
Rubén Blades
Known for Acting · 79 credits
- Born
- 1948-07-16 (age 77)
- Place of birth
- Panama City, Panama
- Also known as
- Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna
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.
Known For
TV Shows (8)

The X-Files
1993
as Conrad Lozano

Fear the Walking Dead
2015
as Daniel Salazar

Late Night with David Letterman
1982
as Self - Musical Guest

Gideon's Crossing
2000
as Dr. Max Cabranes
Arthouse
1997
as Self

Las Lunas del Auditorio
2002
as Self

Latin Grammy Awards
2000
as Self
Músicos de Latinoamérica
2011
as Self
Movies (71)

Predator 2
1990
as Danny Archuleta

The Counselor
2013
as Jefe

Once Upon a Time in Mexico
2003
as Jorge, Retired FBI Agent

Color of Night
1994
as Hector

Safe House
2012
as Carlos Villar

Assassination Tango
2003
as Miguel

The Devil's Own
1997
as Edwin Diaz

All the Pretty Horses
2000
as Rocha

Hands of Stone
2016
as Carlos Eleta

The Super
1991
as Marlon

Cradle Will Rock
1999
as Diego Rivera

Outlaws - For Greater Glory
2012
as Président Calles

The Two Jakes
1990
as Mickey Nice

Mo' Better Blues
1990
as Petey

Chinese Box
1997
as Jim

Fatal Beauty
1987
as Carl Jimenez

Homeboy
1988
as Doctor

Life with Mikey
1993
as Angie's Dad (uncredited)

Disorganized Crime
1989
as Carlos Barrios

Scorpion Spring
1996
as Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa

Miracle on Interstate 880
1993
as Pastor Beruman

The Milagro Beanfield War
1988
as Sheriff Bernabe Montoya

The Last Fight
1983
as Andy "Kid" Clave

Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
2019
as Self

The Lemon Sisters
1989
as C.W.

Imagining Argentina
2003
as Silvio Ayala

Spin
2003
as Ernesto

Critical Condition
1987
as Louis

The Josephine Baker Story
1991
as Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino

John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons
2018
as Self

The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2'
2005
as Self (archive footage)

A Million to Juan
1994
as Bartender

One Man’s War
1991
as Perrone

Dead Man Out
1989
as Ben
Campeón Gabacho
2026

Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple
2024
as Self

The Maldonado Miracle
2003
as Cruz

Invasion
2014
as Self

Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
2021
as Self (archive footage)

The Making of Sun City
1985
as Self

Spoken Word
2009
as Cruz-Sr.

Ruben Blades Is Not My Name
2018
as Self

Salsa Lives
2025
as Ruben Blades

Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos
2007
as Self

Secuestro Express
2004
as Carla's Father
The Heart of the Deal
1990

Crazy From the Heart
1991
as Ernesto Ontiveros

En mi país
2004
as Self
Armadillo United
as Coach Yepez
Crossover Dreams
1985
as Rudy Veloz

El accidente feliz
2020
as Self (Archive Footage)
La clave
2008

Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist
2024
as Self - Singer
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2
2011

The Next Season
2011
as Benito

Somos un solo pueblo
1995
as Self

Beats of the Heart: Salsa
1979
as Self

Red Pill
2021
as Rocky
A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway
1998
¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!
2011
Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers
1991
as Narrator (voice)
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1
2011
Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People
as Self
From Son to Salsa
1997

Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela
1998
as Rubén Blades
Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores
1996
Yo soy la salsa
2014
Encuentro
2002

Rubén Blades: un Rey de la salsa
1982
as Self

Las caras lindas de Tite Curet
2002
as Self

The Return of Rubén Blades
1985
as himself
About Rubén Blades
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… With 79 credits spanning from 1979 to 2026, Rubén Blades has appeared in 71 films and 8 TV shows.
Fans searching for Rubén Blades movies, Rubén Blades filmography, or the latest projects starring Rubén Blades can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Rubén Blades Movies
- Predator 2 (1990) — as Danny Archuleta
- The Counselor (2013) — as Jefe
- Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) — as Jorge, Retired FBI Agent
- Color of Night (1994) — as Hector
- Safe House (2012) — as Carlos Villar
Where to Watch Rubén Blades Films
Most Rubén Blades movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Rubén Blades, check our movies catalogue and browse page.