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Steven Bauer

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Steven Bauer
Bauer in 2008
Born
Esteban Ernesto Echevarría Samson

(1956-12-02) December 2, 1956 (age 68)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesRocky Echevarría
EducationUniversity of Miami
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present
Spouses
  • (m. 1981; div. 1989)
  • Ingrid Anderson
    (m. 1989; div. 1991)
  • Christiana Boney
    (m. 1992; div. 2002)
  • Paulette Miltimore
    (m. 2003; div. 2012)
Children2

Steven Bauer (born Esteban Ernesto Echevarría Samson; December 2, 1956) is an American actor.

Bauer began his career on PBS, portraying Joe Peña, the son of Cuban immigrants on ¿Qué Pasa, USA? (1977–1979). He played Manolo "Manny" Ribera, the right-hand man of Cuban drug lord Tony Montana, in the 1983 crime drama Scarface. He also played the drug cartel leader Don Eladio Vuente in Breaking Bad (2011) and in Better Call Saul (2017–2022) and the retired Mossad agent Avi Rudin in Ray Donovan (2013–2017).[1]

Early life and education

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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 on to study acting at Miami Dade Community College and then at the University of Miami, where he befriended Ray Liotta.[8][1]

Acting career

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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 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 DEA 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, including the movie The Lost City where he served in a minor role alongside the film's star and director Andy Garcia. He also appeared in the motion pictures Primal Fear and Traffic. In 2007 he appeared on an episode of Burn Notice. In 2011, Bauer appeared on the series Breaking Bad playing Mexican drug lord Don Eladio. He stars with Julianne Michelle in the feature film Awakened, a supernatural thriller.

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

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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 sons: Alexander Griffith Bauer (born August 22, 1985) with Griffith, and Dylan Dean Steven Bauer (born May 14, 1990) with Anderson.[9][10][11][1][12]

In 2010, Bauer was falsely named as the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed 24-year-old Brent Rosenberg of Malibu. Rosenberg was walking on Pacific Coast Highway toward his parked car on the east side of the road when he was struck by a sport utility vehicle.[13][14] Initial reports said Bauer was the driver of the vehicle but police officials later said it was a different person of the same name involved in the fatality.[15]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1981 She's in the Army Now Nick Donato TV movie
1982 An Innocent Love Duncan Widders TV movie
1983 Valley Girl Guy in Pink Shirt
Scarface Manolo "Manny Ray" Ribera
1984 Body Double Assistant Director
Thief of Hearts Scott Muller
1986 Running Scared Detective Frank Sigliano
Sword of Gideon Avner TV movie
1987 Tales from the Hollywood Hills: A Table at Ciro's Tony Montoya TV movie
1988 Wildfire Frank
The Beast of War Khan Taj
1989 Gleaming the Cube Al Lucero
1991 A Climate for Killing Paul McGraw
Sweet Poison Bobby TV movie
False Arrest Detective Dan Ryan TV movie
1992 Drive Like Lightning Charlie TV movie
Raising Cain Jack Dante
1993 Snapdragon Dr. David "Doc" Hoogstraten
1994 Woman of Desire Jonathan Ashby/Ted Ashby
Improper Conduct Sam
Stranger by Night Bobby Corcoran Video
Terminal Voyage Reese
1995 Codename: Silencer Vinnie Rizzo
Wild Side Tony
1996 Primal Fear Joey Pinero
Navajo Blues Nick Epps/John Cole
1997 Plato's Run Sam Video
Sisters and Other Strangers Anthony Quintana TV movie
The Blackout Mickey's Studio Actor
Star Portal Dr. Ray Brady Video
Miami -
Kickboxing Academy Carl
1998 The Versace Murder FBI Agent John Jacoby
Naked Lies Kevin Dowd
2000 Warm Texas Rain Rush Video
Forever Lulu Lou
Rave Antonio
For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story Angel TV movie
Traffic Carlos Ayala
El Grito Ibarra
Glory Glory Jack
2001 Boss of Bosses Vito Genovese TV movie
The Learning Curve Mark York
2002 King of Texas Menchaca TV movie
Malevolent Captain Greg Pruitt
2003 Masked and Anonymous Edgar
Nola Leo
2004 Raptor Island Azir TV movie
Doing Hard Time Detective Anthony Wade Video
2005 How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer Victor Reyes
Keeper of the Past The Mayor Short
Hitters Anonymous Theodore 'Teddy' Swan
Pit Fighter Manolo
The Lost City Castel
La fiesta del Chivo Juan Jose Viñas
2006 Ladrones & Mentirosos Oscar
Dead Lenny Lenny Long Video
2007 Kings of South Beach Allie Boy TV movie
The Last Sentinel Drone Scientist
Category 4 Robert Short
Planet Raptor Captain Mace Carter TV movie
Natural Born Komics - Video
2008 Smother Carl Short
Mutants Marcus Santiago
I Didn't Know Who I Was Mr. David Hernandez Short
Dark World Rick
2009 Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia General Manuel Valez Video
Charlie Valentine Ferucci
From Mexico with Love Tito
Camouflage Bobby
The Intruders Michael Foster
2010 Bulletface Ned Walker
Fast Lane Lt. Baynes
Toxic Conrad
Shadows in Paradise Agent Stubbs
A Numbers Game Neal Black
Enemies Among Us Senator Fred Edmonds
Zenitram Frank Ramírez
Suicide Dolls Hank
Raven William
Disarmed Col. Caine
Venus & Vegas Francis
Promises Detective Stevens
One in the Gun Arthur
Crumble Reda Short
Boyle Heights Tino
2011 The Last Gamble Steven
Session Jake Tellman
Joshua Tree Jefferey
Mommy & Me Brad Johnson
Pimp Bullies Mr. Watson
Jackie Goldberg Private Dick Mr. Lincoln
Driving by Braille Rudolf Corso
2012 Paloma Enrique Short
Sins Expiation Williams
ATypical Love Brad Johnson
For the Love of Money Hector
Garbage Steven
A Dark Truth Tony Green
Werewolf: The Beast Among Us Hyde Video [16]
Gothic Assassins VOX
Success Driven The Husband Short
Showstopper Detective Vinnie Randall
Revan Shadow
Knuckleheads Manny
2013 Day of Redemption Jeffrey Cambell
Counterpunch Tomas
Real Gangsters Nick "Big Nick" Salens
Once Upon a Time in Queens P.O. Ramirez
Five Thirteen Ernesto Esteban
Chavez Cage of Glory Brother Jose
Awakened Lucas Drake
Seasick Sailor Waldorf Short
2014 The Lookalike Frank
Killing Frisco Esteban
2015 Sweet Lorraine Lou
2016 Beyond the Game Eric
Restored Me Armando
J.L. Family Ranch Hector Arrieta
Toyed Mr. Martinez Short
King of LA Adrian TV movie
2017 Andover Father Gregory
Culture of Fear Vega
Avenge the Crows Ronaldo
Blue Eyes Russian TV movie
2020 Deported Male INS Agent
2021 Flinch Joseph Doyle
Women Is Losers Don Juan
My Dead Dad Uncle Tommy
Love on the Rock Claudio Fairbanks
Mister Mayfair Mike
Mister Mayfair 2 - A Song to Kill For Mike
2022 Nothing Is Impossible Archie Touraine

Television

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Year Show Role Notes
1977–79 ¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.? Joe Peña Main cast (seasons 1-3)
1978 The Rockford Files Jesus Hernandez Episode: "A Fast Count"
1980 From Here to Eternity Pvt,. Ignacio Carmona Episode: "Pearl Harbor"
1981 Hill Street Blues Officer Fuentes Recurring cast (season 1)
One Day at a Time Eduardo Diaz Episode: "I Do, I Do"
1985 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Gambler Episode: "Pilot"
1990 Drug Wars: The Camarena Story DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Episode: "Part 1-3"
Wiseguy Michael Santana Main cast (season 4)
1992 Red Shoe Diaries Michael Episode: "Safe Sex"
1998 The Outer Limits Sergeant Waylon Dumar Episode: "Nightmare"
Welcome to Paradox Detective Angel Cardenas Episode: "Our Lady of the Machine"
1999 Walker, Texas Ranger Lorenzo Cabral Episode: "Rise to the Occasion"
2000 Relic Hunter Tony Episode: "Fertile Ground"
2001 Nash Bridges Lima Episode: "Out of Miami"
V.I.P. Blake Thompson Episode: "Val Under Covers"
UC: Undercover Carlos Cortez Recurring cast
2005 Sex, Love & Secrets Stefano Episode: "Territorial Defense"
2006 E! True Hollywood Story Himself Episode: "Scarface"
South Beach Lieutenant Rivera Recurring cast
2007 Burn Notice Reyes Episode: "Hard Bargain"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Raphael Gardner Episode: "Paternity"
2009 Cold Case Osmany "Oz" Leon Episode: "Stealing Home"
American Dad! Jaramillo (voice) Episode: "Stan's Night Out"
Mental Diego Suarez Episode: "Coda"
2010 Hacienda Heights Mayor Eduardo Garcia Main cast (season 2)
2011 Breaking Bad Don Eladio Vuente Recurring cast (season 4)
2012 Common Law Miguel Avila Episode: "In-Laws vs. Outlaws"
2013 The Mentalist Don Clyde Episode: "Little Red Corvette"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Bobby Esposito Episode: "Passed Pawns"
2013–17 Ray Donovan Avi Rudin Main cast (seasons 1-5)
2014 The Night Shift Milo Osborne Recurring cast (season 1)
Hawaii Five-0 Jimmy Sykes Episode: "Ho'oilina"
2015 Battle Creek Roderigo Episode: "Sympathy for the Devil"
2015–17 Blue Bloods Gerry Guerrero Guest cast (seasons 6-7)
2017–18 Queen of the South Santos Recurring cast (season 2), guest (season 3)
2017–22 Better Call Saul Don Eladio Vuente Guest cast (season 3 & 5-6)
2018 Goliath Willie Episode: "Diablo Verde"
2019 Supergirl Bernardo Rojas Episode: "Confidence Women"
2021 NCIS Miguel Torres Episode: "Sangre"
2023 S.W.A.T. Sancho Zamora Episode: "Legacy"
White House Plumbers Dr. Manuel Artime Episode: "True Believers"
The Blacklist Vicente Sandoval Episode: "Wormwood (No. 182)"

Video games

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Year Game Role
2006 Scarface: The World Is Yours The Sandman
2012 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Additional Voices
Hitman: Absolution Birdie
2016 Let It Die Kommando Kawasaki

Music videos

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Year Artist Song Role
1984 Maria Conchita Alonso "Noche de Copas" Main Lover Interest
1985 Eurythmics "Would I Lie to You?" Biker Boyfriend
The Pointer Sisters "Dare Me" Caucasian Boxer
Miami Sound Machine "Conga" Crowd Dancer
2007 Pitbull "Secret Admirer" Extra
2013 Drake "Hold On, We're Going Home" Kidnapper
2016 Kill My Coquette "3rd & Bonnie Brae" Himself
2018 Zayn "Let Me" Kingpin
"Entertainer"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Coto, Juan Carlos (November 10, 1990). "Steven Bauer Wises Up". Miami Herald. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  2. ^ Steven Bauer Biography (1956–)
  3. ^ Perez Rivera, Francisco (November 16, 1984). "What's in a name? For Steven Bauer, it's more important what isn't". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  4. ^ "Steven Bauer Biography (1956-)". www.filmreference.com. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Zekas, Rita (1986-11-26). "Steve Bauer's got the looks and the talent". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved 2011-02-10. My grandfather was a German Jew He married a Cuban girl of Italian descent
  7. ^ Kleiner, Dick (March 14, 1984). "Steven Bauer is tough new face". The Frederick Post. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
  8. ^ Steven Bauer's official MySpace profile Archived 2014-09-07 at the Portuguese Web Archive
  9. ^ "Melanie Griffith Has Had 3 Notable Men in Her Life — Meet Her Husbands!". Closer. August 15, 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  10. ^ "Steven Bauer Walks the Drug World's Dark Side—Again". People. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  11. ^ Thompson, Avery (July 26, 2014). "Steven Bauer: 'Scarface' Actor, 57, Dating Young Lyda Loudon, 18". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  12. ^ Sandra Bernhard. Melanie Griffith Reveals She Was Still Married to Steven Bauer While Pregnant with Dakota Johnson!. Sirius XM. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  13. ^ "Actor's car hits pedestrian in Malibu". United Press International. September 19, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  14. ^ "'Scarface' Actor Involved In Malibu Pedestrian Crash". CBS News. September 18, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  15. ^ "Vehicle strikes and kills pedestrian on PCH". The Malibu Times. September 22, 2010. Archived from the original on March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  16. ^ Foy, Scott (September 16, 2011). "Universal's New Werewolf Casts a Steven and a Stephen". Dread Central. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
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