Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and President from 1976 to 2008. Ideologically a Marxist–Leninist and Cuban nationalist, he also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 until 2011. Under his administration, Cuba became a one-party communist state; industry and business were nationalized, and state socialist reforms were implemented throughout society. Born in Birán, Oriente, the son of a wealthy Spanish farmer, Castro adopted leftist and anti-imperialist ideas while studying law at the University of Havana. After participating in rebellions against right-wing governments in the Dominican Republic and Colombia, he planned the overthrow of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista, launching a failed attack on the Moncada Barracks in 1953. After a year's imprisonment, Castro traveled to Mexico where he formed a revolutionary group, the 26th of July Movement, with his brother Raúl Castro and Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Returning to Cuba, Castro took a key role in the Cuban Revolution by leading the Movement in a guerrilla war against Batista's forces from the Sierra Maestra. After Batista's overthrow in 1959, Castro assumed military and political power as Cuba's Prime Minister. The United States came to oppose Castro's government and unsuccessfully attempted to remove him by assassination, economic blockade, and counter-revolution, including the Bay of Pigs Invasion of 1961. Countering these threats, Castro aligned with the Soviet Union and allowed the Soviets to place nuclear weapons in Cuba, resulting in the Cuban Missile Crisis – a defining incident of the Cold War – in 1962. Adopting a Marxist–Leninist model of development, Castro converted Cuba into a one-party, socialist state under Communist Party rule, the first in the Western Hemisphere. Policies introducing central economic planning and expanding healthcare and education were accompanied by state control of the press and the suppression of internal dissent. Abroad, Castro supported anti-imperialist revolutionary groups, backing the establishment of Marxist governments in Chile, Nicaragua, and Grenada, as well as sending troops to aid allies in the Yom Kippur, Ogaden, and Angolan Civil War. These actions, coupled with Castro's leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1979 to 1983 and Cuba's medical internationalism, increased Cuba's profile on the world stage. Following the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991, Castro led Cuba through the economic downturn of the "Special Period", embracing environmentalist and anti-globalization ideas. In the 2000s, Castro forged alliances in the Latin American "pink tide" – namely with Hugo Chávez's Venezuela – and formed the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas. In 2006, Castro transferred his responsibilities to Vice President Raúl Castro, who was elected to the presidency by the National Assembly in 2008. Description above from the Wikipedia article Fidel Castro, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

More details

Known For

Filmography

2025

JFK Assassination: A New Perspective
JFK Assassination: A New Perspective
as Self (Archive Footage)
Movie - Released: 9/8/2025

2024

Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 9/11/2024
The Queen and the Prime Ministers
The Queen and the Prime Ministers
as Self (archive)
Movie - Released: 1/13/2024
História do Comunismo
História do Comunismo
as Self
TV - Released: 3/14/2024

2023

The Padilla Affair
The Padilla Affair
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 6/2/2023

2022

Rat Pack
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/11/2022
The Boys from Brazil: Rise of the Bolsonaros
The Boys from Brazil: Rise of the Bolsonaros
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 8/30/2022
Andança: Os Encontros e as Memórias de Beth Carvalho
Andança: Os Encontros e as Memórias de Beth Carvalho
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/6/2022
The Century of Icons
The Century of Icons
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 12/27/2022

2021

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 7/2/2021
A History of an Assignment
A History of an Assignment
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 8/28/2021
Becoming Cousteau
Becoming Cousteau
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/22/2021
Spycraft
Spycraft
as Self
TV - Released: 1/20/2021
How to Become a Tyrant
How to Become a Tyrant
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 7/9/2021

2020

537 Votes
537 Votes
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/21/2020
Wasp Network
Wasp Network
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/29/2020

2019

Laboratory Greece
Laboratory Greece
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 12/8/2019
Chop Chop Chang: Operation C.H.I.M.P
Chop Chop Chang: Operation C.H.I.M.P
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/11/2019
Amérique latine, l'année de tous les dangers
Amérique latine, l'année de tous les dangers
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 3/15/2019
ReMastered: Massacre at the Stadium
ReMastered: Massacre at the Stadium
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/11/2019
Castro's Revolution vs. The World
Castro's Revolution vs. The World
TV - Released: 11/26/2019

2018

Karl Marx und seine Erben
Karl Marx und seine Erben
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 4/28/2018
Another Day of Life
Another Day of Life
as Himself (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/26/2018
Cuba, un aller et un retour
Cuba, un aller et un retour
as Himself (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 12/31/2018
Chavismo: The Plague of the 21st Century
Chavismo: The Plague of the 21st Century
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 6/15/2018
Explained
Explained
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 5/23/2018
Bobby Kennedy for President
Bobby Kennedy for President
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 4/27/2018
Minnesota Experience
Minnesota Experience
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 9/17/2018

2017

Movie
Nobody
as Himself
Movie - Released: 1/13/2017
Movie
Two Meetings and a Funeral
Movie - Released: 6/7/2017
Cuba and the Cameraman
Cuba and the Cameraman
as Self
Movie - Released: 9/8/2017
Angola: The War
Angola: The War
as Himself - President of Cuba (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 6/1/2017
Elián
Elián
as himself
Movie - Released: 4/21/2017
El Che
El Che
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 9/1/2017
Che Guevara, naissance d'un mythe
Che Guevara, naissance d'un mythe
Movie - Released: 10/8/2017

2016

Historien ska frikänna mig
Historien ska frikänna mig
as Self
Movie - Released: 12/31/2016
Franco and Fidel: A Strange Friendship
Franco and Fidel: A Strange Friendship
as Himself
Movie - Released: 12/7/2016
Fidel Castro: America's Nemesis
Fidel Castro: America's Nemesis
as Himself (Archive Footage)
Movie - Released: 11/28/2016
Assassinating Franco
Assassinating Franco
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/25/2016

2015

Laissez-faire
Laissez-faire
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/30/2015
Celia - la más hermosa flor
Celia - la más hermosa flor
Movie - Released: 10/10/2015
Castro: The World's Most Watched Man
Castro: The World's Most Watched Man
as Himself (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/22/2015
Guerilleros
Guerilleros
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 8/26/2015

2013

Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live
Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/1/2013

2012

The Man Who Saved the World
The Man Who Saved the World
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/22/2012
The Mayor
The Mayor
Movie - Released: 8/18/2012
The Day That Lasted 21 Years
The Day That Lasted 21 Years
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 9/30/2012
Movie
Castro in Winter
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/3/2012
Ethel
Ethel
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/20/2012
7 Days in Havana
7 Days in Havana
as Self (segment "Diary of a Beginner") (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 4/5/2012
Palme
Palme
Movie - Released: 9/14/2012

2011

Memories of Overdevelopment
Memories of Overdevelopment
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 11/26/2011
Santiago Files
Santiago Files
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 9/23/2011
Movie
El día más largo
Movie - Released: 1/1/2011
Mentiras verdaderas
Mentiras verdaderas
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 10/11/2011

2010

CUBA: Defending Socialism, Resisting Imperialism
CUBA: Defending Socialism, Resisting Imperialism
as Himself
Movie - Released: 6/11/2010
Memória Cubana
Memória Cubana
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 9/27/2010
Movie
Being Fidel Castro
as Himself (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/19/2010
The Inconclusive Independence
The Inconclusive Independence
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/5/2010
La Case du siècle
La Case du siècle
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 9/12/2010

2009

Did the Mob Kill JFK?
Did the Mob Kill JFK?
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 11/22/2009
South of the Border
South of the Border
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 9/7/2009

2008

Året var 1958
Året var 1958
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/6/2008

2007

Movie
Lejos de la isla
as Himself (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/25/2007
Un Giorno con Fidel
Un Giorno con Fidel
as Himself
Movie - Released: 1/1/2007
RFK Must Die: The Assassination of Bobby Kennedy
RFK Must Die: The Assassination of Bobby Kennedy
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 11/20/2007
Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/17/2007
Oswald's Ghost
Oswald's Ghost
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 7/14/2007
The War on Democracy
The War on Democracy
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 6/15/2007

2006

638 Ways to Kill Castro
638 Ways to Kill Castro
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 11/28/2006
Looking for Fidel
Looking for Fidel
as Himself
Movie - Released: 6/19/2006
Cuba, el valor de una utopía
Cuba, el valor de una utopía
as Himself
Movie - Released: 12/1/2006

2005

The Adventures of Errol Flynn
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 4/5/2005
I Am Cuba, the Siberian Mammoth
I Am Cuba, the Siberian Mammoth
Movie - Released: 4/14/2005

2004

Looking for Fidel
Looking for Fidel
as Self
Movie - Released: 4/14/2004
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 9/8/2004
Fidel Castro: Life for the Revolution
Fidel Castro: Life for the Revolution
as Self
Movie - Released: 4/26/2004

2003

Comandante
Comandante
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/14/2003
The Fog of War
The Fog of War
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 10/26/2003
Movie
Che Guevara - Hasta La Victoria Siempre
Movie - Released: 1/1/2003
Surplus: Terrorized Into Being Consumers
Surplus: Terrorized Into Being Consumers
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/21/2003
Jack Paar: Smart Television
Jack Paar: Smart Television
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/29/2003

2002

Cuban Rafters
Cuban Rafters
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 4/12/2002
Naqoyqatsi
Naqoyqatsi
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 9/2/2002
Movie
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 4/2/2002

2001

Movie
The Cuban Game
as Himself (footage)
Movie - Released: 11/23/2001
Movie
Dear Fidel: Marita's Story
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 11/14/2001

2000

Movie
Kubánske otázniky
as archívne zábery
Movie - Released: 8/1/2000

1999

The Secret KGB JFK Assassination Files
The Secret KGB JFK Assassination Files
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/1/1999
Faith of the Century: A History of Communism
Faith of the Century: A History of Communism
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 10/6/1999

1996

Soviet Union: The Rise and Fall - Part 2
Soviet Union: The Rise and Fall - Part 2
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 2/20/1996

1995

1993

8A
8A
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/1993

1992

The JFK Conspiracy
The JFK Conspiracy
as Self
Movie - Released: 4/15/1992

1991

JFK
JFK
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 12/20/1991
Movie
Portrait of Castro's Cuba
as Himself
Movie - Released: 4/7/1991

1990

Cuba 30 Anni Dopo
Cuba 30 Anni Dopo
as Himself
Movie - Released: 1/1/1990

1988

The Uncompromising Revolution
The Uncompromising Revolution
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/1988
American Expose: Who Murdered JFK?
American Expose: Who Murdered JFK?
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 11/2/1988

1987

Fidel Racconta il Che
Fidel Racconta il Che
as Himself
Movie - Released: 1/1/1987
The CIA's War Against Cuba
The CIA's War Against Cuba
Movie - Released: 1/11/1987
Brascuba
Brascuba
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 6/25/1987

1986

Chile: A Genral Record
Chile: A Genral Record
Movie - Released: 1/1/1986
Movie
Cuba: In the Shadow of Doubt
Movie - Released: 6/21/1986

1984

Anxiety. Thoughts of an Old Man
Anxiety. Thoughts of an Old Man
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/1/1984
Improper Conduct
Improper Conduct
as Self - Politician (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 3/21/1984
Informe especial
Informe especial
as Self (archive footage)
TV - Released: 7/6/1984

1983

James Bond: The First 21 Years
James Bond: The First 21 Years
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 5/27/1983

1980

The Necessary War
The Necessary War
as Himself
Movie - Released: 1/1/1980
On Company Business
On Company Business
as Self - Prime Minister of Cuba (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 4/14/1980

1979

Mission Mind Control
Mission Mind Control
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 1/30/1979

1977

Movie
CBS Reports: The CIA's Secret Army
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/10/1977
My Brother, Fidel
My Brother, Fidel
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/1977
A Grin Without a Cat
A Grin Without a Cat
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 11/23/1977

1975

Waiting for Fidel
Waiting for Fidel
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/14/1975

1974

The Society of the Spectacle
The Society of the Spectacle
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 5/1/1974
General Idi Amin Dada
General Idi Amin Dada
as Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 5/29/1974
Cuba and Fidel
Cuba and Fidel
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/1974

1973

And Heaven Was Taken by Storm
And Heaven Was Taken by Storm
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/1973
Chile, el gran desafío
Chile, el gran desafío
as Self
Movie - Released: 3/10/1973
Venceremos, solidaridad
Venceremos, solidaridad
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 12/31/1973

1972

Compromiso con Chile
Compromiso con Chile
Movie - Released: 9/1/1972
El Diálogo de América
El Diálogo de América
as Él mismo
Movie - Released: 6/1/1972
I Am a Son of America
I Am a Son of America
as Él mismo
Movie - Released: 1/2/1972
The Exploitation of Man by Man
The Exploitation of Man by Man
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/18/1972
The First Year
The First Year
as Self
Movie - Released: 7/31/1972

1971

Fidel
Fidel
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/25/1971
Cuba: Battle of the 10,000,000
Cuba: Battle of the 10,000,000
Movie - Released: 1/1/1971

1970

Report on Brazil: Carlos Marighella
Report on Brazil: Carlos Marighella
as Himself (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 10/20/1970

1969

Topaz
Topaz
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 12/17/1969

1968

The Hour of the Furnaces
The Hour of the Furnaces
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 9/8/1968

1967

Far from Vietnam
Far from Vietnam
as Self (segment "Fidel Castro")
Movie - Released: 10/18/1967

1963

Hello Cubans
Hello Cubans
as Self (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 11/26/1963

1962

Muerte al invasor
Muerte al invasor
as Self (archive footage)
Movie - Released: 7/25/1962

1961

¡Cuba Sí!
¡Cuba Sí!
as Self - Cuban Politician (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 12/31/1961
Island Ablazed
Island Ablazed
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/1961

1960

Yanki No!
Yanki No!
as Self
Movie - Released: 7/7/1960
Movie
General Assembly
as Fidel Castro
Movie - Released: 7/1/1960

1959

Cuban Rebel Girls
Cuban Rebel Girls
as Self (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 12/25/1959

Unknown

Movie
Revolution's Daughter
as Self (archive footage)
Movie