Cast & creator
Rubén Blades
Best known for The X-Files, Late Night with David Letterman, Fear the Walking Dead
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.
Also known as: Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna
86
film credits
8
television credits
81
1979–2026 · acting roles
6.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (94)
Showing 94 of 94 credits
The X-Files
Conrad Lozano
1993
Late Night with David Letterman
Self - Musical Guest
1982
Fear the Walking Dead
Daniel Salazar
2015
The Counselor
Jefe
2013
Oliver & Company
Songs
1988
Predator 2
Danny Archuleta
1990
Safe House
Carlos Villar
2012
Color of Night
Hector
1994
The Devil's Own
Edwin Diaz
1997
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Jorge, Retired FBI Agent
2003
Latin Grammy Awards
Self
2000
Gideon's Crossing
Dr. Max Cabranes
2000
Las Lunas del Auditorio
Self
2002
Hands of Stone
Carlos Eleta
2016
Outlaws - For Greater Glory
Président Calles
2012Arthouse
Self
1997
Q & A
Original Music Composer
1990
Mo' Better Blues
Petey
1990
Cradle Will Rock
Diego Rivera
1999
The Milagro Beanfield War
Sheriff Bernabe Montoya
1988
The Two Jakes
Mickey Nice
1990
All the Pretty Horses
Rocha
2000
Campeón Gabacho
2026
Critical Condition
Louis
1987
Life with Mikey
Angie's Dad (uncredited)
1993
Imagining Argentina
Silvio Ayala
2003
Bajañí
Self
2026
Chinese Box
Jim
1997
Pedro Navaja
Author
2026
Assassination Tango
Miguel
2003
Scorpion Spring
Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa
1996
Fatal Beauty
Carl Jimenez
1987
The Super
Marlon
1991
Empire
Original Music Composer
2002
Disorganized Crime
Carlos Barrios
1989
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
Self (archive footage)
2021
One Man’s War
Perrone
1991
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
Self
2019
A Million to Juan
Bartender
1994
The Josephine Baker Story
Count Giuseppe Pepito Abatino
1991
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple
Self
2024
John Leguizamo's Latin History for Morons
Self
2018
Crazy From the Heart
Ernesto Ontiveros
1991
Spin
Ernesto
2003Músicos de Latinoamérica
Self
2011
The Hunters and the Hunted: The Making of 'Predator 2'
Self (archive footage)
2005
El accidente feliz
Self (Archive Footage)
2020
The Lemon Sisters
C.W.
1989
Homeboy
Doctor
1988
Ruben Blades Is Not My Name
Self
2018
Red Pill
Rocky
2021
The Making of Sun City
Self
1985The Heart of the Deal
1990
Dead Man Out
Ben
1989
Miracle on Interstate 880
Pastor Beruman
1993Pa'l Pueblo: Fania for the People
Self
Somos un solo pueblo
Self
1995Armadillo United
Coach Yepez
When the Mountains Tremble
Original Music Composer
1983
Peter Knife
Songs
1984
Spoken Word
Cruz-Sr.
2009
Las caras lindas de Tite Curet
Self
2002Just cause, ¿para quién?
Music
1991
Lo mejor de nuestra música popular: 15 años de éxitos
Self
2007
Coverup: Behind the Iran Contra Affair
Music
1988Porto Rico
Black Butterflies
Songs
2024
The Maldonado Miracle
Cruz
2003Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores
1996Ligia Elena
Music
1983A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway
1998
Salsa Lives
Ruben Blades
2025
Beats of the Heart: Salsa
Self
1979From Son to Salsa
1997
Rubén Blades: un Rey de la salsa
Self
1982
The Last Fight
Andy "Kid" Clave
1983¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!
2011
Yo soy la salsa
2014
Operation Just Cause
Music
2019
The Story of Fausta
Original Music Composer
1988
Secuestro Express
Carla's Father
2004
Stay Homas. The Band That Shouldn’t Exist
Self - Singer
2024
The Next Season
Benito
2011
The Return of Rubén Blades
himself
1985
En mi país
Self
2004
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades - Live In Venezuela
Rubén Blades
1998Rabbit Ears - Joseph and His Brothers
Narrator (voice)
1991
By the Green Trail
Music
1984Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2
2011La clave
2008Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1
2011Crossover Dreams
Rudy Veloz
1985
Invasion
Self
2014