Rubén Blades

Biography

​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

The X-Files

Fear the Walking Dead

Late Night with David Letterman

Predator 2

Color of Night

The Counselor

Safe House

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

All Movies (71)

• Campeón Gabacho2026
• Salsa Lives2025 · as Ruben Blades
• Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple2024 · as Self
• Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist2024 · as Self - Singer
• Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Red Pill2021 · as Rocky
• El accidente feliz2020 · as Self (Archive Footage)
• Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage2019 · as Self
• John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons2018 · as Self
• Ruben Blades Is Not My Name2018 · as Self
• Hands of Stone2016 · as Carlos Eleta
• Yo soy la salsa2014
• Invasion2014 · as Self
• The Counselor2013 · as Jefe
• Outlaws - For Greater Glory2012 · as Président Calles
• Safe House2012 · as Carlos Villar
• ¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!2011
• The Next Season2011 · as Benito
• Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 12011
• Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 22011
• Spoken Word2009 · as Cruz-Sr.
• La clave2008
• Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos2007 · as Self
• The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2'2005 · as Self (archive footage)
• En mi país2004 · as Self
• Secuestro Express2004 · as Carla's Father
• Spin2003 · as Ernesto
• Imagining Argentina2003 · as Silvio Ayala
• Once Upon a Time in Mexico2003 · as Jorge, Retired FBI Agent
• Assassination Tango2003 · as Miguel
• The Maldonado Miracle2003 · as Cruz
• Encuentro2002
• Las caras lindas de Tite Curet2002 · as Self
• All the Pretty Horses2000 · as Rocha
• Cradle Will Rock1999 · as Diego Rivera
• Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela1998 · as Rubén Blades
• A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway1998
• Chinese Box1997 · as Jim
• From Son to Salsa1997
• The Devil's Own1997 · as Edwin Diaz
• Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores1996
• Scorpion Spring1996 · as Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa
• Somos un solo pueblo1995 · as Self
• Color of Night1994 · as Hector
• A Million to Juan1994 · as Bartender
• Life with Mikey1993 · as Angie's Dad (uncredited)
• Miracle on Interstate 8801993 · as Pastor Beruman
• The Super1991 · as Marlon
• Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers1991 · as Narrator (voice)
• Crazy From the Heart1991 · as Ernesto Ontiveros
• One Man’s War1991 · as Perrone
• The Josephine Baker Story1991 · as Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino
• Predator 21990 · as Danny Archuleta
• The Two Jakes1990 · as Mickey Nice
• Mo' Better Blues1990 · as Petey
• The Heart of the Deal1990
• The Lemon Sisters1989 · as C.W.
• Disorganized Crime1989 · as Carlos Barrios
• Dead Man Out1989 · as Ben
• Homeboy1988 · as Doctor
• The Milagro Beanfield War1988 · as Sheriff Bernabe Montoya
• Fatal Beauty1987 · as Carl Jimenez
• Critical Condition1987 · as Louis
• The Return of Rubén Blades1985 · as himself
• Crossover Dreams1985 · as Rudy Veloz
• The Making of Sun City1985 · as Self
• The Last Fight1983 · as Andy "Kid" Clave
• Rubén Blades: un Rey de la salsa1982 · as Self
• Beats of the Heart: Salsa1979 · as Self
• Armadillo United— · as Coach Yepez
• Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People— · as Self

All TV Shows (8)

• Fear the Walking Dead2015 · as Daniel Salazar
• Músicos de Latinoamérica2011 · as Self
• Las Lunas del Auditorio2002 · as Self
• Gideon's Crossing2000 · as Dr. Max Cabranes
• Latin Grammy Awards2000 · as Self
• Arthouse1997 · as Self
• The X-Files1993 · as Conrad Lozano
• Late Night with David Letterman1982 · as Self - Musical Guest