Acting · Panama City, Panama · Born July 16, 1948
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.
MovieCampeón Gabacho
2026
MovieSalsa Lives
2025
as Ruben Blades
MovieStevie Van Zandt: Disciple
2024
as Self
MovieStay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist
2024
as Self - Singer
MovieNueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
2021
as Self (archive footage)
MovieRed Pill
2021
as Rocky
MovieEl accidente feliz
2020
as Self (Archive Footage)
MovieRaúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
2019
as Self
MovieJohn Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons
2018
as Self
MovieRuben Blades Is Not My Name
2018
as Self
MovieHands of Stone
2016
as Carlos Eleta
TVFear the Walking Dead
2015
as Daniel Salazar
Yo soy la salsa
2014
MovieInvasion
2014
as Self
MovieThe Counselor
2013
as Jefe
MovieOutlaws - For Greater Glory
2012
as Président Calles
MovieSafe House
2012
as Carlos Villar
¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!
2011
Músicos de Latinoamérica
2011
as Self
MovieThe Next Season
2011
as Benito
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1
2011
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2
2011
MovieSpoken Word
2009
as Cruz-Sr.
La clave
2008
MovieLo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos
2007
as Self
MovieThe Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2'
2005
as Self (archive footage)
MovieEn mi país
2004
as Self
MovieSecuestro Express
2004
as Carla's Father
MovieSpin
2003
as Ernesto
MovieImagining Argentina
2003
as Silvio Ayala
MovieOnce Upon a Time in Mexico
2003
as Jorge, Retired FBI Agent
MovieAssassination Tango
2003
as Miguel
MovieThe Maldonado Miracle
2003
as Cruz
Encuentro
2002
TVLas Lunas del Auditorio
2002
as Self
MovieLas caras lindas de Tite Curet
2002
as Self
MovieAll the Pretty Horses
2000
as Rocha
TVGideon's Crossing
2000
as Dr. Max Cabranes
TVLatin Grammy Awards
2000
as Self
MovieCradle Will Rock
1999
as Diego Rivera
MovieWillie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela
1998
as Rubén Blades
A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway
1998
MovieChinese Box
1997
as Jim
Arthouse
1997
as Self
From Son to Salsa
1997
MovieThe Devil's Own
1997
as Edwin Diaz
Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores
1996
MovieScorpion Spring
1996
as Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa
MovieSomos un solo pueblo
1995
as Self
MovieColor of Night
1994
as Hector
MovieA Million to Juan
1994
as Bartender
TVThe X-Files
1993
as Conrad Lozano
MovieLife with Mikey
1993
as Angie's Dad (uncredited)
MovieMiracle on Interstate 880
1993
as Pastor Beruman
MovieThe Super
1991
as Marlon
Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers
1991
as Narrator (voice)
MovieCrazy From the Heart
1991
as Ernesto Ontiveros
MovieOne Man’s War
1991
as Perrone
MovieThe Josephine Baker Story
1991
as Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino
MoviePredator 2
1990
as Danny Archuleta
MovieThe Two Jakes
1990
as Mickey Nice
MovieMo' Better Blues
1990
as Petey
The Heart of the Deal
1990
MovieThe Lemon Sisters
1989
as C.W.
MovieDisorganized Crime
1989
as Carlos Barrios
MovieDead Man Out
1989
as Ben
MovieHomeboy
1988
as Doctor
MovieThe Milagro Beanfield War
1988
as Sheriff Bernabe Montoya
MovieFatal Beauty
1987
as Carl Jimenez
MovieCritical Condition
1987
as Louis
MovieThe Return of Rubén Blades
1985
as himself
Crossover Dreams
1985
as Rudy Veloz
MovieThe Making of Sun City
1985
as Self
MovieThe Last Fight
1983
as Andy "Kid" Clave
TVLate Night with David Letterman
1982
as Self - Musical Guest
MovieRubén Blades: un Rey de la salsa
1982
as Self
MovieBeats of the Heart: Salsa
1979
as Self
Armadillo United
as Coach Yepez
Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People
as Self
