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