Rubén Blades
Acting
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
Acting79
movieSalsa Lives
2025
Ruben Blades
movieStay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist
2024
Self - Singer
movieNueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
2021
Self (archive footage)
movieRed Pill
2021
Rocky
movieEl accidente feliz
2020
Self (Archive Footage)
movieHands of Stone
2016
Carlos Eleta
tvFear the Walking Dead
2015
Daniel Salazar
movieOutlaws - For Greater Glory
2012
Président Calles
movieSafe House
2012
Carlos Villar
movieThe Next Season
2011
Benito
movieSpoken Word
2009
Cruz-Sr.
movieThe Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2'
2005
Self (archive footage)
movieSecuestro Express
2004
Carla's Father
movieSpin
2003
Ernesto
movieImagining Argentina
2003
Silvio Ayala
movieOnce Upon a Time in Mexico
2003
Jorge, Retired FBI Agent
tvGideon's Crossing
2000
Dr. Max Cabranes
movieCradle Will Rock
1999
Diego Rivera
movieThe Devil's Own
1997
Edwin Diaz
movieScorpion Spring
1996
Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa
movieColor of Night
1994
Hector
movieA Million to Juan
1994
Bartender
tvThe X-Files
1993
Conrad Lozano
movieLife with Mikey
1993
Angie's Dad (uncredited)
movieMiracle on Interstate 880
1993
Pastor Beruman
movieThe Super
1991
Marlon
movieCrazy From the Heart
1991
Ernesto Ontiveros
movieOne Man’s War
1991
Perrone
movieThe Josephine Baker Story
1991
Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino
moviePredator 2
1990
Danny Archuleta
movieThe Two Jakes
1990
Mickey Nice
movieDisorganized Crime
1989
Carlos Barrios
movieHomeboy
1988
Doctor
movieThe Milagro Beanfield War
1988
Sheriff Bernabe Montoya
movieFatal Beauty
1987
Carl Jimenez
movieThe Last Fight
1983
Andy "Kid" Clave
tvLate Night with David Letterman
1982
Self - Musical Guest
Armadillo United
Coach Yepez
Sound11
movieEmpire
2002
Original Music Composer
movieQ & A
1990
Original Music Composer
movieThe Story of Fausta
1988
Original Music Composer
moviePeter Knife
1984
Songs
movieWhen the Mountains Tremble
1983
Original Music Composer
Writing1
moviePedro Navaja
2026
Author