RUBEN BLADES - RUBEN QUITS HOLLYWOOD FOR PANAMA LAW

Movie star RUBEN BLADES is giving up acting to return to his native Panama and become a lawyer.

The 55-year-old MO' BETTER BLUES and PREDATOR 2 star earned two law degrees in Panama 30 years ago, but he refused to practice under the country's military dictatorship and instead left the country to follow his acting dreams.

Now the actor, who ran as a presidential candidate in Panama in 1994, plans to return to his roots for five years - to try his luck at law.

He says, "I'm just going to serve my country instead of doing an album or doing a movie."