Fidel Castro Ruz was the fifth of nine children born to Angel Castro, a plantation owner originally from Galicia, Spain who operated a plantation in Cuba's Oriente Province. His mother, Lina Ruz Gonzalez, was a servant in his father's home who bore Fidel out of wedlock (they later were married several years after Angel's first wife died). Known as a rebellious, loud, and troublesome child, Fidel was sent to a Jesuit boarding school in Santiago de Cuba, where he was often teased by his wealthier classmates who called him a "peasant." He later attended Belen College before enrolling at the University of Havana, where he earned a law degree. After graduating from the university, Castro briefly practiced law, before he went on to marry Mirta Diaz-Balart, a wealthy philosophy student with family ties to Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista . They had a son, Fidelito, but after 5 years, the couple divorce and went their separate ways. After several years in prison and exile (he lived in Mexico and New York City before starting the revolution) Castro led an attack on the Moncada barracks on July 26, 1953. The attack, which was a major attack on Batista's hold of Cuba, found Castro once again im prison ed before he was released. After his release he went to the Yucatan, where he organized a rebel force that landed in Cuba in 1958 and after many successful battles, Castro rode triumphantly into Havana on January 8, 1959.
Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and President of Cuba since 1976.Rarely sleeps more than three or four hours a day.Hobbies are fishing, hunting and reading.Fluent in English, but refuses to speak it anymore, even in public or private interviews because he considers it to be "the language of his enemies."Lived with Celia Sanchez, an upper-class Cuban woman and devoted guerrilla leader for almost 30 years. Sanchez, the love of his life, was also the only one who could disagree with him. Her death from cancer in 1980 was said to hurt him very hard.According to some reports, Castro was born in 1927, however due to the fact that he was too young to enroll at a school, he changed his year of birth to 1926 so that he could enter the school. 26 also happens to be his lucky number.His brother Raul Castro is next in line to rule if he were to die. Raul has ruled Cuba as regent since Castro became ill in July 2006.Was a good friend of the late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and late author Ernest Hemingway .Famous admirers include Ted Turner , Jack Nicholson , Danny Glover , Harry Belafonte , Steven Spielberg , Chevy Chase , Leonardo DiCaprio , Vanessa Redgrave , Robert Redford , Dan Rather , Peter Jennings and Oliver Stone .Enterting law school at the University of Havana, he became involved in the political culture there (1945).Was impersonated by Jackie Wright on "The Benny Hill Show" (1969)Quit smoking cigars in 1986.On 20 October 2004, he fell off a stage following a speech he gave at a rally. The fall fractured his knee and arm. He underwent three hours and 15 minutes of surgery to repair his left kneecap, which was fractured into eight pieces.Underwent major surgery for an intestinal illness in July 2006. His brother Raul has temporarily ruled the country since then to this date. The illness is widely believed to be cancer, though he has denied this.Born to Ángel María Bautista Castro y Argiz (5 December 1875-21 October 1956), a Galician immigrant who became a prosperous farmer, and his later wife Lina Ruz González, a household servant, he had five older siblings from his father's first marriage with María Argota Reyes: Manuel (1913-1914), María Lila Perfidia (born in 1913), Pedro Emilio (born in 1914), Antonia María Dolores (born in 1915) and Georgina de la Caridad (born in 1918) Castro Argota. From his parents' marriage, he had two older and four younger siblings: Ángela María (born on 2 April 1923), Ramón Eusebio (born on 14 October 1924), Raúl Modesto (born on 3 June 1931), Juana de la Caridad (born on 6 May 1933) (aka Juanita Castro ), Emma Concepción (born on 2 January 1935) and Agustina del Carmen (born on 28 August 1938) Castro Ruz, all born before wedlock.Has one son from his first marriage, Fidel Ángel Castro Díaz-Balart (born on 1 September 1949), and an illegitimate daughter from his relationship with Natalia Revuelta Clews, wife of Orlando Fernández: Alina Fernández Revuelta (born on 19 March 1956). From his second marriage to Dalia Soto del Valle, he has five sons called Antonio, Alejandro, Alexis, Alex e Angel Castro Soto del Valle as well as a son by an unknown mother, Jorge Angel Castro.A close friend and ally of Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales .Announced that he would resign as president and commander-in-chief (19 February 2008).Has an estimated net worth of $ 900 million, according to Forbes magazine.Is portrayed by Jack Palance in Che! (1969) and Anthony LaPaglia in Company Man (2000).Brother of Raúl Castro .Loved to play baseball, and while living in the United States, was invited to try out for the Washington Senators. He failed to make the cut, however, and went to law school instead.While attending The University of Havana in 1946, he worked as an extra in several Hollywood Films including "Holiday Inn Mexico" and "Easy To Wed' both starring Esther Williams.