Juan Garcia Cortez

Updated 2 November 2026 · Fan site. Not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.

Colonel Juan Garcia Cortez is a retired army officer and drug trafficker in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002). He helped arrange the deal that was ambushed at the start of the game, then becomes a mentor to Tommy Vercetti. Chased by French agents, he leaves Vice City on his yacht with Tommy's help. Robert Davi voices him.

Who is Colonel Juan Garcia Cortez?

Cortez is a retired army colonel from an unnamed Central American country who now lives the high life in Vice City. Wikipedia's plot summary of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City says he helped set up the drug exchange that goes wrong in the opening scene, and that he becomes a mentor to Tommy Vercetti, pushing him to act on his own rather than wait on Sonny Forelli.

GTA Wiki adds colour: the Colonel has diplomatic cover as a cultural attaché, claims to have lived through dozens of coups and several death sentences back home, and throws famous parties on his yacht. He is also the father of Mercedes Cortez.

What missions does Cortez give in Vice City?

GTA Wiki lists these jobs. The descriptions are our own summaries.

Through Cortez, Tommy also meets Ricardo Diaz, the man who turns out to be behind the ambush. The Colonel's own suspicions of Diaz show up in his later jobs. See the Vice City missions list for the full order.

Why does Cortez leave Vice City?

According to Wikipedia, French government agents track Cortez down and he has to flee. Tommy fights off their attack as the yacht pulls away, and Cortez trusts him to look out for Mercedes. GTA Wiki says the Colonel keeps phoning Tommy after he is gone, worrying about his daughter and about politics at home.

Who voices Juan Garcia Cortez?

The film actor Robert Davi voices the Colonel, according to Wikipedia's cast list for Vice City. Cortez does not appear on screen in Vice City Stories, but GTA Wiki says that game refers to his early operations in the city.