---
name: "Rubén Blades"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ruben-blades"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 July 1948"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-19T16:58:47.346917+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Rubén Blades

Actor. Born 16 July 1948 in Panama City, Panama.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 July 1948, Panama City, Panama
- **Also known as:** Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rub%C3%A9n_Blades, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q474980, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001952/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2049

## Biography

Rubén Blades is a Panamanian actor. Born in Panama City on 16 July 1948, he began his screen career in the early 1980s and has appeared in numerous films and television productions.

His film roles include Danny Archuleta in *Predator 2* (1990), Jorge in *Once Upon a Time in Mexico* (2003), Carlos Villar in *Safe House* (2012) and Jefe in *The Counselor* (2013). On television he played Daniel Salazar in *Fear the Walking Dead* (2015–2023) and received Emmy nominations for performances in *The Josephine Baker Story* (1991), *Crazy from the Heart* (1992) and *The Maldonado Miracle* (2003).

Blades has also worked extensively as a singer, songwriter and politician, serving as Panama’s Minister of Tourism from 2004 to 2009. He is married to singer Luba Mason.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Predator 2* (1990), Fi1m 63, as Danny Archuleta — [page](https://film.one/film/predator-2.md)

## Complete filmography (69)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Campeón Gabacho* (2026), Actor
- *Pedro Navaja* (2026), Author
- *Salsa Lives* (2025), as Ruben Blades
- *Red Pill* (2021), as Rocky
- *Operation Just Cause* (2019), Music
- *Hands of Stone* (2016), as Carlos Eleta
- *Fear the Walking Dead* (2015), series, as Daniel Salazar
- *Yo soy la salsa* (2014), Actor
- *The Counselor* (2013), as Jefe
- *Outlaws - For Greater Glory* (2012), as Président Calles
- *Safe House* (2012), as Carlos Villar
- *¡Sonó, Sonó… Tite Curet!* (2011), Actor
- *The Next Season* (2011), as Benito
- *Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 2* (2011), Actor
- *Rubén Blades: Todos Vuelven Live, Vol. 1* (2011), Actor
- *Spoken Word* (2009), as Cruz-Sr.
- *La clave* (2008), Actor
- *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* (2002), Actor
- *Empire* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *All the Pretty Horses* (2000), as Rocha
- *Gideon's Crossing* (2000), series, as Dr. Max Cabranes
- *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* (1998), Actor
- *Chinese Box* (1997), as Jim
- *From Son to Salsa* (1997), Actor
- *The Devil's Own* (1997), as Edwin Diaz
- *Al compás de un sentimiento: la música de Pedro Flores* (1996), Actor
- *Scorpion Spring* (1996), as Border Patrolman Sam Zaragosa
- *Color of Night* (1994), as Hector
- *A Million to Juan* (1994), as Bartender
- *The X-Files* (1993), series, as Conrad Lozano — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md)
- *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* (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?* (1991), Music
- *Predator 2* (1990), as Danny Archuleta — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/predator-2.md)
- *The Two Jakes* (1990), as Mickey Nice
- *Mo' Better Blues* (1990), as Petey
- *Q & A* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *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), as 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
- *Crossover Dreams* (1985), as Rudy Veloz
- *By the Green Trail* (1984), Music
- *Peter Knife* (1984), as Songs
- *When the Mountains Tremble* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *The Last Fight* (1983), as Andy "Kid" Clave
- *Ligia Elena* (1983), Music
- *Porto Rico*, Actor
- *Armadillo United*, as Coach Yepez

## Gallery

- ![Rubén Blades](https://film.one/media/person/1222276/gallery-1a69767a4eb6.jpg) Rubén Blades — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Ruben_Blades_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Ruben_Blades_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruben Blades speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Fear the Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. P](https://film.one/media/person/1222276/gallery-f6cf381df928.jpg) Ruben Blades speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Fear the Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. P — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Ruben_Blades_%2848403756251%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Ruben_Blades_%2848403756251%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Rubén Blades en homenaje en los Latin Grammy 2021](https://film.one/media/person/1222276/gallery-6223dafd6784.jpg) Rubén Blades en homenaje en los Latin Grammy 2021 — Tony Dandrades, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Rub%C3%A9n_Blades_2021.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ruben Blades speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Fear the Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. P](https://film.one/media/person/1222276/gallery-ee5809722b09.jpg) Ruben Blades speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Fear the Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. P — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Ruben_Blades_%2848403756251%29.jpg/1280px-Ruben_Blades_%2848403756251%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Festival Internacional de la Salsa Boca del Rio, Ver. 2012 Abarrotado 145 mil personas Eduardo Pavon | Fotografia Profesional contacto | eduardo@pavon.com.mx ww](https://film.one/media/person/1222276/gallery-b06d2c1ab5bb.jpg) Festival Internacional de la Salsa Boca del Rio, Ver. 2012 Abarrotado 145 mil personas Eduardo Pavon | Fotografia Profesional contacto | eduardo@pavon.com.mx ww — Eduardo Pavon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Rub%C3%A9n_Blades.jpg/1280px-Rub%C3%A9n_Blades.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruben Blades and Mercedes Mason speaking at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Fear the Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San D](https://film.one/media/person/1222276/gallery-c1af13121008.jpg) Ruben Blades and Mercedes Mason speaking at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Fear the Walking Dead", at the San Diego Convention Center in San D — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/SDCC_2015_-_Ruben_Blades_%26_Mercedes_Mason_%2819050854353%29.jpg/1280px-SDCC_2015_-_Ruben_Blades_%26_Mercedes_Mason_%2819050854353%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 13 won

- Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album 2024: Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album (won)
- Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year 2021: Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year (won)
- Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album 2021: Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album (won)
- Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year 2021: Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year (won)
- Latin Grammy Award for Best Tropical Song 2020: Latin Grammy Award for Best Tropical Song (won)
- Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts 2018: Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts (won)
- Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year 2017: Latin Grammy Award for Album of the Year (won), for *Salsa Big Band*
- Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album 2017: Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album (won), for *Salsa Big Band*
- Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album 2015: Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album (won)
- Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album 2011: Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album (won)
- Latin Grammy Award for Best Singer-Songwriter Album 2010: Latin Grammy Award for Best Singer-Songwriter Album (won), for *Cantares del Subdesarrollo*
- Latin Grammy Hall of Fame 2007: Latin Grammy Hall of Fame (won), for *Siembra*
- International Latin Music Hall of Fame 2001: International Latin Music Hall of Fame (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ruben-blades