Actor Jorge Garcia plays Hugo Reyes, aka Hurley, on the hit tv show “Lost.” Read on to discover some fun trivia about Garcia’s career and personal life that will help you see the man behind Hurley in a whole new light.
1. The creators of “Lost” say that Jorge Garcia was the very first actor they cast for the show. According to interviews, the creative team behind the show initially planned to make Hurley’s character a “redneck,” but as soon as they met Jorge Garcia they re-made the character specifically to suit the actor’s looks, skills, and affect.
2. Jorge Garcia was born April 28th, 1973, in Omaha, Nebraska to parents of Cuban and Chilean descent. He was raised in Southern California.
3. According to Garcia, he was invited to audition for the part of Hurley on “Lost” because one of the casting staff for “Lost” remembered his performance on the show “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Jorge Garcia appeared on the HBO comedy in one episode in 2004, playing a drug dealer. A casting director allegedly happened to be watching Garcia’s episode of “Curb” on the night before casting sessions for “Lost” began.
4. Garcia has been married to his wife Emily since 2005. They were next door neighbors in Hawaii before tying the knot.
5. More than just an actor, Jorge Garcia is a triple threat: an actor, stand-up comedian, and singer. As a comedian, he has performed his stand-up at venues throughout the L.A. area. As a singer, he is a member of the band “Lost Souls.” “Lost Souls” is fronted by fellow “Lost” cast member Matthew Fox, who plays Jack.
6. Jorge Garcia owns a small dog named Nunu, a Chihuahua-Daschund mix.
7. Before being cast as Hurley on the mainstream hit tv show “Lost,” Jorge Garcia appeared in an edgy, low budget 2004 cult movie called “Tales From The Crapper” and made by avant-kitsch production company Troma Studios. In the film, Garcia acts alongside former porn star Ron Jeremy, Eli Roth of “Hostel,” and “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker. Jorge Garcia plays a love-stricken unfortunate named “Racoon Head.”
8. Like his character Hurley Reyes, Jorge Garcia is a music buff. He is well known among his friends and among fellow “Lost” cast members for being a devoted record collector.
9. The six-foot tall actor was a high school athlete, and competed on his school’s wrestling team.
10. Jorge Garcia had a taste of television fame before landing his breakout role on “Lost.” Although many tv viewers first got to know Garcia from his supporting role as Hector Lopez on the situation comedy “Becker,” Garcia told reporters that his first taste of fame came earlier on. While the young actor was still working in retail to pay his bills, he managed to land roles in a few commercials, and people started to recognize him on the street from a Jack in the Box commercial in which he sold curly fries.
