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 also served as a judge on the well-known comedy program on the island, "Los amigos de Pepito."
Andy Vázques' 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, solidifying his status as one of the leading comedians in the Cuban repertoire.
Together with the cast of Vivir del Cuento, they 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, U.S. President Barack Obama participated in a sketch alongside the main actors of "Vivir del Cuento" in which he plays a game of dominoes with Pánfilo and Chequera.
In 2019, Andy made headlines after being excluded 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 motivated by the alleged repercussions within Cuba of the material titled "Las Chivate-rías de Facundo," where the character mentioned that the capital would reinstate the policy of basic, non-basic, and directed, which was used by stores in Cuba to regulate products in the early decades of Fidel Castro's revolution.
"Every Havana resident will be allowed to go to the Cuatro Caminos market once a month and can purchase one of each product. The basic allowance includes a meat item, with the option of chicken, pork, or lamb; the non-basic allows for a detergent, a floor mat, or tomato puree; and the directed items include asparagus, seasoning, and fabric softener," he said.
The criticism was sparked by the incidents that occurred with the reopening of the popular Havana market Cuatro Caminos and the subsequent damage caused after its inauguration by a group of people who gathered there to shop.
Facundo's material unsettled the authorities, and the artist was expelled 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 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 "Is Andy Vázquez an misunderstood civic figure? Give me a break, tell that story to someone else." In August 2020, official journalist Jesús Álvarez López referred to the comedian along with other Cuban artists as "victims of weak legs.”
To the characters he already brought to life in Cuba, Andy has added Lina la Javá, who enjoys great popularity, and Amore H “La Calentica," among others, making him one of the most beloved comedians in Miami due to his artistic versatility.
