Carmen Belen Richardson
Encyclopedia
Carmen Belen Richardson is an actress and a comedian considered to be a pioneer of Puerto Rican television.
. Her parents felt that she had a special talent for acting at an early age and in 1939 when she was 9 years old they had her audition for a child's role in a radio soap opera
on the WNEL Radio Station. The people at the station were so impressed with her that they hired her on the spot. She attended the Central High School of Santurce where she actively participated in her school plays. On one occasion when she was 14 years old, Juan Ramón Jiménez
, the Spanish Nobel Prize
winner, was present for one of her presentations. He was impressed by what he saw to the point that he offered to pay Richardson's university tuition.
where she studied Dramatic Arts. In 1954, after she graduated, Puerto Rican television pioneer and producer Tommy Muñiz
, offered her a role in his new program El Colegio de la Alegria (The Happy School). She played the part of "Lirio Blanco", a funny, extremely tall girl who could open her eyes in amazement extremely wide. Thus, Richardson became the first black Puerto Rican actress in Puerto Rico's television industry. She was also to act as a comedian in other television shows such as La Criada Malcriada (The Rude Maid) in the role of Jazmín, Hogar Dulce Hogar (Home Sweet Home) as María Antonieta de los Ángeles Monroig López and in Esto No Tiene Nombre (This Doesn't have a Name). In Esto No Tiene Nombre, she made comical imitations of many renowned personalities. Among those who she imitated were Angela Davis
and Roberta Flack
.
. In that decade Puerto Rico witnessed one of the largest labor disputes between the Actors Union and Tommy Muñiz Productions. The lack of work forced Richardson to leave Tommy Muñiz Productions. She then joined and worked for ASTRA Productions. With ASTRA Productions Richardson found work in the televised programs Ahí va eso (There goes that) and Sin ton ni son (No tune no beat).
A new opportunity, outside of comedy, presented itself when the local television stations once more began to produce soap opera
s. Among the soap operas in which she participated and is well remembered for her acting are:
director Valentin Pimpstein, to work in soap operas. During the three years that she spent in Mexico, she acted in:
The 1989 Festival of Art "El Cemi" in Perto Rico was dedicated to her and in recognition of her 40 years in the world of entertainment she was awarded the "Carlos Busquets" prize. Richardson joined Producciones MECA, founded by actresses Camille Carrion and Ángela Meyer
. With this new company she actively participated in the following shows and soap operas, Ellas al Mediodia, Ave de Paso (1988), La Isla (The Island) and Yara Prohibida (1988). Richardson imitated American actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg
in the theatre presentation of Múltiples ellas.
. She is the founder of a fibromyalgia support group in Puerto Rico called "Fundación Carmen Belén Richardson" (Carmen Belen Richardson Foundation).
Early years
Richardson was born in Santurce, San JuanSanturce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...
. Her parents felt that she had a special talent for acting at an early age and in 1939 when she was 9 years old they had her audition for a child's role in a radio soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
on the WNEL Radio Station. The people at the station were so impressed with her that they hired her on the spot. She attended the Central High School of Santurce where she actively participated in her school plays. On one occasion when she was 14 years old, Juan Ramón Jiménez
Juan Ramón Jiménez
Juan Ramón Jiménez Mantecón was a Spanish poet, a prolific writer who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1956. One of Jiménez's most important contributions to modern poetry was his advocacy of the French concept of "pure poetry."-Biography:Jiménez was born in Moguer, near Huelva, in...
, the Spanish Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner, was present for one of her presentations. He was impressed by what he saw to the point that he offered to pay Richardson's university tuition.
Puerto Rican television pioneer
Richardson enrolled at the University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
where she studied Dramatic Arts. In 1954, after she graduated, Puerto Rican television pioneer and producer Tommy Muñiz
Tommy Muñiz
Lucas Tomás Muñiz Ramírez , better known as Tommy Muñiz, was a Puerto Rican comedy and drama actor, media producer, businessman and network owner...
, offered her a role in his new program El Colegio de la Alegria (The Happy School). She played the part of "Lirio Blanco", a funny, extremely tall girl who could open her eyes in amazement extremely wide. Thus, Richardson became the first black Puerto Rican actress in Puerto Rico's television industry. She was also to act as a comedian in other television shows such as La Criada Malcriada (The Rude Maid) in the role of Jazmín, Hogar Dulce Hogar (Home Sweet Home) as María Antonieta de los Ángeles Monroig López and in Esto No Tiene Nombre (This Doesn't have a Name). In Esto No Tiene Nombre, she made comical imitations of many renowned personalities. Among those who she imitated were Angela Davis
Angela Davis
Angela Davis is an American political activist, scholar, and author. Davis was most politically active during the late 1960s through the 1970s and was associated with the Communist Party USA, the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Panther Party...
and Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
.
Actors labor dispute
During the 1970s, Richardson worked in the comedies: Black Power and Ja,ja,ji, ji,jo,jo con Agrelot alongside comedian José Miguel AgrelotJosé Miguel Agrelot
Giuseppe Michael Agrelot , better known as José Miguel Agrelot, was a comedian, radio and television host and media icon in Puerto Rico...
. In that decade Puerto Rico witnessed one of the largest labor disputes between the Actors Union and Tommy Muñiz Productions. The lack of work forced Richardson to leave Tommy Muñiz Productions. She then joined and worked for ASTRA Productions. With ASTRA Productions Richardson found work in the televised programs Ahí va eso (There goes that) and Sin ton ni son (No tune no beat).
A new opportunity, outside of comedy, presented itself when the local television stations once more began to produce soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s. Among the soap operas in which she participated and is well remembered for her acting are:
- Anacaona as Belén,
- El Idolo (The Idol) as Caridad Carvajal,
- Rojo Verano (Red Summer) as Sor Teresa and
- Marta Llorens as Mamá Luz.
Mexican soap operas
In 1980, Richardson went to Mexico and was hired by MexicanMexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
director Valentin Pimpstein, to work in soap operas. During the three years that she spent in Mexico, she acted in:
- El Maleficio (1983),
- Guadalupe (1984) as Dominga,
- Soledad (1981),
- Amalia Batista (1983) and
- El Hogar que yo Robe (The House I Robbed) (1981) as Fernanda, alongside Mexican actors Juan FerraraJuan FerraraJuan Ferrara is a famous Mexican telenovela and film actor,- Family :Juan is a son of the well known actress Ofelia Guilmáin and brother of Lucía Guilmáin y Esther Guilmáin. He was once married to the famous Mexican actress, Helena Rojo...
and Angélica MaríaAngélica MaríaAngélica María Hartman Ortiz is an Mexican-American actress and a Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter. She is a legendary entertainer and is known as La Novia de Mexico .-Early life:...
.
Theater
Richardson returned to Puerto Rico and in 1985 went to work in local theater productions. She took part in Cecilia Valdes, Clemente (the musical), Cuando él es Guadalupe (When he is Guadalupe), Flor de Pesidio (Prison Flower) and Sirena (Mermaid).The 1989 Festival of Art "El Cemi" in Perto Rico was dedicated to her and in recognition of her 40 years in the world of entertainment she was awarded the "Carlos Busquets" prize. Richardson joined Producciones MECA, founded by actresses Camille Carrion and Ángela Meyer
Angela Meyer
Ángela Meyer is an actress, comedian and producer of television and theatrical works.-Early years:...
. With this new company she actively participated in the following shows and soap operas, Ellas al Mediodia, Ave de Paso (1988), La Isla (The Island) and Yara Prohibida (1988). Richardson imitated American actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won...
in the theatre presentation of Múltiples ellas.
Currently
Carmen Belen Richardson is currently retired from acting due to problems with her health, she was diagnosed with a physical disability known as fibromyalgiaFibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure. It is an example of a diagnosis of exclusion...
. She is the founder of a fibromyalgia support group in Puerto Rico called "Fundación Carmen Belén Richardson" (Carmen Belen Richardson Foundation).
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Ricans of African descent
- Irish immigration to Puerto RicoIrish immigration to Puerto RicoFrom the 16th to the 19th century, there was considerable Irish immigration to Puerto Rico, for a number of reasons. During the 16th century many Irishmen, who were known as "Wild Geese," fled the English Army and joined the Spanish Army. Some of these men were stationed in Puerto Rico and...