Scarface legend looks unrecognisable as he celebrates 68th birthday 41 years after iconic gangster flick
HE played a smooth Cuban refugee turned drug pusher in one of the all-time great gangster films.
Four decades on from his turn as Tony Montana’s close pal Manny Ribera in Scarface, actor Steven Bauer is 68 years old and no less enthusiastic about the movie business.
His most recent Instagram post saw him share a behind the scenes snap from his latest move filmed in the Dominican Republic, which he called “a creative experience of the caliber and quality that every actor dreams of”.
Written by Natalia Cabral, My Uncle’s Movie stars Maia Otero and Felix German.
Bauer continued: “…what truly made this extra special was the feeling of being part of a family that includes everyone working on the movie. what a joy to go to work in that environment… i’m ready to do it again if the ask me.”
The TV and film veteran has dozens of credits to his name since starring in Scarface in the early 80s.
Most notably in recent years he played Avi Rudin in five seasons of Ray Donovan with Liev Schreiber, and starred as Don Eladio Vuente across three seasons of Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul.
But it is Manny he remains synonymous with.
The handsome ladies man came to a grisly end after his power mad, and increasingly unhinged, pal Tony shot him dead in a rage after finding him with his sister Gina.
To make the murder even more devastating, it came shortly after the secret couple had tied the knot.
Nowadays, Scarface is considered a cinematic classic, but at the time of its release it received a critical mauling, with its bad language and violent scenes coming under fire.
Lead star Al Pacino was called “hypnotic” as drug kingpin Montana, but director Brian De Palma’s production was accused of being “shallow” and “cliche”.
Bauer remained unscathed, earning a Golden Globe nod for Best Supporting Actor.
But he didn’t take any joy in the praise while some of his colleagues were being kicked.
He previously told Screen Anarchy: “It was embarrassing, almost. Because I’m getting off scot free in reviews that are basically calling everybody in the film full of sh*t–saying this movie’s full of sh*t and the filmmakers are full of sh*t and the actors are all over the top except for Steven Bauer.
“If you’re going to kill us, kill us all. If you’re going to trash us, trash us all.”
Bauer remains proud they created a unique film that could holds its own alongside lauded films of the era.
He said: “Back then, I felt fortunate to be part of something that was so out there… What came before that was Godfather and Taxi Driver… and so when we did [Scarface], we went way out on a limb.”
Scarface star Steven Bauer's best-known roles
- Manny Ribera in Scarface (1983)
- Avi Rudin in Ray Donovan (2013-2017)
- Don Eladio Vuente in Breaking Bad (2011)
- Carlos Ayala in Traffic (2000)
- Mossad Agent in Sword of Gideon (1986)
- Det. Frank Sigliano in Primal Fear (1996)
- Manny in Running Scared (1986)
- Rafael Caro Quintero in Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (1990)
- Enrique Cali in Wiseguy (1990)
- Eladio Vuente in Better Call Saul (2017-2022)