Rubén Blades
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
Credits
- 2026 · Campeón Gabacho as
- 2021 · Red Pill as Rocky
- 2019 · Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage as Self
- 2016 · Hands of Stone as Carlos Eleta
- 2015 · Fear the Walking Dead as Daniel Salazar
- 2013 · The Counselor as Jefe
- 2012 · Outlaws - For Greater Glory as Président Calles
- 2012 · Safe House as Carlos Villar
- 2009 · Spoken Word as Cruz-Sr.
- 2004 · Secuestro Express as Carla's Father
- 2003 · Imagining Argentina as Silvio Ayala
- 2003 · Once Upon a Time in Mexico as Jorge, Retired FBI Agent
- 2003 · Assassination Tango as Miguel
- 2002 · Las Lunas del Auditorio as Self
- 2000 · All the Pretty Horses as Rocha
- 2000 · Gideon's Crossing as Dr. Max Cabranes
- 2000 · Latin Grammy Awards as Self
- 1999 · Cradle Will Rock as Diego Rivera
- 1997 · Chinese Box as Jim
- 1997 · Arthouse as Self
- 1997 · The Devil's Own as Edwin Diaz
- 1996 · Scorpion Spring as Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa
- 1994 · Color of Night as Hector
- 1993 · The X-Files as Conrad Lozano
- 1993 · Life with Mikey as Angie's Dad (uncredited)
- 1991 · The Super as Marlon
- 1991 · One Man’s War as Perrone
- 1991 · The Josephine Baker Story as Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino
- 1990 · Predator 2 as Danny Archuleta
- 1990 · The Two Jakes as Mickey Nice
- 1990 · Mo' Better Blues as Petey
- 1989 · The Lemon Sisters as C.W.
- 1989 · Disorganized Crime as Carlos Barrios
- 1989 · Dead Man Out as Ben
- 1988 · Homeboy as Doctor
- 1988 · The Milagro Beanfield War as Sheriff Bernabe Montoya
- 1987 · Fatal Beauty as Carl Jimenez
- 1987 · Critical Condition as Louis
- 1982 · Late Night with David Letterman as Self - Musical Guest
- Future · Armadillo United as Coach Yepez
- 2025 · Salsa Lives as Ruben Blades
- 2024 · Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple as Self
- 2024 · Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist as Self - Singer
- 2021 · Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · El accidente feliz as Self (Archive Footage)
- 2018 · John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons as Self
- 2018 · Ruben Blades Is Not My Name as Self
- 2014 · Yo soy la salsa as
- 2014 · Invasion as Self
- 2011 · ¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet! as
- 2011 · Músicos de Latinoamérica as Self
- 2011 · The Next Season as Benito
- 2011 · Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1 as
- 2011 · Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2 as
- 2008 · La clave as
- 2007 · Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos as Self
- 2005 · The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2' as Self (archive footage)
- 2004 · En mi país as Self
- 2003 · Spin as Ernesto
- 2003 · The Maldonado Miracle as Cruz
- 2002 · Encuentro as
- 2002 · Las caras lindas de Tite Curet as Self
- 1998 · Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela as Rubén Blades
- 1998 · A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway as
- 1997 · From Son to Salsa as
- 1996 · Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores as
- 1995 · Somos un solo pueblo as Self
- 1994 · A Million to Juan as Bartender
- 1993 · Miracle on Interstate 880 as Pastor Beruman
- 1991 · Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers as Narrator (voice)
- 1991 · Crazy From the Heart as Ernesto Ontiveros
- 1990 · The Heart of the Deal as
- 1985 · The Return of Rubén Blades as himself
- 1985 · Crossover Dreams as Rudy Veloz
- 1985 · The Making of Sun City as Self
- 1983 · The Last Fight as Andy "Kid" Clave
- 1979 · Beats of the Heart: Salsa as Self
- Future · Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People as Self
- 1982 · Rubén Blades: un Rey de la salsa as Self