Rubén Blades
Photoplayd Industry Rating
Not enough rated films yet to compute a weighted score.
Roles are weighted by involvement: director 1.0, screenwriter 0.7, lead 0.8, supporting 0.4, crew 0.1.
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
The Counselor (2013)
as Jefe
Predator 2 (1990)
as Danny Archuleta
Safe House (2012)
as Carlos Villar
Color of Night (1994)
as Hector
The Devil's Own (1997)
as Edwin Diaz
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
as Jorge, Retired FBI Agent
Hands of Stone (2016)
as Carlos Eleta
Outlaws - For Greater Glory (2012)
as Président Calles
All the Pretty Horses (2000)
as Rocha
Mo' Better Blues (1990)
as Petey
Cradle Will Rock (1999)
as Diego Rivera
Campeón Gabacho (2026)
Actor
The Two Jakes (1990)
as Mickey Nice
Life with Mikey (1993)
as Angie's Dad (uncredited)
The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)
as Sheriff Bernabe Montoya
Chinese Box (1997)
as Jim
Imagining Argentina (2003)
as Silvio Ayala
Critical Condition (1987)
as Louis
Bajañí (2026)
as Self
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
Fatal Beauty (1987)
as Carl Jimenez
Scorpion Spring (1996)
as Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa
Assassination Tango (2003)
as Miguel
The Super (1991)
as Marlon
Disorganized Crime (1989)
as Carlos Barrios
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage (2019)
as Self
Crazy From the Heart (1991)
as Ernesto Ontiveros
John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons (2018)
as Self
The Josephine Baker Story (1991)
as Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino
Homeboy (1988)
as Doctor
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple (2024)
as Self
A Million to Juan (1994)
as Bartender
Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People (—)
as Self
The Making of Sun City (1985)
as Self
One Man’s War (1991)
as Perrone
Miracle on Interstate 880 (1993)
as Pastor Beruman
Red Pill (2021)
as Rocky
The Lemon Sisters (1989)
as C.W.
Ruben Blades Is Not My Name (2018)
as Self
Spin (2003)
as Ernesto
The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2' (2005)
as Self (archive footage)
Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos (2007)
as Self
Dead Man Out (1989)
as Ben
El accidente feliz (2020)
as Self (Archive Footage)
Armadillo United (—)
as Coach Yepez
Somos un solo pueblo (1995)
as Self
The Heart of the Deal (1990)
Actor
The Last Fight (1983)
as Andy "Kid" Clave
Rubén Blades: un Rey de la salsa (1982)
as Self
Salsa Lives (2025)
as Ruben Blades
Las caras lindas de Tite Curet (2002)
as Self
A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway (1998)
Actor
The Maldonado Miracle (2003)
as Cruz
Yo soy la salsa (2014)
Actor
From Son to Salsa (1997)
Actor
¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet! (2011)
Actor
Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist (2024)
as Self - Singer
Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores (1996)
Actor
Spoken Word (2009)
as Cruz-Sr.
The Next Season (2011)
as Benito
Secuestro Express (2004)
as Carla's Father
En mi país (2004)
as Self
Beats of the Heart: Salsa (1979)
as Self
Porto Rico (—)
Actor
The Return of Rubén Blades (1985)
as himself
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2 (2011)
Actor
La clave (2008)
Actor
Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers (1991)
as Narrator (voice)
Crossover Dreams (1985)
as Rudy Veloz
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela (1998)
as Rubén Blades
Invasion (2014)
as Self
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1 (2011)
Actor
Encuentro (2002)
Actor