Rubén Blades

Rubén Blades

Acting
Born Jul 16, 1948
From 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 — Acting

Predator 2
6.3
1990

Predator 2

Danny Archuleta

Color of Night
5.7
1994

Color of Night

Hector

Safe House
6.5
2012

Safe House

Carlos Villar

Once Upon a Time in Mexico
6.3
2003

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Jorge, Retired FBI Agent

The Counselor
5.3
2013

The Counselor

Jefe

Hands of Stone
6.6
2016

Hands of Stone

Carlos Eleta

The Devil's Own
6.2
1997

The Devil's Own

Edwin Diaz

All the Pretty Horses
5.7
2000

All the Pretty Horses

Rocha

The Two Jakes
6.0
1990

The Two Jakes

Mickey Nice

Outlaws - For Greater Glory
6.8
2012

Outlaws - For Greater Glory

Président Calles

Chinese Box
5.8
1997

Chinese Box

Jim

Cradle Will Rock
6.4
1999

Cradle Will Rock

Diego Rivera

Life with Mikey
5.7
1993

Life with Mikey

Angie's Dad (uncredited)

Fatal Beauty
5.5
1987

Fatal Beauty

Carl Jimenez

The Milagro Beanfield War
6.5
1988

The Milagro Beanfield War

Sheriff Bernabe Montoya

Mo' Better Blues
6.5
1990

Mo' Better Blues

Petey

Homeboy
4.9
1988

Homeboy

Doctor

Imagining Argentina
5.5
2003

Imagining Argentina

Silvio Ayala

Disorganized Crime
5.4
1989

Disorganized Crime

Carlos Barrios

The Super
5.9
1991

The Super

Marlon

Dead Man Out
6.3
1989

Dead Man Out

Ben

Critical Condition
5.4
1987

Critical Condition

Louis

John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons
7.3
2018

John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons

Self

The Josephine Baker Story
5.7
1991

The Josephine Baker Story

Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino

The Lemon Sisters
4.6
1989

The Lemon Sisters

C.W.

Spin
6.0
2003

Spin

Ernesto

Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
2019

Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage

Self

Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple
6.7
2024

Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple

Self

The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2'
6.0
2005

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

Self (archive footage)

Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
8.0
2021

Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York

Self (archive footage)

Assassination Tango
5.3
2003

Assassination Tango

Miguel

The Maldonado Miracle
4.7
2003

The Maldonado Miracle

Cruz

Miracle on Interstate 880
4.9
1993

Miracle on Interstate 880

Pastor Beruman

A Million to Juan
5.4
1994

A Million to Juan

Bartender

Scorpion Spring
6.6
1996

Scorpion Spring

Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa

Spoken Word
5.4
2009

Spoken Word

Cruz-Sr.

One Man’s War
6.8
1991

One Man’s War

Perrone

The Last Fight
4.0
1983

The Last Fight

Andy "Kid" Clave

Salsa Lives
8.2
2025

Salsa Lives

Ruben Blades

Ruben Blades Is Not My Name
6.4
2018

Ruben Blades Is Not My Name

Self

Crazy From the Heart
3.6
1991

Crazy From the Heart

Ernesto Ontiveros

The Making of Sun City
9.0
1985

The Making of Sun City

Self

Secuestro Express
6.3
2004

Secuestro Express

Carla's Father

4.8
1985

Crossover Dreams

Rudy Veloz

1998

A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway

Somos un solo pueblo
1995

Somos un solo pueblo

Self

Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos
1.0
2007

Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos

Self

Invasion
7.3
2014

Invasion

Self

En mi país
9.0
2004

En mi país

Self

The Next Season
2011

The Next Season

Benito

2014

Yo soy la salsa

1997

From Son to Salsa

Red Pill
6.0
2021

Red Pill

Rocky

8.0
2011

¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!

Beats of the Heart: Salsa
1979

Beats of the Heart: Salsa

Self

1990

The Heart of the Deal

Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People

Self

1996

Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores

5.2
2011

Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1

Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist
8.0
2024

Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist

Self - Singer

Un Rey de la salsa
1982

Un Rey de la salsa

Self

2002

Encuentro

Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela
1998

Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela

Rubén Blades

2008

La clave

5.2
2011

Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2

2026

Campeón Gabacho

The Return of Rubén Blades
1985

The Return of Rubén Blades

himself

Armadillo United

Coach Yepez

1991

Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers

Narrator (voice)