Rubén Blades

Blades has had great success in the Anglophone movie world, but musically he has done well keeping close to his Latin roots. Victor Buono died of a heart attack at his ranch in Apple Valley, California. Blades has stated in interviews that he believes his biggest mistake was releasing an English-language album in 1988 in the wake of his 1987 Grammy for Escenas — a trap he sees other Latin artists falling into. "The more you study him," he said, "the greater he grows.". Blades' 1999 album Tiempos which he made with the 12-piece Costa Rican band Editus, represented a break from his salsa past and a rejection of commercial trends in Latin music. Buono liked to read and write, and one of his main hobbies was Shakespeare. In 1999, he played Mexican artist Diego Rivera in Tim Robbins' Cradle Will Rock In 1997, Blades headed the cast of singer/songwriter Paul Simon's first Broadway musical, The Capeman, based on a true story about a violent youth who becomes a poet in prison. Taft.

His many film appearances include The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), The Two Jakes (1990), Mo' Better Blues (1990), and Devil's Own (1997). In the TV miniseries Backstairs at the White House (1979) he portrayed President Taft and delivered a poignant tribute to the late Mrs. During the 1990s, he acted in films, got a doctorate in international law from Harvard University, mounted his unsuccessful presidential bid, founding the party Movimiento Papa Egoró, and continued to make salsa records. He could also play straight roles. He was also the subject of Robert Mugge's documentary The Return of Ruben Blades, which debuted at that year's Denver Film Festival. His later roles were more of pompous intellectuals and shady con men. This same year he earned a master's degree in international law from Harvard University. He was in demand to play villains of various nationalities and ethnic origins on many programs between 1964 and 1970.

In 1985, Blades gained widespread recognition as co-writer and star of the independent film Crossover Dreams as a New York salsa singer willing to do anything to break into the mainstream. Buono had a vast body of work in movies, and among his extensive TV appearances were the recurring roles of the demented Count Manzeppi on the popular (CBS) series The Wild Wild West starring Robert Conrad and Ross Martin, which ran from 1965 to 1969, and King Tut on the (ABC) series Batman with Adam West and Burt Ward, which ran from 1966 to 1968. In 1982, Blades got his first acting role in The Last Fight writing the title song as well as portraying a singer-turned-boxer vying for a championship against a fighter who was played by real life world champion boxer Salvador Sánchez. He also appeared in such movies as 4 for Texas (1963), Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964), The Silencers (1966), Who's Minding the Mint? (1967), Target: Harry (1969) and Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970). In the early 1980s, Blades began his career in films as a composer of soundtracks. Buono played the role of the High Priest Sorak in this story about Jesus. When he was free of his contractual obligations, Blades signed with another label, Electra, and assembled a top-notch band (known variously as Seis Del Solar or Son Del Solar) and recorded a number of albums with them. And he appeared in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) starring Max von Sydow, Michael Anderson, Jr. and Carroll Baker, which was produced and directed by George Stevens.

These are generally considered toss-offs and Blades himself told his fans to avoid them. He appeared in Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) playing Big Sam Hollis, the father of Bette Davis, who had the title role, which was also directed by Aldrich. After 1980, Blades tried to terminate his contract with Fania, but he was contractually obligated to record several more albums. Victor Buono was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. Their album Siembra (1978) became the best-selling salsa record in history. He played the part of the ne'er-do-well musical accompanist, Edwin Flagg. Shortly thereafter Blades started collaborating with trombonist and band leader Willie Colón, and they recorded several albums together. After appearing in a few motion pictures uncredited, he was cast by director Robert Aldrich in the psychological horror movie What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) with screen luminaries Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

Blades began his musical career in New York playing with local bands while working in the mailroom at Fania Records, and soon was working with salseros Ray Barretto and Larry Harlow. Because of his overweight stature, Buono usually played older characters. In 1974, Blades moved to the United States, staying temporarily with his exiled parents in Miami before moving to New York City. He also appeared on The Untouchables. After obtaining degrees in political science and law at Panama's Universidad Nacional, Blades worked at the Bank of Panama as a lawyer. Over the next few years he appeared on numerous shows playing menacing heavies in just about every Grade "A" private eye series. His grandfather, Reuben Blades, was a black worker from St Lucia, and had come to Panama to build the canal. He made his first network TV appearance playing the bearded poet Bongo Benny in an episode of 77 Sunset Strip.

Blades's father is a percussionist-turned-detective and his mother was a singer and radio performer. saw the heavyset Buono play Falstaff at the Globe and took him up to Hollywood for a screen test. His most famous song is "Pedro Navaja", a song about a criminal whose day to die has come. In the summer of 1959, a talent scout from Warner Bros. Blades is completely bilingual, working both in English and Spanish. He received good notices for his various Shakespearean roles and in modern plays such as The Man Who Came To Dinner and Witness For The Prosecution. In September 2004, he was appointed minister of tourism by Panamanian president Martín Torrijos. The director had confidence in Buono and cast him in Volpone, Midsummer Night's Dream and other Globe presentations.

Although he only got 20% of the vote in his failed attempt to win the Panamanian presidency in 1994, he remains wildly popular in that country and much admired throughout Latin America. He started appearing on local radio and television stations, and at the age of eighteen he joined the Globe Theater Players in San Diego. As songwriter, Blades brought the lyrical sophistication of South American nueva canción and Cuban nueva trova to salsa, creating thinking persons' dance music. He soon forgot about having a medical career. Rubén Blades (born July 16, 1948) is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, actor and politician. He even played the title role of Hamlet. Buono appeared in three plays a year while attending high school, which included Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp and Shakespearean dramas.

Augustine High School in San Diego cast him as Papa Barrett in the play The Barretts of Wimpole Street. When he was sixteen, Father John Aherne of the St. Even though the young Buono enjoyed the polite applause of those captive audiences, he thought he wanted to be a doctor. When he was a little boy, she taught him songs and recitations and encouraged him to perform for visitors.

His maternal grandmother, Myrtle Glied (April 18, 1886-December 9, 1969), had been a Vaudeville performer on the Orpheum Circuit. He was born Victor Charles Buono in San Diego, California, a son of Victor Francis Buono (May 28, 1907-May 17, 1981) and Myrtle Belle Keller (October 19, 1909 -August 27, 1979). Victor Buono (February 3, 1938 - January 1, 1982) was an American actor. The 1966 Batman TV Villains - Victor Buono (http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/7537/tut.htm).