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