Jesse GarciaGarcia has been widely recognized for his role in the highly acclaimed "Quinceanera," winner of the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, and Official Selection for the 2006 Berlin Film Festival. For his performance as Carlos, Garcia was nominated and won the prestigious ALMA Award (American Latino Media Arts) as Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture in 2007.Garcia was back at the Sundance Festival the following two years. In '07, starring in "La Misma Luna" ("The Same Moon"), released September 7, 2007 in Mexico and on March 21, 08 in the U.S. and Canada. He stars alongside Kate del Castillo and America Ferrera. And in '08, Marianna Palka's, "Good Dick," with Jason Ritter. Garcia can also be seen in "The Comebacks," Twentieth Century Fox's comedy that was directed by Tom Brady (director, "The Hot Chick"). "The Comebacks" was released domestically in October 07.Garcia recently wrapped Alejandro Chomski's "A Beautiful Life," Duane Allen Humeyestewa's "Periphery," and "Days of Wrath" with Laurence Fishburne, Wilmer Valderrama, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Anna Claudia Talancon. Set in LA, "Wrath" is the story of the intertwining lives of a dedicated teacher, aggressive TV news crews, and rival gangs. The film is writer Celia Fox's directorial debut. Both films are scheduled for release in 2008.Born in Rawlins, Wyoming, Garcia spent most of his childhood in Hanna, WY, a town with a population of just over 500. His acting debut came in 1987 when he was cast in the challenging role of Brown Bear. With a winter coat turned inside out (to look like brown fur) and construction paper ears pinned to his hood, Garcia recalls that he presented a striking likeness to a real brown bear. With his lines memorized, blocking mastered and adrenaline surging, Garcia (6) was well prepared. He heard his cue line and crawled out of his cave, violently thrashing his head from side to side. With teeth bared and tonsils flaring, he reared up on his hindquarters pawing the air; then he growled with all his might - "RRRAAAWWWRRR!" The first graders (sitting on the floor of their small classroom) giggled. It was not exactly the reaction Garcia was aiming for, but from the mouth of that cardboard cave, an actor was born. Following this performance, Garcia took a 15-year hiatus from the show business industry to concentrate on his schoolwork. He received grants and scholarships for Co-Ed Cheerleading at Eastern Wyoming College and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.In the middle of his first year at U of N, a classmate of Garcia's, Jennifer Jerosik, told him that she was moving to Atlanta, GA to study acting with Judson Vaughn, a filmmaker/actor/teacher who she'd heard speaking at a convention in Chicago. Instantly Garcia's Inner-Bear growled again and he decided he wanted to join her.After a 45-minute telephone interview, Garcia was accepted to study at WHAT Films, the film development/production company and training facility headed by Vaughn. A week later, Garcia dropped out of school, and he and Jennifer packed everything they owned into his 1993, burgundy low-rider Mercury Cougar and drove 1,580 miles southeast to Atlanta - not the quickest route to Hollywood, but his years in Atlanta prepared him well for what would become his profession. At WHAT Films he learned to act, write and to direct, and he got sound career advice from Vaughn and from writer/director Ben Taylor ("Abgeschminkt!"). Others at WHAT who were particularly helpful to Garcia included Roxzane Mims, Lavon Lacey and Ralph Price, to name a few.While in Atlanta, Garcia honed his comedic skills performing in "Sketchworks," Bob Harter, Della Cole and Jen Kelly's sketch comedy group. Garcia's first feature film role came when fellow WHAT Films actor Chet Dixon ("Cold Mountain, Days of Wrath") prompted director Stacey Childers to cast him her film "Delivery Boy Chronicles."In 2003, Garcia moved to Los Angeles. His first steady work was in commercials. In 2005 he was featured in nine national campaigns including those for McDonalds, Toyota, Avis, and Miller beer. His episodic television and film work included Edward James Olmos' "Walkout," for HBO and guest spots on "ER," "The Shield," "The Closer," "Unfabulous," and "Justice," "Law and Order: CI," and currently recurring on FOX's hit series, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."In 2006, Garcia added his first producing credit to his resume, co-producing and starring in "American Identity," which was selected to open the Short Film Competition at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. "Identity" was directed by, Stephen Rollins.Garcia lives in Los Angeles. He enjoys mountain biking and reptiles. Garcia is on the lookout for his first directing project and hopes to stay busy as an actor, producer and director.