Andy Ernesto Vázquez Toirac is a Cuban comedian born in 1975 in Baracoa, Guantánamo, Cuba.
At the age of 14, she appeared in the telenovela "Prefiero las rosas" by Raúl Pérez Sánchez. Later, she made several appearances on regular Cuban television shows such as "Tras la huella," "Jura decir la verdad," and "No quiero llanto." She served as a judge on the well-known comedy program on the island, "Los amigos de Pepito."
Andy Vázquez's opportunity came with his inclusion in the popular and notable comedy show Vivir del Cuento. His ability to portray such diverse characters as Facundo Correcto, Ángel Bueno (Aguaje), and Bienvenido Blanco Blanco earned him great popularity among the Cuban audience, establishing him as one of the leading comedians in the Cuban repertoire.
Along with the cast of Vivir del Cuento, he received several awards in Cuba at various festivals, such as Aquelarre (2002), the Television Festival (2013), the Caricato Acting Award, and the Barrio, both in 2014, among others.
In 2016, during his visit to Cuba, the President of the United States, Barack Obama, took part in a sketch with the main actors of "Vivir del Cuento" in which he plays a game of dominoes alongside Pánfilo and Chequera.
In 2019, Andy made headlines after being dropped from the cast of Vivir del Cuento and was suspended by the authorities of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT). The incident was prompted by the alleged repercussions within Cuba of the material titled "Las Chivate-rías de Facundo," where the character stated that the city would reimplement the policy of basic, non-basic, and directed goods, which were used in stores in Cuba to regulate products during the early decades of Fidel Castro's revolution.
"Each Havana resident will be allowed to go once a month to the Cuatro Caminos market and can purchase one of each type of product. The essential one is meat, with a choice between chicken, pork, or lamb; the non-essential allows for a detergent, a floor mat, or tomato puree; and the designated category includes asparagus, flavoring, and fabric softener," he said.
The criticism was sparked by the incidents that occurred with the reopening of the popular Havana market Cuatro Caminos, as well as the subsequent havoc caused after its inauguration by a group of people who gathered at the site to shop.
Facundo's material unsettled the authorities, leading to the artist's expulsion from the popular television comedy.
In December 2019, he traveled to Miami and although he initially hinted that he would return to the island, where his fans were asking for him to be given a second chance on the television show Vivir del Cuento, the comedian ultimately decided to stay.
From that moment on, Andy Vázquez had to deal with numerous threats made from the island as well as the disdain and insults typical of the official Cuban media. The Ministry of Education (MINED) tweeted in February 2020 the message “Andy Vázquez a misunderstood civic figure? Don’t kid around, tell that to someone else.” In August 2020, official journalist Jesús Álvarez López labeled the comedian along with other Cuban artists as "victims of weak legs".”
Andy has managed to add to the characters he already brought to life in Cuba, including Lina la Javá, who enjoys the most popularity, and Amore H "La Calentica," among others, making him one of the most beloved comedians in Miami due to his artistic versatility.
