen with his pregnant cousin and main character Magdalena (played by Emily Rios). The movie garnered attention at the Sundance Film Festival, winning both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award. Later on, Sony Pictures acquired and distributed the film.

Garcia mentions he had approximately a thousand dollars for his independent film, and this project kick-started his acting career.”

“According to Garcia, he had around a thousand dollars to make his indie movie, which ultimately set the foundation for his professional acting career.

After gaining momentum, Garcia landed minor parts in series such as “CSI: Miami,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “ER.” Despite requesting his agents to avoid stereotypical Latino roles, he found himself taking on a part in the movie “Days of Wrath,” a self-described “action gangster flick.” Directed by Celia Fox, this production boasted an impressive cast of Black and Latino actors including Laurence Fishburne, Lupe Ontiveros, Taye Diggs, and Wilmer Valderrama.

However, the movie that was originally planned for a 2008 premiere wouldn’t eventually be released, even though he continues to pursue ownership rights to it. He addresses the camera saying, “Celia, give me a call.

Garcia mentions that he used to be struggling as an actor, but everything changed in 2008,” he shares, and his carefree attitude noticeably fades.

Following the 2007-08 screenwriters’ strike and subsequent economic downturn, opportunities for a thriving actor became scarce. This predicament was exacerbated by the country’s financial crisis. Today, almost two decades later, artists are still battling to preserve their craft amidst rising fears about AI and streaming revenue fluctuations. Meanwhile, production in L.A. has noticeably decreased.

2023 marked his debut as the lead actor in a significant studio film, landing him the role of Richard Montañez in “Flamin’ Hot,” a movie depicting the life story of a janitor who later became known as the “godfather of Latino marketing.” This remarkable individual is believed to have developed the popular snack, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

Initially, when I received the audition script for ‘Flamin’ Hot,’ I felt an instant connection like, “This role was tailored for me.” So now, I simply need to demonstrate my worth and show that I deserve this opportunity.

Initially, the debut filmmaker Eva Longoria, who also happens to be a close friend of hers, shares with De Los that Garcia, someone she refers to as her “celestial twin,” is an individual destined for the role of Richard Montañez.

Longoria stated, “He never took a day of rest; instead, he was incredibly dedicated. He aimed to excel, not just for my sake but for the betterment of our entire community. The success of ‘Flamin’ Hot’ was non-negotiable for us.

Garcia felt the burden of his role, not due to any sense of duty to represent the Latino community, a responsibility he firmly denies, but rather because he was present throughout the entire 36-day filming period.

“Nobody knew [it], but I could have had a mental breakdown every day,” he says.

On a particular occasion, co-star Annie Gonzalez touched my chest as a friendly greeting and a quick check-in, leaving Garcia momentarily taken aback and pondering, “Why do I feel so emotional all of a sudden?” he mused.

In the movie “Flamin’ Hot,” Gonzalez portrayed Judy, Montañez’s wife, and recalled a significant moment during filming. She stated, “Jesse often hides emotions behind playfulness.” To help him, she placed her hand on his chest and infused him with energy because I believe that shouldering such a film is a heavy responsibility.

As a passionate admirer, I can’t help but connect with the determined spirit portrayed in the story, despite its authenticity being questioned in a 2021 L.A. Times investigation. Interestingly, Montañez himself references this investigation in his 2024 defamation lawsuit against the renowned chip company. For clarification, I wholeheartedly support Montañez’s version of events: “I stand with him, he has evidence to back it up.” (Garcia’s words)

“I [too] have felt like the underdog,” says Garcia. “I’ve felt like I’ve wanted to quit.”

He reflects on the turbulent times of 2008 and wonders if the 21-year-old him would be excited to encounter his present self.

To that, he says: “Yeah, I would be proud of that guy.”

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2025-04-03 15:31

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