Madeline Willemsen

Who was Madeline Willemsen?

Madeline Willemsen was a Puerto Rican actress and comedian, born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to a Dutch father and a Puerto Rican mother. She was also the first cousin of Lucy Boscana, considered by some Puerto Rican theater critics to be the finest Puerto Rican actress of all time.

Her full name was Madeline Willemsen Bravo, and her maternal family was of Jewish origin. She studied acting in the United States, and worked for some time as a teacher in her hometown, when she returned to Puerto Rico. She used to scandal her neighbours, smoking publicly, when it was not well seen for ladies. She started working in radio soap operas during the 1950s, especially in the Puerto Rican public radio station. When commercial television started operating in the Island, her well-bred looks assured her a position as a leading lady. She was also a competent scriptwriter.

Madeline Willemsen is buried at Santa María Magdalena de Pazzi cemetery in Old San Juan.