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.
Movie | The Making of Sun City | 2025 | |
Movie | Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York | Self (archive footage) | 2021-12-10 |
Movie | Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage | Self | 2019-09-13 |
Movie | Ruben Blades Is Not My Name | Self | 2018-03-18 |
Movie | John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons | Self | 2018-11-02 |
Movie | Hands of Stone | Carlos Eleta | 2016-08-26 |
Series | Fear the Walking Dead | Daniel Salazar | 2015-08-23 |
Movie | Yo soy la salsa | Unknown | 2014-10-30 |
Movie | The Counselor | Jefe | 2013-10-25 |
Movie | Outlaws - For Greater Glory | Président Calles | 2012-06-01 |
Movie | Safe House | Carlos Villar | 2012-02-08 |
Movie | Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2 | 2011-03-15 | |
Movie | ¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet! | 2011-12-04 | |
Movie | Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1 | 2011-03-15 | |
Movie | Spoken Word | Cruz-Sr. | 2009-07-17 |
Movie | La clave | 2008-08-09 | |
Movie | Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos | 2007-12-02 | |
Movie | Secuestro Express | Carla's Father | 2004-06-01 |
Movie | En mi país | Rubén Blades | 2004-12-05 |
Movie | The Maldonado Miracle | Cruz | 2003-01-20 |
Movie | Assassination Tango | Miguel | 2003-03-08 |
Movie | Once Upon a Time in Mexico | Jorge FBI | 2003-09-11 |
Movie | Imagining Argentina | Silvio Ayala | 2003-09-13 |
Movie | Spin | Ernesto | 2003-10-23 |
Movie | Encuentro | 2002-12-08 | |
Movie | All the Pretty Horses | Rocha | 2000-12-11 |
Series | Gideon's Crossing | Dr. Max Cabranes | 2000-10-10 |
Movie | Cradle Will Rock | Diego Rivera | 1999-12-10 |
Movie | A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway | 1998-04-04 | |
Movie | Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela | Rubén Blades | 1998-06-16 |
Movie | Chinese Box | Jim | 1997-11-14 |
Movie | The Devil's Own | Officer Edwin Diaz | 1997-03-13 |
Movie | From Son to Salsa | 1997-09-12 | |
Movie | Scorpion Spring | Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa | 1996-10-10 |
Movie | Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores | 1996-12-08 | |
Movie | Somos un solo pueblo | Self | 1995-12-03 |
Movie | Color of Night | Hector | 1994-08-19 |
Movie | A Million to Juan | Bartender | 1994-05-15 |
Movie | Miracle on Interstate 880 | Pastor Beruman | 1993-02-22 |
Series | The X-Files | Unknown | 1993-09-10 |
Movie | One Man’s War | Perrone | 1991-04-20 |
Movie | The Josephine Baker Story | Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino | 1991-03-16 |
Movie | Crazy From the Heart | Ernesto Ontiveros | 1991-08-19 |
Movie | The Super | Marlon | 1991-10-04 |
Movie | Mo' Better Blues | Petey | 1990-08-03 |
Movie | The Two Jakes | Mickey Nice | 1990-08-10 |
Movie | Predator 2 | Danny Archuleta | 1990-11-21 |
Movie | Dead Man Out | Ben | 1989-03-12 |
Movie | Disorganized Crime | Carlos Barrios | 1989-04-14 |
Movie | The Lemon Sisters | C.W. | 1989-12-01 |
Movie | Homeboy | Doctor | 1988-08-24 |
Movie | The Milagro Beanfield War | Sheriff Bernabe Montoya | 1988-03-18 |
Movie | Fatal Beauty | Carl Jimenez | 1987-10-30 |
Movie | Critical Condition | Louis | 1987-01-16 |
Movie | The Return of Rubén Blades | himself | 1985-10-16 |
Movie | Crossover Dreams | Rudy Veloz | 1985-08-23 |
Movie | The Last Fight | Andy "Kid" Clave | 1983-09-07 |