
Rubén Blades
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- July 16, 1948
- Birthplace
- Panama City, Panama
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.
Filmography
- Porto Rico
Porto Rico TBA
Actor
- Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People
Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People TBA
as Self
- Armadillo United
Armadillo United TBA
as Coach Yepez

Campeón Gabacho 2026
Actor

Bajañí 2026
as Self

A Song for My Land 2026
as Self

Pedro Navaja 2026
Author

Salsa Lives 2025
as Ruben Blades

Black Butterflies 2024
Songs

Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple 2024
as Self

Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist 2024
as Self - Singer

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

Red Pill 2021
as Rocky

El accidente feliz 2020
as Self (Archive Footage)

Operation Just Cause 2019
Music

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

John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons 2018
as Self

Ruben Blades Is Not My Name 2018
as Self

Hands of Stone 2016
as Carlos Eleta

Yo soy la salsa 2014
Actor

Invasion 2014
as Self

The Counselor 2013
as Jefe

Outlaws - For Greater Glory 2012
as Président Calles

Safe House 2012
as Carlos Villar
- ¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!
¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet! 2011
Actor

The Next Season 2011
as Benito
- Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2 2011
Actor
- Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1
Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1 2011
Actor

Spoken Word 2009
as Cruz-Sr.
- La clave
La clave 2008
Actor

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

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

En mi país 2004
as Self

Secuestro Express 2004
as Carla's Father

Spin 2003
as Ernesto

Imagining Argentina 2003
as Silvio Ayala

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

Assassination Tango 2003
as Miguel

The Maldonado Miracle 2003
as Cruz
- Encuentro
Encuentro 2002
Actor

Empire 2002
Original Music Composer

Las caras lindas de Tite Curet 2002
as Self

All the Pretty Horses 2000
as Rocha

Cradle Will Rock 1999
as Diego Rivera

Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela 1998
as Rubén Blades
- A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway
A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway 1998
Actor

Chinese Box 1997
as Jim
- From Son to Salsa
From Son to Salsa 1997
Actor

The Devil's Own 1997
as Edwin Diaz
- Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores
Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores 1996
Actor

Scorpion Spring 1996
as Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa

Somos un solo pueblo 1995
as Self

Color of Night 1994
as Hector

A Million to Juan 1994
as Bartender

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

Miracle on Interstate 880 1993
as Pastor Beruman

The Super 1991
as Marlon
- Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers
Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers 1991
as Narrator (voice)

Crazy From the Heart 1991
as Ernesto Ontiveros

One Man’s War 1991
as Perrone

The Josephine Baker Story 1991
as Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino
- Just cause, ¿para quién?
Just cause, ¿para quién? 1991
Music

Predator 2 1990
as Danny Archuleta

The Two Jakes 1990
as Mickey Nice

Mo' Better Blues 1990
as Petey

Q & A 1990
Original Music Composer
- The Heart of the Deal
The Heart of the Deal 1990
Actor

The Lemon Sisters 1989
as C.W.

Disorganized Crime 1989
as Carlos Barrios

Dead Man Out 1989
as Ben

Oliver & Company 1988
Songs

The Story of Fausta 1988
Original Music Composer

Coverup: Behind the Iran Contra Affair 1988
Music

Homeboy 1988
as Doctor

The Milagro Beanfield War 1988
as Sheriff Bernabe Montoya

Fatal Beauty 1987
as Carl Jimenez

Critical Condition 1987
as Louis

The Return of Rubén Blades 1985
as himself
- Crossover Dreams
Crossover Dreams 1985
as Rudy Veloz

The Making of Sun City 1985
as Self

By the Green Trail 1984
Music

Peter Knife 1984
Songs, Screenplay

When the Mountains Tremble 1983
Original Music Composer

The Last Fight 1983
as Andy "Kid" Clave
- Ligia Elena
Ligia Elena 1983
Music

Rubén Blades: un Rey de la salsa 1982
as Self

Beats of the Heart: Salsa 1979
as Self
Credits from TMDB.