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Rubén Blades

Rubén Blades

Acting

Born: July 16, 1948 Panama City, Panama

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna (born July 16, 1948) is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, lawyer, actor, Latin jazz musician, and politician, performing musically most often in the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres. As songwriter, Blades brought the lyrical sophistication of Central American nueva canción and Cuban nueva trova as well as experimental tempos and political inspired Nuyorican salsa to his music, creating thinking persons' (salsa) dance music. Blades has composed dozens of musical hits, the most famous of which is "Pedro Navaja," a song about a neighborhood thug who appears to die during a robbery (his song "Sorpresas" continues the story), inspired by "Mack the Knife." He also composed and sings what many Panamanians consider their second national anthem. The song is titled "Patria" (Fatherland). He is an icon in Panama and is much admired throughout Latin America, and managed to attract 18% of the vote in his failed attempt to win the Panamanian presidency in 1994. In September 2004, he was appointed minister of tourism by Panamanian president Martín Torrijos for a five-year term. He holds a law degree from the University of Panama and a master's in international law from Harvard University. He is married to singer Luba Mason. Description above from the Wikipedia article Rubén Blades, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For
Filmography

Campeón Gabacho

2026
Salsa Lives

Salsa Lives

Ruben Blades

2025
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple

Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple

Self

2024
Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist

Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist

Self - Singer

2024
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York

Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York

Self (archive footage)

2021
Red Pill

Red Pill

Rocky

2021
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage

Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage

Self

2019
John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons

John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons

Self

2018
Ruben Blades Is Not My Name

Ruben Blades Is Not My Name

Self

2018
Hands of Stone

Hands of Stone

Carlos Eleta

2016

Yo soy la salsa

2014
Invasion

Invasion

Self

2014
The Counselor

The Counselor

Jefe

2013
Outlaws - For Greater Glory

Outlaws - For Greater Glory

Président Calles

2012
Safe House

Safe House

Carlos Villar

2012

¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!

2011
The Next Season

The Next Season

Benito

2011

Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1

2011

Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2

2011
Spoken Word

Spoken Word

Cruz-Sr.

2009

La clave

2008
Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos

Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos

Self

2007
The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2'

The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2'

Self (archive footage)

2005
En mi país

En mi país

Self

2004
Secuestro Express

Secuestro Express

Carla's Father

2004
Spin

Spin

Ernesto

2003
Imagining Argentina

Imagining Argentina

Silvio Ayala

2003
Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Jorge, Retired FBI Agent

2003
Assassination Tango

Assassination Tango

Miguel

2003
The Maldonado Miracle

The Maldonado Miracle

Cruz

2003

Encuentro

2002
All the Pretty Horses

All the Pretty Horses

Rocha

2000
Cradle Will Rock

Cradle Will Rock

Diego Rivera

1999
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela

Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela

Rubén Blades

1998

A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway

1998
Chinese Box

Chinese Box

Jim

1997

From Son to Salsa

1997
The Devil's Own

The Devil's Own

Edwin Diaz

1997

Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores

1996
Scorpion Spring

Scorpion Spring

Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa

1996
Somos un solo pueblo

Somos un solo pueblo

Self

1995
Color of Night

Color of Night

Hector

1994
A Million to Juan

A Million to Juan

Bartender

1994
Life with Mikey

Life with Mikey

Angie's Dad (uncredited)

1993
Miracle on Interstate 880

Miracle on Interstate 880

Pastor Beruman

1993
The Super

The Super

Marlon

1991

Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers

Narrator (voice)

1991
Crazy From the Heart

Crazy From the Heart

Ernesto Ontiveros

1991
One Man’s War

One Man’s War

Perrone

1991
The Josephine Baker Story

The Josephine Baker Story

Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino

1991
Predator 2

Predator 2

Danny Archuleta

1990
The Lemon Sisters

The Lemon Sisters

C.W.

1990
The Two Jakes

The Two Jakes

Mickey Nice

1990
Mo' Better Blues

Mo' Better Blues

Petey

1990

The Heart of the Deal

1990
Disorganized Crime

Disorganized Crime

Carlos Barrios

1989
Dead Man Out

Dead Man Out

Ben

1989
Homeboy

Homeboy

Doctor

1988
The Milagro Beanfield War

The Milagro Beanfield War

Sheriff Bernabe Montoya

1988
Fatal Beauty

Fatal Beauty

Carl Jimenez

1987
Critical Condition

Critical Condition

Louis

1987
The Return of Rubén Blades

The Return of Rubén Blades

himself

1985

Crossover Dreams

Rudy Veloz

1985
The Making of Sun City

The Making of Sun City

Self

1985
The Last Fight

The Last Fight

Andy "Kid" Clave

1983
Un Rey de la salsa

Un Rey de la salsa

Self

1982
Beats of the Heart: Salsa

Beats of the Heart: Salsa

Self

1979