Steven Bauer
Steven Bauer (born Esteban Ernesto Echevarría Samson; December 2, 1956) is a Cuban-born American actor, producer, and musician best known for his role as Manny Ribera, the loyal sidekick to Al Pacino's Tony Montana, in the 1983 crime film Scarface.[1][2] Born in Havana, Cuba, to a schoolteacher mother and a pilot father who worked for Cubana Airlines, Bauer's family fled the country in 1960 amid Fidel Castro's revolution, settling in southern Florida when he was three years old.[3] He graduated from Miami Coral Park High School in 1974 and studied acting at Miami Dade Community College and the University of Miami, where he developed a passion for theater and befriended future actor Ray Liotta.[4][5] Bauer's career began in the late 1970s with his debut as a Cuban-American teenager in the bilingual PBS sitcom ¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.? (1977–1980), marking one of the first English-language roles for a Latino actor in American television.[6] His breakthrough came with Scarface, directed by Brian De Palma, which earned him widespread recognition for his charismatic portrayal of a drug lord's right-hand man and led to a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television for his leading role as DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in the 1990 NBC miniseries Drug Wars: The Camarena Story.[7] Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he appeared in notable films such as Running Scared (1986) alongside Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines, License to Kill (1989) as a drug cartel leader in the James Bond series, Traffic (2000) directed by Steven Soderbergh, and The Mexican (2001) with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts.[1] On television, Bauer appeared as Mexican drug cartel leader Don Eladio Vuente on Breaking Bad (2009–2010), which he reprised in the spin-off Better Call Saul (2018). He also portrayed ex-Mossad agent Avi in the Showtime series Ray Donovan (2013–2020).[8] In recent years, Bauer has continued to work steadily in film and television, including roles in Women Is Losers (2021), Nothing Is Impossible (2022), the HBO miniseries White House Plumbers (2023), and Beautiful Wedding (2024), a romantic comedy sequel to Beautiful Disaster.[8] He is also set to appear in the upcoming thriller Conspiracy of Fear (2025).[2] Bauer's personal life has included four marriages, most notably to actress Melanie Griffith from 1981 to 1989, with whom he has a son; he has two children total.[3] As a bilingual performer, Bauer has been praised for bringing authenticity to Latino characters in Hollywood, contributing to greater representation in mainstream media over his four-decade career.[9]Early life and education
Childhood and family background
Steven Bauer was born Esteban Ernesto Echevarría Samson on December 2, 1956, in Havana, Cuba.[10][11] He was the son of Lillian Samson Agostini, a schoolteacher of Cuban origin whose father was an Ashkenazi Jewish immigrant from Germany, and Esteban Echevarría, a commercial pilot employed by Cubana Airlines who later flew missions for the CIA, including during the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961.[11][12][13] Bauer's early years in pre-revolutionary Cuba were shaped by his parents' professional lives in a vibrant cultural environment, though political upheaval soon disrupted family stability.[12]Emigration and early schooling
Bauer's family fled Cuba and emigrated to Miami, Florida, on July 4, 1960, when he was three years old, shortly after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution under Fidel Castro.[14] The move was prompted by the political upheaval and his father's role as a pilot who flew missions for the CIA, including during the Bay of Pigs invasion, as part of anti-Castro efforts.[12] Upon arrival, the family joined Miami's burgeoning Cuban-American exile community, which provided a supportive network amid the broader difficulties of resettlement. Like many early Cuban exiles in the 1960s, they encountered assimilation challenges, including language barriers in navigating English-dominant institutions and cultural adjustments to life in the United States while preserving Cuban traditions.[15] This period of transition shaped Bauer's early experiences in a city rapidly transforming due to the influx of Cuban immigrants, from around 50,000 Hispanics in 1960 to over 580,000 by 1980.[16] Bauer attended Miami Coral Park High School, graduating in 1974.[3] During his high school years, he developed an initial interest in theater and the performing arts, which would later influence his career path.[14] After high school, Bauer studied acting at Miami Dade Community College and the University of Miami, where he further developed his passion for theater and befriended future actor Ray Liotta.[4][5]Acting career
Early roles and debut
Bauer initially pursued acting through formal training, studying theater at the University of Miami after attending Miami-Dade Community College, where his interest in performance was sparked by a role in a revival of Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke.[17] At the University of Miami's Department of Theater Arts, he honed his skills through stage performances, including work at the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, and formed a notable friendship with fellow student Ray Liotta, with whom he collaborated on productions.[17][14] His professional debut came in 1977 with the PBS bilingual sitcom ¿Qué Pasa, USA?, where he portrayed Joe Peña, the eldest son of a Cuban immigrant family navigating life in Miami, across 28 episodes through 1979.[9][18] This role, credited under his birth name Rocky Echevarría, marked Bauer's first significant television appearance and showcased his ability to blend English and Spanish in a culturally resonant narrative about assimilation.[19] Following his debut, Bauer took on minor theater roles and guest spots on television in the late 1970s and early 1980s, building experience in ensemble casts. He also portrayed Joey Perrini on the NBC soap opera Another World from 1978 to 1981.[18] Notable among these was a recurring role as Officer Fuentes in the first season of Hill Street Blues in 1981, appearing in episodes that highlighted urban policing dynamics.[18] These early opportunities allowed him to refine his craft before transitioning to more prominent projects.Breakthrough in film
Bauer's breakthrough came with his casting as Manolo "Manny" Ribera, the loyal best friend and right-hand man to Al Pacino's Tony Montana, in Brian De Palma's 1983 crime epic Scarface. While studying acting under Stella Adler in New York, Bauer auditioned for the role after his early television appearances caught the attention of casting directors; he met with director De Palma and producer Martin Bregman, who deemed him ideal for the part due to his authentic Cuban heritage and bilingual skills. The decisive factor was his chemistry test with Pacino, with whom he bonded immediately, leading to daily rehearsals and a collaborative dynamic that shaped the film's intense portrayals of ambition and betrayal.[20] Bauer's performance as the charismatic yet tragic Manny earned widespread praise amid the film's polarizing debut, with critics highlighting his nuanced depiction of loyalty turning to rivalry as a standout in the ensemble. Roger Ebert commended Bauer among the "wonderful supporting performances" that elevated the narrative's operatic excess. For his efforts, Bauer received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture at the 1984 awards, marking his first major industry recognition.[21][7] The role propelled Bauer's career forward, positioning him as a prominent Latino leading man in 1980s Hollywood action cinema, though it also led to typecasting in gangster and ethnic tough-guy parts that he actively worked to diversify in subsequent projects. This momentum secured him a key role as Detective Frank Sigliano, a no-nonsense cop partnering with Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines, in the 1986 buddy-cop action-comedy Running Scared, further solidifying his presence in high-profile genre films.[22][23]Television appearances
Bauer's television career gained significant traction in the late 1980s, building on his film breakthrough in Scarface, which positioned him for leading roles in serialized dramas. In 1989, he joined the final season of the CBS crime series Wiseguy as Michael Santana, a disbarred lawyer entangled in organized crime, appearing in nine episodes.[24] The following year, Bauer starred in the NBC miniseries Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (1990) as Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, the real-life DEA agent whose kidnapping and murder by Mexican drug cartels ignited international outrage and investigations.[25] In the 2000s and early 2010s, Bauer delivered memorable villainous turns, including the role of Don Eladio Vuente, the imperious leader of a Mexican drug cartel, in Breaking Bad (2009–2011), where his character's poisoning scene became iconic.[26] He reprised the role in Better Call Saul (2017–2022), appearing in flashbacks that deepened the prequel's ties to the original series.[27] Bauer's recurring portrayal of Avi Rudin, Ray Donovan's tough Israeli fixer and ex-Mossad operative, spanned four seasons of Showtime's Ray Donovan (2013–2017), showcasing his ability to blend loyalty with menace in the family crime drama.[28] Continuing his steady television output into the 2020s, Bauer guest-starred as Miguel Torres, the long-presumed-dead father of agent Nick Torres, in the CBS procedural NCIS (2021).[29] He played ruthless cartel boss Sancho Zamora in the season six finale of S.W.A.T. (2023), seeking vengeance against law enforcement.[30] That same year, he appeared as Dr. Manuel Artime, a CIA operative involved in anti-Castro plots, in HBO's White House Plumbers, and as Vicente Sandoval, a powerful family patriarch, in The Blacklist.[31][32]Later film roles and recent projects
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Bauer continued to take on supporting roles in notable films, showcasing his versatility in crime and thriller genres. He portrayed Joey Pinero, a defense attorney associate, in the legal thriller Primal Fear (1996), directed by Gregory Hoblit, where he shared the screen with Edward Norton and Richard Gere in a story of courtroom deception and hidden motives. In Steven Soderbergh's ensemble crime drama Traffic (2000), Bauer played Carlos Ayala, a drug lord's lawyer entangled in cross-border narcotics intrigue, contributing to the film's exploration of the U.S.-Mexico drug war alongside Michael Douglas and Benicio del Toro.[33] He followed this with the role of Mark York, a tough enforcer for a corrupt music producer, in the independent thriller The Learning Curve (2001), which depicted the perilous ambitions of aspiring artists in Los Angeles.[34] Bauer's film work in the mid-2000s and 2010s often featured him in character-driven indie projects. In the comedy-drama Olé! (2006), he appeared as Santiago, a mentor figure in a tale of passion and rivalry centered on flamenco dancing. By 2010, he starred as Neal Black, a slick salesman navigating ethical dilemmas in the corporate world, in the romantic comedy A Numbers Game, which examined the cutthroat nature of sales and unexpected connections.[35] In the 2020s, Bauer has maintained an active presence in independent cinema, blending dramatic and genre roles while expanding into production. He played a Male INS Agent in the comedy Deported (2020), a lighthearted story of immigration mishaps and romantic entanglements starring Whitmer Thomas.[36] In the period drama Women Is Losers (2021), directed by Lissette Feliciano, Bauer portrayed Don Juan, a charismatic but flawed figure in a narrative of 1960s San Francisco Latina women's struggles against societal barriers, earning praise for the film's authentic portrayal of community resilience.[37] He took on the supporting role of Archie Touraine, a wise coach, in the inspirational sports drama Nothing Is Impossible (2022), which followed a former athlete's redemption through basketball and faith.[38] Bauer's recent screen work includes Conspiracy of Fear (2025), a dystopian thriller about a post-apocalyptic virus and corporate conspiracies, which was released on streaming platforms on May 13, 2025, co-starring Malcolm McDowell.[39] Additionally, he stars in My Uncle's Movie (La Película de Mi Tío), a Dominican Republic drama directed by Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada, focusing on family reconciliation. Principal photography was completed in 2024, and as of November 2025, the film is in post-production, with its rough cut selected for the Copia Final section at Ventana Sur 2025.[27] Beyond acting, Bauer has ventured into producing, attaching himself to Circus Faces, a development project exploring themes of performance and identity in a circus setting.[40] In July 2025, he received a "Legends of Cinema" honor at the Ischia Global Film & Music Festival alongside Malcolm McDowell, recognizing his enduring contributions to international cinema during the event's gala on July 12.[41] His film-adjacent prestige work, such as his guest role on Breaking Bad, has further highlighted his draw in high-profile narratives.Personal life
Marriages and relationships
Steven Bauer first married actress Melanie Griffith on September 8, 1981, after meeting her on the set of the television movie She's in the Army Now in 1980. Their high-profile union, marked by Griffith's established fame in Hollywood, lasted until their divorce in 1989.[42] Following his divorce from Griffith, Bauer married Ingrid Anderson in June 1989; the marriage was brief, ending in 1991. He then wed Christiana Boney on June 27, 1992, in a relationship that concluded with their divorce in 2001. Bauer's fourth marriage was to Paulette Miltimore on December 28, 2003, which ended in divorce on September 18, 2012.[3][43] After his final divorce, Bauer entered a relationship with activist Lyda Loudon in July 2014, when she was 18 and he was 57; the romance, which lasted until around 2016, sparked public controversy over their 39-year age gap, though Loudon, founder of the youth branch of the Tea Party movement at age 14, was described by Bauer as a positive influence.[44][45][46] As of 2024, Bauer has been in a relationship with Jennifer Brennon, owner of Hollywood Groomer Girl, whom he has referred to as his fiancée.[47][48] In 2010, Bauer was mistakenly identified in media reports as the driver of a vehicle that fatally struck pedestrian Brent Rosenberg on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California; authorities later clarified that the driver was a different individual sharing Bauer's name.[49][50]Family and children
Steven Bauer is the father of two sons. His first son, Alexander Griffith Bauer, was born on August 22, 1985, to Bauer and his then-wife Melanie Griffith.[51] Alexander has pursued a career behind the scenes in the film industry, working as a grip on independent films, while also maintaining an interest in acting and music; he is known to play the piano and guitar proficiently.[52][53] Bauer's second son, Dylan Dean Steven Bauer, was born on May 14, 1990, to Bauer and his then-wife Ingrid Anderson.[47] Dylan has followed a path in entertainment, with credits including work on the television series Mayfair Witches (2023) and The Witching Hour with Patti Negri (2021), alongside pursuits as an author and tarot reader.[54][47] In interviews, Bauer has reflected on the demands of fatherhood amid his acting career, describing the primary challenge as "to stay sane. To balance life and work. Life and family with work."[55] He has also voiced support for charitable efforts aimed at improving the lives of children facing afflictions or emerging from abusive situations, highlighting his commitment to family-oriented causes.[55] Bauer has no additional children.Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Scarface | Manny Ribera[56] |
| 1984 | Thief of Hearts | Reinaldo |
| 1985 | Stick | Nestor |
| 1986 | Running Scared | Det. Frank 'Snake' Sigliano |
| 1988 | The Beast of War | Goloub |
| 1989 | Gleaming the Cube | Al Lucero |
| 1992 | Raising Cain | Jack Dante |
| 1993 | Sweet Poison | Sam Worth |
| 1993 | Snapdragon | Dr. David 'Doc' Hoogstraten |
| 1995 | Body Count | Vinnie Rizzo[57] |
| 1996 | Primal Fear | Joey Pinero[58] |
| 1998 | The Learning Curve | Ben |
| 1999 | Running Red | Agt. Miguel Serrano |
| 2000 | Traffic | Carlos Ayala[33] |
| 2003 | Masked & Anonymous | Edgar[59] |
| 2005 | Pit Fighter | Sandman |
| 2006 | The Lost City | Captain Castelano |
| 2007 | The Last Winter | Motor |
| 2008 | Scar | Bishop |
| 2010 | The Last Rites of Ransom Pride | Peter Gantz |
| 2010 | Shadows in Paradise | Kuki |
| 2010 | A Numbers Game | Luis |
| 2011 | The Greening of Whitney Brown | Mr. T |
| 2012 | For the Love of Money | Man in Restaurant |
| 2013 | Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn | Joey |
| 2013 | Enemies Among Us | Principal Juan Fernandez |
| 2013 | Five Thirteen | Marcus |
| 2014 | The Lookalike | Frank |
| 2014 | Olvídame y verás | Dr. Eduardo |
| 2015 | The Work | Frank |
| 2016 | Restored Me | Armando |
| 2017 | Avenge the Crows: The Legend of Loca | Agent Mendez |
| 2018 | Andover | Father Gregory |
| 2018 | The Last Champion | Coach |
| 2019 | Primal | Frank |
| 2020 | Deported | Male INS Agent[60] |
| 2021 | Flinch | Joseph Doyle |
| 2021 | Women Is Losers | Don Juan |
| 2021 | The Last Son | Marshal Solomon |
| 2021 | Rumble | Victor |
| 2024 | Beautiful Wedding | Sancho |
| 2025 | My Uncle's Movie | Uncle (post-production)[61] |
| 2025 | Conspiracy of Fear | Vega[62] |