Personal life

Verástegui was born in Xicoténcatl, Tamaulipas, Mexico. He was raised in a practicing Catholic family. After finding success as a musical entertainer, and then as a soap opera star, he decided to pursue a career in Hollywood. In 2002, before filming commenced on Chasing Papi, Verástegui took voice-coaching lessons to improve his English pronunciation. The coach was a committed Catholic, and in the course of their conversations Verástegui re-discovered his faith and resolved to change his lifestyle. He also declared that he had decided to turn down offers to play roles in films that conflicted with his Catholic beliefs. In an interview with Dave Hartline, the author of The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism and published by Catholic Report, he said he was committed to attend Mass daily, praying, reading the Bible, saying the rosary and going to Confession at least once a week. He also said that he first encountered his renewed faith in Scott Hahn's book, Rome Sweet Home that "had a great impact on me and its influences can be seen in a lot of what I do".

Verástegui is a pro-life advocate, through the organization Manto de Guadalupe. Verástegui recounts an anecdote about his beliefs: he was doing research for his role in Bella and had gone to an abortion clinic as part of that process. While there, he started talking to a Hispanic couple who were going to the clinic for an abortion. He says that, recognizing him from his telenovela roles on Mexican television, they listened as he described his upcoming role and the plotline of Bella. They reconsidered their decision and went home without going ahead with the abortion. Immediately after their child was born, they called him to tell him the good news and thanking him and asking for his permission to name the child Eduardo after him. He also made a point of meeting "little Eduardo" weeks later.

In 2008, he released a long video message denouncing the high rate of abortion in Hispanic communities in the United States and speaking out loudly about alleged targeting of the Hispanic communities with messages supporting abortion by the Barack Obama campaign during the presidential race.

Actively involved in charities, he has established Manto de Guadalupe, a pro-life organization with worldwide outreach and based in Los Angeles and offering a crisis pregnancy center for the underprivileged Latina women.

Metanoia Films

Verástegui cofounded the production company Metanoia Films (the Greek word for "repentance") with co-founders and partners Alejandro Gomez Monteverde and Leo Severino. The company is based in Beverly Hills, California, and is committed to producing films that touch the consciences and hearts of people. The company released its debut film Bella directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde and starring Verástegui. The latest project of the company is Little Boy written by Alejandro Monteverde and Pepe Portillo. Starring Emily Watson, Kevin James, David Henrie, Jacob Salvati, Ben Chaplin, and set in 1945, it tells the story of Pepper, an eight-year-old who does all he can to be reunited with his father, a soldier fighting in World War II and captured by the Japanese. Meanwhile, Pepper has to befriend Hashimoto, a Japanese man living in his town.

Discography

Albums

as part of Kairo

• 1994: Signo del tiempo
• 1995: Gaudium
• 1996: Cara a cara
• 1997: Éxitos

as solo

• 2001: Eduardo Verástegui

Singles

as part of Kairo

• 1994: "En los espejos de un café"
• 1994: "Háblame de ti"
• 1994: "Te amaré"
• 1994: "Perdóname'
• 1995: "No nos rendimos"
• 1995: "Ponme la multa (Fammi la multa)"
• 1995: "Dile que la amo"

Music video

• 2001: Jennifer Lopez's "Ain't It Funny" (Alt. Version) (playing her love interest in the music video)

Filmography

Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2003	Chasing Papi	Thomas Fuentes
2005	Meet Me in Miami	Eduardo
2006	Bella	José
2009	The Butterfly Circus	Mr. Mendez	Short film
2012	Cristiada	Anacleto Gonzales Flores
2015	Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2	Eduardo Furtillo
2015	Little Boy	Fr. Crispin

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1996	Mi querida Isabel	Unknown role	"Malaysia" (Season 1, Episode 8)
1998	Soñadoras	Manuel Jr.
1998	Una luz en el camino	Daniel
1999	Tres mujeres	Ramiro Belmont
1999	Alma rebelde	Emiliano Hernández / Mario Expósito
2003	CSI: Miami	Jarod Parker	"Forced Entry" (Season 1, Episode 14)
2003	Karen Sisco	Tuck Rodriguez	"Dear Derwood" (Season 1, Episode 6)
2004	Charmed	Mr. Right	"Prince Charmed" (Season 6, Episode 12)
2015	Nuestra Belleza Latina 2015	Himself	Celebrity guest (Finale)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]