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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.

TV Shows(8)

Movies(70)

Campeón Gabacho

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

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!

¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!

2011

The Next Season

The Next Season

Benito

2011

Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1

Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1

2011

Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2

Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2

2011

Spoken Word

Spoken Word

Cruz-Sr.

2009

La clave

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

Encuentro

2002

Las caras lindas de Tite Curet

Las caras lindas de Tite Curet

Self

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

A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway

1998

Chinese Box

Chinese Box

Jim

1997

From Son to Salsa

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

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

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 Two Jakes

The Two Jakes

Mickey Nice

1990

Mo' Better Blues

Mo' Better Blues

Petey

1990

The Heart of the Deal

The Heart of the Deal

1990

The Lemon Sisters

The Lemon Sisters

C.W.

1989

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

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

Armadillo United

Armadillo United

Coach Yepez

Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People

Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People

Self