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Biography
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.
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
July 16, 1948
Age
78 years old
Place of Birth
Panama City, Panama
Popularity Score
1.1
Filmography
Campeón Gabacho
2026Movie
Pedro Navaja
Author
2026Movie
Salsa Lives
Ruben Blades
2025Movie
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple
Self
2024Movie
Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist
Self - Singer
2024Movie
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
Self (archive footage)
2021Movie
Red Pill
Rocky
2021Movie
El accidente feliz
Self (Archive Footage)
2020Movie
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
Self
2019Movie
Operation Just Cause
Music
2019Movie
Ruben Blades Is Not My Name
Self
2018Movie
John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons
Self
2018Movie
Hands of Stone
Carlos Eleta
2016Movie
Fear the Walking Dead
Daniel Salazar
2015TV
Yo soy la salsa
2014Movie
Invasion
Self
2014Movie
The Counselor
Jefe
2013Movie
Safe House
Carlos Villar
2012Movie
Outlaws - For Greater Glory
Président Calles
2012Movie
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1
2011Movie
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2
2011Movie
¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!
2011Movie
The Next Season
Benito
2011Movie
Músicos de Latinoamérica
Self
2011TV
Spoken Word
Cruz-Sr.
2009Movie
La clave
2008Movie
Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos
Self
2007Movie
The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2'
Self (archive footage)
2005Movie
Secuestro Express
Carla's Father
2004Movie
En mi país
Self
2004Movie
Assassination Tango
Miguel
2003Movie
The Maldonado Miracle
Cruz
2003Movie
Spin
Ernesto
2003Movie
Imagining Argentina
Silvio Ayala
2003Movie
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Jorge, Retired FBI Agent
2003Movie
Encuentro
2002Movie
Las caras lindas de Tite Curet
Self
2002Movie
Las Lunas del Auditorio
Self
2002TV
Empire
Original Music Composer
2002Movie
All the Pretty Horses
Rocha
2000Movie
Gideon's Crossing
Dr. Max Cabranes
2000TV
Latin Grammy Awards
Self
2000TV
Cradle Will Rock
Diego Rivera
1999Movie
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela
Rubén Blades
1998Movie
A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway
1998Movie
The Devil's Own
Edwin Diaz
1997Movie
Chinese Box
Jim
1997Movie
From Son to Salsa
1997Movie
Arthouse
Self
1997TV
Scorpion Spring
Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa
1996Movie
Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores
1996Movie
Somos un solo pueblo
Self
1995Movie
Color of Night
Hector
1994Movie
A Million to Juan
Bartender
1994Movie
Miracle on Interstate 880
Pastor Beruman
1993Movie
Life with Mikey
Angie's Dad (uncredited)
1993Movie
The X-Files
Conrad Lozano
1993TV
The Super
Marlon
1991Movie
The Josephine Baker Story
Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino
1991Movie
One Man’s War
Perrone
1991Movie
Crazy From the Heart
Ernesto Ontiveros
1991Movie
Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers
Narrator (voice)
1991Movie
Just cause, ¿para quién?
Music
1991Movie
Predator 2
Danny Archuleta
1990Movie
The Two Jakes
Mickey Nice
1990Movie
The Heart of the Deal
1990Movie
Mo' Better Blues
Petey
1990Movie
Q & A
Original Music Composer
1990Movie
Disorganized Crime
Carlos Barrios
1989Movie
The Lemon Sisters
C.W.
1989Movie
Dead Man Out
Ben
1989Movie
The Milagro Beanfield War
Sheriff Bernabe Montoya
1988Movie
Homeboy
Doctor
1988Movie
Coverup: Behind the Iran Contra Affair
Music
1988Movie
Oliver & Company
Songs
1988Movie
The Story of Fausta
Original Music Composer
1988Movie
Critical Condition
Louis
1987Movie
Fatal Beauty
Carl Jimenez
1987Movie
Crossover Dreams
Rudy Veloz
1985Movie
The Making of Sun City
Self
1985Movie
The Return of Rubén Blades
himself
1985Movie
By the Green Trail
Music
1984Movie
Peter Knife
Songs
1984Movie
The Last Fight
Andy "Kid" Clave
1983Movie
Ligia Elena
Music
1983Movie
When the Mountains Tremble
Original Music Composer
1983Movie
Rubén Blades: un Rey de la salsa
Self
1982Movie
Late Night with David Letterman
Self - Musical Guest
1982TV
Beats of the Heart: Salsa
Self
1979Movie
Armadillo United
Coach Yepez
—Movie
Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People
Self
—Movie
Bajañí
Self
—Movie