Steven Bauer Explained

Steven Bauer
Birth Name:Esteban Ernesto Echevarría Samson
Birth Date:2 December 1956
Birth Place:Havana, Cuba
Nationality:American
Other Names:Rocky Echevarría
Education:University of Miami
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1977–present
Children:2

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

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

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 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

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

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1981She's in the Army NowNick DonatoTV movie
1982An Innocent LoveDuncan WiddersTV movie
1983
ScarfaceManolo "Manny Ray" Ribera
1984Body DoubleAssistant Director
Thief of HeartsScott Muller
1986Running ScaredDetective Frank Sigliano
Sword of GideonAvnerTV movie
1987Tales from the Hollywood Hills: A Table at Ciro'sTony MontoyaTV movie
1988WildfireFrank
The Beast of WarKhan Taj
1989Gleaming the CubeAl Lucero
1991A Climate for KillingPaul McGraw
Sweet PoisonBobbyTV movie
False ArrestDetective Dan RyanTV movie
1992Drive Like LightningCharlieTV movie
Raising CainJack Dante
1993SnapdragonDr. David "Doc" Hoogstraten
1994Woman of DesireJonathan Ashby/Ted Ashby
Improper ConductSam
Stranger by NightBobby CorcoranVideo
Terminal VoyageReese
1995Codename: SilencerVinnie Rizzo
Wild SideTony
1996Primal FearJoey Pinero
Navajo BluesNick Epps/John Cole
1997Plato's RunSamVideo
Sisters and Other StrangersAnthony Quintana TV movie
The BlackoutMickey's Studio Actor
Star PortalDr. Ray BradyVideo
Miami
Kickboxing AcademyCarl
1998The Versace MurderFBI Agent John Jacoby
Naked LiesKevin Dowd
2000Warm Texas RainRushVideo
Forever LuluLou
RaveAntonio
AngelTV movie
TrafficCarlos Ayala
El GritoIbarra
Glory GloryJack
2001Boss of BossesVito GenoveseTV movie
The Learning CurveMark York
2002King of TexasMenchacaTV movie
MalevolentCaptain Greg Pruitt
2003Masked and AnonymousEdgar
NolaLeo
2004Raptor IslandAzirTV movie
Doing Hard TimeDetective Anthony WadeVideo
2005How the Garcia Girls Spent Their SummerVictor Reyes
Keeper of the PastThe MayorShort
Hitters AnonymousTheodore 'Teddy' Swan
Pit FighterManolo
The Lost CityCastel
La fiesta del ChivoJuan Jose Viñas
2006Ladrones & MentirososOscar
Dead LennyLenny LongVideo
2007Kings of South BeachAllie BoyTV movie
The Last SentinelDrone Scientist
Category 4RobertShort
Planet RaptorCaptain Mace CarterTV movie
Natural Born KomicsVideo
2008SmotherCarlShort
MutantsMarcus Santiago
I Didn't Know Who I WasMr. David HernandezShort
Dark WorldRick
2009General Manuel ValezVideo
Charlie ValentineFerucci
From Mexico with LoveTito
CamouflageBobby
The IntrudersMichael Foster
2010BulletfaceNed Walker
Fast LaneLt. Baynes
ToxicConrad
Shadows in ParadiseAgent Stubbs
A Numbers GameNeal Black
Enemies Among UsSenator Fred Edmonds
ZenitramFrank Ramírez
Suicide DollsHank
RavenWilliam
DisarmedCol. Caine
Venus & VegasFrancis
PromisesDetective Stevens
One in the GunArthur
CrumbleRedaShort
Boyle HeightsTino
2011The Last GambleSteven
SessionJake Tellman
Joshua TreeJefferey
Mommy & MeBrad Johnson
Pimp BulliesMr. Watson
Jackie Goldberg Private DickMr. Lincoln
Driving by BrailleRudolf Corso
2012PalomaEnriqueShort
Sins ExpiationWilliams
ATypical LoveBrad Johnson
For the Love of MoneyHector
GarbageSteven
A Dark TruthTony Green
HydeVideo [16]
Gothic AssassinsVOX
Success DrivenThe HusbandShort
ShowstopperDetective Vinnie Randall
RevanShadow
KnuckleheadsManny
2013Day of RedemptionJeffrey Cambell
Real GangstersNick "Big Nick" Salens
Once Upon a Time in QueensP.O. Ramirez
Five ThirteenErnesto Esteban
Chavez Cage of GloryBrother Jose
AwakenedLucas Drake
Seasick SailorWaldorfShort
2014The LookalikeFrank
Killing FriscoEsteban
2015Sweet LorraineLou
2016Kill My Coquette: 3rd & Bonnie BraeShort
Beyond the GameEric
Restored MeArmando
J.L. Family Ranch Hector Arrieta
ToyedMr. MartinezShort
King of LAAdrianTV movie
2017AndoverFather Gregory
Culture of FearVega
Avenge the CrowsRonaldo
Blue EyesRussianTV movie
2019CounterpunchTomas
2020DeportedMale INS Agent
2021FlinchJoseph Doyle
Women Is LosersDon Juan
My Dead DadUncle Tommy
Love on the RockClaudio Fairbanks
Mister MayfairMike
Mister Mayfair 2 - A Song to Kill ForMike
2022Nothing Is ImpossibleArchie Touraine

Television

Year Show Role Notes
1977–79¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?Joe PeñaMain cast (seasons 1-3)
1978The Rockford FilesJesus HernandezEpisode: "A Fast Count"
1980From Here to EternityPvt,. Ignacio CarmonaEpisode: "Pearl Harbor"
1981Hill Street BluesOfficer FuentesRecurring cast (season 1)
One Day at a TimeEduardo DiazEpisode: "I Do, I Do"
1985 Alfred Hitchcock PresentsGamblerEpisode: "Pilot"
1990DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" CamarenaEpisode: "Part 1-3"
WiseguyMichael SantanaMain cast (season 4)
1992Red Shoe DiariesMichaelEpisode: "Safe Sex"
1998The Outer LimitsSergeant Waylon DumarEpisode: "Nightmare"
Welcome to ParadoxDetective Angel CardenasEpisode: "Our Lady of the Machine"
1999Walker, Texas RangerLorenzo CabralEpisode: "Rise to the Occasion"
2000Relic HunterTonyEpisode: "Fertile Ground"
2001Nash BridgesLimaEpisode: "Out of Miami"
V.I.P.Blake ThompsonEpisode: "Val Under Covers"
Carlos CortezRecurring cast
2005Sex, Love & SecretsStefanoEpisode: "Territorial Defense"
2006E! True Hollywood StoryHimselfEpisode: "Scarface"
South BeachLieutenant RiveraRecurring cast
2007Burn NoticeReyesEpisode: "Hard Bargain"
Raphael GardnerEpisode: "Paternity"
2009Cold CaseOsmany "Oz" LeonEpisode: "Stealing Home"
American Dad!Jaramillo (voice)Episode: "Stan's Night Out"
MentalDiego SuarezEpisode: "Coda"
2010Hacienda HeightsMayor Eduardo GarciaMain cast (season 2)
2011Breaking BadDon Eladio VuenteRecurring cast (season 4)
2012Common LawMiguel AvilaEpisode: "In-Laws vs. Outlaws"
2013The MentalistDon ClydeEpisode: "Little Red Corvette"
Bobby EspositoEpisode: "Passed Pawns"
2013–17Ray DonovanAvi RudinMain cast (seasons 1-5)
2014The Night ShiftMilo OsborneRecurring cast (season 1)
Hawaii Five-0Jimmy SykesEpisode: "Ho'oilina"
2015Battle CreekRoderigoEpisode: "Sympathy for the Devil"
2015–17Blue BloodsGerry GuerreroGuest cast (seasons 6-7)
2017–18Queen of the SouthSantosRecurring cast (season 2), guest (season 3)
2017–22Better Call SaulDon Eladio VuenteGuest cast (season 3 & 5-6)
2018GoliathWillieEpisode: "Diablo Verde"
2019SupergirlBernardo RojasEpisode: "Confidence Women"
2021NCISMiguel TorresEpisode: "Sangre"
2023S.W.A.T.Sancho ZamoraEpisode: "Legacy"
White House PlumbersDr. Manuel ArtimeEpisode: "True Believers"
The BlacklistVicente SandovalEpisode: "Wormwood (No. 182)"

Video games

Year Game Role
2006 The Sandman
2012 Additional Voices
Birdie
2016Let It Die Kommando Kawasaki

Music videos

Year Song Artist Role
1984 "Noche de Copas" Main Lover Interest
1985 "Would I Lie to You?" Biker Boyfriend
"Dare Me" Caucasian Boxer
"Conga" Crowd Dancer
2007 "Secret Admirer" Extra
2013 "Hold On, We're Going Home" Kidnapper
2018 "Let Me" Kingpin
"Entertainer"

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Steven Bauer Wises Up. Coto. Juan Carlos. November 10, 1990. Miami Herald. June 4, 2020. subscription.
  2. http://www.filmreference.com/film/2/Steven-Bauer.html Steven Bauer Biography (1956–)
  3. News: What's in a name? For Steven Bauer, it's more important what isn't. https://web.archive.org/web/20120725042629/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/639149962.html?dids=639149962:639149962&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+16%2C+1984&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=What%27s+in+a+name%3F+For+Steven+Bauer%2C+it%27s+more+important+what+isn%27t&pqatl=google. dead. July 25, 2012. Perez Rivera. Francisco. November 16, 1984. Chicago Tribune. 2011-02-10.
  4. Web site: Steven Bauer Biography (1956-). www.filmreference.com. 2019-09-15.
  5. Web site: Steven Bauer on Being Ray Donovan's Enforcer, Teaching Gus Fring Spanish and Hanging With Pacino. Keller. Joel. July 16, 2013. Parade. en. 2019-09-15.
  6. News: Zekas. Rita. Steve Bauer's got the looks and the talent. Toronto Star. 1986-11-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20120724214524/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/475642661.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+27%2C+1986&author=Rita+Zekas+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Steve+Bauer%27s+got+the+looks+and+the+talent&pqatl=google. dead. July 24, 2012. 2011-02-10. My grandfather was a German Jew He married a Cuban girl of Italian descent.
  7. News: Kleiner. Dick. Steven Bauer is tough new face. The Frederick Post. March 14, 1984. 2007-12-08.
  8. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=103706905 Steven Bauer's official MySpace profile
  9. Melanie Griffith Has Had 3 Notable Men in Her Life — Meet Her Husbands!. August 15, 2019. Closer. en-US. 2019-09-15.
  10. Steven Bauer Walks the Drug World's Dark Side—Again. People. 2019-09-15.
  11. Steven Bauer: 'Scarface' Actor, 57, Dating Young Lyda Loudon, 18. Thompson. Avery. July 26, 2014. Hollywood Life. en. 2019-09-15.
  12. Melanie Griffith Reveals She Was Still Married to Steven Bauer While Pregnant with Dakota Johnson!. Sandra Bernhard. en. Sirius XM. 2019-09-15.
  13. News: September 19, 2010. Actor's car hits pedestrian in Malibu. United Press International. March 16, 2024.
  14. News: September 18, 2010. 'Scarface' Actor Involved In Malibu Pedestrian Crash. CBS News. March 16, 2024.
  15. News: September 22, 2010. Vehicle strikes and kills pedestrian on PCH. The Malibu Times. March 16, 2024. https://archive.today/20240316190838/https://malibutimes.com/article_04d7fac8-6cda-5fe8-9e4e-f937d81aa77d. March 16, 2024. live.
  16. Foy. Scott. Universal's New Werewolf Casts a Steven and a Stephen. Dread Central. September 16, 2011 . June 4, 2020.