Steven Bauer
Steven Bauer (born Esteban Ernesto Echevarría Samson; December 2, 1956) is a Cuban-American actor. Bauer began his career on PBS, portraying Joe Peña, the son of Cuban immigrants on ¿Qué Pasa, USA? (1977–1980) and is perhaps most famous for his role as the Cuban drug lord Manny Ribera in the 1983 crime drama Scarface, in which he starred alongside Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. He also played the drug cartel leader Eladio Vuente in Breaking Bad and in Better Call Saul and as the retired Mossad agent Avi Rudin in Ray Donovan (2013–2020).[1]
Steven Bauer | |
|---|---|
 Bauer on August 7, 2008 | |
| Born | Esteban Ernesto Echevarría Samson December 2, 1956 Havana, Cuba |
| Other names | Rocky Echevarría |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Bauer was born Esteban Ernesto Echevarría Samson, on December 2, 1956, in Havana, Cuba, the son of Lillian Samson Agostini, a schoolteacher, and Esteban Echevarría, a commercial pilot who worked for Cubana Airlines.[1][2][3][4] Bauer's maternal grandfather, whose family names were Samson and Bauer, was Jewish, and immigrated to Cuba from Germany, a refugee looking to escape the devastating effects World War II and Adolf Hitler had on his safety and home country.[5][6][7]
Bauer's family emigrated from Cuba to the United States on Independence Day, 1960, when he was three years old, shortly after the end of the Cuban Revolution, settling in Miami, Florida.[1] Once in the United States, he began using the name Steven, an English form of his given name, Esteban. He graduated from Miami Coral Park High School in 1974 and went onto study acting at Miami Dade Community College and the University of Miami, the latter where he befriended Ray Liotta.[8][1]
Acting career
Bauer's first substantial role was in the PBS bilingual sitcom ¿Qué Pasa, USA?, playing the teenage son of a Cuban exile family in Miami, from 1977 to 1979.[1] He also appeared in the 1980 TV miniseries From Here to Eternity. He was credited in these and a few other early projects as Rocky Echevarría. In 1981, Bauer starred in the television movie She's in the Army Now, where he met his first wife, actress Melanie Griffith. They both moved to New York City and stayed at Ray Liotta's apartment, while Liotta moved to Los Angeles and stayed at theirs. Both Bauer and Griffith studied under famed acting teacher Stella Adler, and he appeared in several off-Broadway productions. During this time he adopted the stage name "Steven Bauer".
Bauer was given the role of Manny Ribera (the part played by George Raft in the original 1932 version) in the 1983 movie Scarface,[1] even though (like Raft) he was a relatively unknown actor at the time. The producers of Scarface were convinced that he was right for the role based on his strong audition, as well as his authentic Cuban background. His performance drew a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1986 he had two other important roles. The first was as Det. Frank Sigliano in the Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines cop comedy Running Scared. The second was as an Israeli soldier named Avner in the Canadian CTV television movie Sword of Gideon, which tells the story of Mossad agents hunting down terrorists in the aftermath of the 1972 Munich massacre. The Sword of Gideon script was the basis for Steven Spielberg's later film Munich, which follows the same storyline and borrows heavily from the Sword of Gideon story and script. In 1990 Bauer played the role of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in the television miniseries Drug Wars: The Camarena Story alongside Benicio Del Toro and Craig T. Nelson. That same year, Bauer took over the series lead of the television show Wiseguy from Ken Wahl for the fourth and final season, playing U.S. Attorney Michael Santana after Wahl's character disappears.
Since then, Bauer has made his career primarily, though not exclusively, in action films and crime dramas on both the big and small screens. An example of this is the movie "The Lost City" where he served in a minor role alongside the film's star and director Andy Garcia. Also, including such motion pictures as Primal Fear and Traffic. He also made an appearance in the video game spin-off Scarface: The World Is Yours, playing drug dealer The Sandman. In 2007 he appeared on an episode of Burn Notice. In 2011, Bauer appeared on the show Breaking Bad playing Mexican drug lord Don Eladio. He stars with Julianne Michelle in the feature film Awakened, a supernatural thriller touching on Life After Death, a Supernova Media motion picture.
More recently, Bauer appeared as ex-Mossad agent turned private investigator "Avi" in the Showtime series Ray Donovan. Bauer also reprised his Breaking Bad role in 2017 in AMC's prequel Better Call Saul. In addition, he played El Santo in the American version of Queen of the South.
Personal life
Bauer has married four times: first to Melanie Griffith, from 1981 until 1989; second to Ingrid Anderson, from 1989 until 1991; third to Christiana Boney, from 1992 until 2002; and fourth to Paulette Miltimore, from 2003 until 2012. He has two children: son Alexander Bauer (born 1985), by Griffith and son Dylan Bauer (born 1990), by Anderson.[9][10][11][1][12]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Valley Girl | Guy in Pink Shirt | Uncredited |
| 1983 | Scarface | Manny Ribera | |
| 1984 | Thief of Hearts | Scott Muller | |
| 1984 | Body Double | Assistant Director | Uncredited |
| 1986 | Sword of Gideon | Avner | |
| 1986 | Running Scared | Det. Frank Sigliano | |
| 1988 | Wildfire | Frank | |
| 1988 | The Beast of War | Taj | |
| 1989 | Gleaming the Cube | Al Lucero | |
| 1991 | A Climate for Killing | Paul McGraw | |
| 1991 | Raising Cain | Jack Dante | |
| 1992 | Drive Like Lightning | Charlie Robinson | |
| 1993 | Woman of Desire | Jonathan Ashby/Ted Ashby | |
| 1993 | Snapdragon | David | |
| 1994 | Terminal Voyage | Reese | |
| 1994 | Improper Conduct | Sam | |
| 1994 | Stranger by Night | Bobby Corcoran | |
| 1995 | Codename: Silencer | Vinnie Rizzo | |
| 1995 | Wild Side | Tony | |
| 1996 | Primal Fear | Joey Pinero | |
| 1996 | Navajo Blues | Nick Epps/John Cole | |
| 1997 | Miami | ||
| 1997 | Kickboxing Academy | Carl | |
| 1997 | The Blackout | Mickey's Studio Actor | |
| 1997 | Plato's Run | Sam | |
| 1998 | Star Portal | Dr. Ray Brady | |
| 1998 | The Versace Murder | FBI Agent John Jacoby | |
| 1998 | Naked Lies | Kevin Dowd | |
| 2000 | El Grito | Ibarra | |
| 2000 | Glory Glory | Jack | |
| 2000 | Forever Lulu | Lou | |
| 2000 | Rave | Antonio | |
| 2000 | Traffic | Carlos Ayala | |
| 2001 | Speed Limit | Jeff | |
| 2001 | The Learning Curve | Mark York | |
| 2002 | Malevolent | Capt. Greg Pruitt | |
| 2003 | Masked and Anonymous | Edgar | |
| 2003 | Nola | Leo | |
| 2004 | Doing Hard Time | Det. Anthony Wade | |
| 2005 | The Nowhere Man | ||
| 2005 | How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer | Victor Reyes | |
| 2005 | Keeper of the Past | The Mayor | |
| 2005 | Hitters Anonymous | Theodore Swan | |
| 2005 | Pit Fighter | Manolo | |
| 2005 | La fiesta del Chivo | Viñas | |
| 2005 | The Lost City | Castel | |
| 2006 | Dead Lenny | Lenny Long | |
| 2006 | Ladrones & Mentirosos | Oscar | |
| 2007 | Natural Born Komics | ||
| 2007 | The Last Sentinel | Drone Scientist | |
| 2008 | Dark World | Rick | |
| 2008 | Mutants | Santiago | |
| 2008 | Didn't Know How I Was | Mr. Hernandez | |
| 2009 | Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia | General Manuel Valez | |
| 2009 | The Intruders | Michael Foster | |
| 2009 | Venus & Vegas | Francis | |
| 2009 | Charlie Valentine | Ferucci | |
| 2009 | Raven | William | |
| 2009 | Boyle Heights | Tino | |
| 2009 | From Mexico with Love | Tito | |
| 2009 | Fast Lane | Lt. Baynes | |
| 2009 | A Numbers Game | Neal Black | |
| 2009 | Disarmed | Caine | |
| 2009 | Camouflage | Bobb | |
| 2010 | Bulletface | Ned Walker | |
| 2010 | Toxic | Conrad | |
| 2010 | Zenitram | Frank Ramírez | |
| 2010 | Crumble | Reda | |
| 2010 | One in the Gun | Arthur | |
| 2010 | Suicide Dolls | Hank | |
| 2010 | Promises | Detective Stevens | |
| 2010 | Session | Jake Tellman | |
| 2010 | Enemies Among Us | Senator Edmonds | |
| 2010 | Special Ops | Col. Caine | |
| 2011 | Shadows in Paradise | Agent Stubbs | |
| 2011 | The Last Gamble | Steven |
2011 "Mommy and Me" |
| 2011 | Pimp Bullies | Mr. Watson | |
| 2012 | A Dark Truth | Tony Green | |
| 2012 | Werewolf: The Beast Among Us | Hyde | [13] |
| 2012 | Sins Expiation | Williams | |
| 2013 | Real Gangsters | "Big" Nick Salens | |
| 2013 | Once Upon a Time in Queens | P.O. Ramirez | |
| 2013 | Seasick Sailor | Waldorf | Short film |
| 2014 | The Lookalike | ||
| 2017 | Avenge the Crows | Ronaldo | |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977–1979 | ¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.? | Jose "Joe" Peña | 28 episodes (as Rocky Echevarría) |
| 1978 | The Rockford Files | Jesus Hernandez | Episode: "A Fast Count" (as Rocky Echevarría) |
| 1980 | From Here to Eternity | Private Ignacio Carmona | Episode: "Pearl Harbor" (as Rocky Echevarría) |
| 1981 | Hill Street Blues | Officer Fuentes | 2 episodes (as Rocky Echevarría) |
| 1981 | She's in the Army Now | Nick Donato | Television film (as Rocky Bauer) |
| 1981 | One Day at a Time | Eduardo | Episode: "I Do, I Do" (as Rocky Echevarria) |
| 1982 | An Innocent Love | Duncan Widders | Television film (as Rocky Bauer) |
| 1985 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Gambler | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1986 | Sword of Gideon | Avner | Television film |
| 1987 | Tales from the Hollywood Hills: A Table at Ciro's | Tony Montoya | Television film |
| 1990 | Drug Wars: The Camarena Story | Enrique "Kiki" Camarena | Miniseries |
| 1990 | Wiseguy | Michael Santana | 9 episodes |
| 1991 | Sweet Poison | Bobby | Television film |
| 1991 | False Arrest | Detective Dan Ryan | Television film |
| 1992 | Drive Like Lightning | Charlie | Television film |
| 1992 | Red Shoe Diaries | Michael | Episode: "Safe Sex" |
| 1997 | Sisters and Other Stranger | Anthony Quintana | Television film |
| 1998 | The Outer Limits | Sergeant Waylon Dumar | Episode: "Nightmare" |
| 1998 | Welcome to Paradox | Detective Angel Cardenas | Episode: "Our Lady of the Machine" |
| 1999 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Lorenzo Cabral | Episode: "Rise to the Occasion" |
| 2000 | For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story | Angel | Television film |
| 2000–2001 | Relic Hunter | Tony | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Nash Bridges | Lima | Episode: "Out of Miami" |
| 2001 | V.I.P. | Blake Thompson | Episode: "Val Under Covers" |
| 2001 | Boss of Bosses | Vito Genovese | Television film |
| 2001 | UC: Undercover | Carlos Cortez | 3 episodes |
| 2002 | King of Texas | Menchaca | Television film |
| 2004 | Raptor Island | Azir | Television film |
| 2005 | Sex, Love & Secrets | Stefano | Episode: "Territorial Defense" |
| 2006 | South Beach | Lieutenant Rivera | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | Kings of South Beach | Allie Boy | Television film |
| 2007 | Planet Raptor | Captain Mace Carter | Television film |
| 2007 | Burn Notice | Reyes | Episode: "Hard Bargain" |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Raphael Gardner | Episode: "Paternity" |
| 2009 | Cold Case | Osmany "Oz" Leon | Episode: "Stealing Home" |
| 2009 | American Dad! | Fernando Jaramillo | Episode: "Stan's Night Out" |
| 2009 | Mental | Diego Suarez | Episode: "Coda" |
| 2010 | Hacienda Heights | Mayor Eduardo Garcia | 11 episodes |
| 2011 | Breaking Bad | Don Eladio Vuente | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Common Law | Miguel Avila | Episode: "In-Laws vs. Outlaws" |
| 2013 | The Mentalist | Don Clyde | Episode: "Little Red Corvette" |
| 2013–2020 | Ray Donovan | Avi | 44 episodes |
| 2013 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Bobby Esposito | Episode: "Past Pawns" |
| 2014 | The Night Shift | Milo Osborne | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Hawaii Five-0 | Jimmy Sykes | Episode: "Ho'oilina" |
| 2015 | Battle Creek | Roderigo | Episode: "Sympathy for the Devil" |
| 2015-2017 | Blue Bloods | Gerry Guerrero | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | JL Ranch | Hector Arrieta | Television film |
| 2017; 2020 | Better Call Saul | Don Eladio Vuente | Episodes: "Sabrosito" "Something Unforgivable" |
| 2017 | Queen of the South | El Santo | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Goliath | Willie | Episode: "Diablo Verde" |
| 2019 | Supergirl | Bernardo Rojas | Episode: "Confidence Women" |
Video games
| Game | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Scarface: The World is Yours | 2006 | The Sandman |
| Hitman: Absolution | 2012 | Birdie |
Music videos
| Song | Year | Artist | Role | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Noche de Copas" | 1984 | Maria Conchita Alonso | Main Lover Interest | ||||
| "Would I Lie to You?" | 1985 | Eurythmics | Biker Boyfriend | "[[Dare Me (song) | 1985 | The Pointer Sisters | Caucasian boxer |
| "Conga" | 1985 | Miami Sound Machine | Crowd dancer | ||||
| "Secret Admirer" | 2007 | Pitbull | Extra | ||||
| "Hold On, We're Going Home" | 2013 | Drake | Kidnapper | ||||
| "Let Me" | 2018 | Zayn | Kingpin | ||||
| "Entertainer" | 2018 | Zayn | Kingpin |
Awards and nominations
- Nominated – Golden Globe Award – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture – Scarface (1984)
- Nominated – Golden Globe Award – Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for TV – Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (1990)
- Won – Screen Actors Guild Award – Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture – Traffic (2000)
- Won – Short Film Award – Best Supporting Actor – Crumble (2010)
- Won – Festival Award – Best Actor – The Last Gamble (2011)
- Won – Feature Film Award – Best Actor – The Last Gamble (2012)
- Nominated – Saturn Award – Best Guest Starring Role on Television – Breaking Bad
See also
References
- Coto, Juan Carlos (November 10, 1990). "Steven Bauer Wises Up". Miami Herald. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- Steven Bauer Biography (1956–)
- Perez Rivera, Francisco (November 16, 1984). "What's in a name? For Steven Bauer, it's more important what isn't". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
- "Steven Bauer Biography (1956-)". www.filmreference.com. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
- Keller, Joel (July 16, 2013). "Steven Bauer on Being Ray Donovan's Enforcer, Teaching Gus Fring Spanish and Hanging With Pacino". Parade. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
- Zekas, Rita (1986-11-26). "Steve Bauer's got the looks and the talent". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
My grandfather was a German Jew He married a Cuban girl of Italian descent
- Kleiner, Dick (March 14, 1984). "Steven Bauer is tough new face". The Frederick Post. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
- Steven Bauer's official MySpace profile Archived 2014-09-07 at the Portuguese Web Archive
- "Melanie Griffith Has Had 3 Notable Men in Her Life — Meet Her Husbands!". Closer. August 15, 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
- "Steven Bauer Walks the Drug World's Dark Side—Again". People. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
- Thompson, Avery (July 26, 2014). "Steven Bauer: 'Scarface' Actor, 57, Dating Young Lyda Loudon, 18". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
- Sandra Bernhard. Melanie Griffith Reveals She Was Still Married to Steven Bauer While Pregnant with Dakota Johnson!. Sirius XM. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
- Foy, Scott (September 16, 2011). "Universal's New Werewolf Casts a Steven and a Stephen". Dread Central. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
External links
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