Andy Vázquez

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 popular Cuban television programs such as "Tras la huella," "Jura decir la verdad," and "No quiero llanto." She also served as a judge on the well-known comedic show on the island, "Los amigos de Pepito."

Andy Vázques's opportunity came with his inclusion in the popular and acclaimed comedy show Vivir del Cuento. His ability to portray such diverse characters as Facundo Correcto, Ángel Bueno (Aguaje), and Bienvenido Blanco Blanco garnered him great popularity among the Cuban audience, establishing him as one of the leading comedians in the Cuban repertoire.

Together with the cast of Vivir del Cuento, he received several awards at different festivals in Cuba, such as Aquelarre (2002), the Television Festival (2013), the Caricato Award for Acting, and the Barrio Award, both in 2014, among others.

In 2016, during his visit to Cuba, U.S. President Barack Obama took part in a sketch alongside the main actors of "Vivir del Cuento," in which he played a game of dominoes with Pánfilo and Chequera.

In 2019, Andy made headlines after being removed 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," in which the character stated that the policy of basic, non-basic, and directed goods, used by stores in Cuba to regulate products during the early decades of Fidel Castro's revolution, would be reinstated in the capital.

"Every resident of Havana will have the chance to visit the Cuatro Caminos market once a month and will be allowed to purchase one of each product. The basic item is a type of meat, with the option to choose between chicken, pork, or lamb; the non-basic includes either a detergent, a floor mat, or tomato puree; and the targeted items consist of asparagus, seasoning, and fabric softener," he stated.

The critique stemmed from 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 made the authorities uncomfortable, and the artist was expelled from the popular television comedy.

In December 2019, he traveled to Miami, and although he initially suggested that he would return to the island, where his followers were urging 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 coming from the island as well as the disdain and insults typical of official Cuban media. In February 2020, the Ministry of Education (MINED) tweeted, "Is Andy Vázquez an misunderstood civic figure? Give me a break with that story." In August 2020, the state journalist Jesús Álvarez López disparaged the comedian along with other Cuban artists, calling them "victims of soft legs."

Andy Vázquez joined the show on MegaTV and Univista TV in January 2020, which is hosted by the popular Cuban comedian Carlucho.

Among the characters he already brought to life in Cuba, Andy has added Lina la Javá, who enjoys significant popularity, and Amore H "La Calentica," among others, making him one of the most beloved comedians in Miami due to his artistic versatility.