Abraham Bueno de Mesquita
A rubber-faced Dutch comedian whose physical genius and absurd characters defined a generation of slapstick in the Netherlands.
1918–2005 (age 87)·Dutch actor·Birthday: July 23·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Abraham 'Appie' Bueno de Mesquita was a master of the face. Born in 1918 into a Portuguese-Jewish family in Amsterdam, he turned his extraordinary physical elasticity into a national comedic treasure. His career began in the risky world of pre-war cabaret, but it was after the Second World War that he became a household name. On stage, in film, and especially on television, Appie's contortions—his eyes bulging, his mouth stretching into impossible grins—were a language unto themselves. He created a gallery of beloved, bumbling characters, most famously the hopelessly naive 'Appie' and the perpetually flustered 'Burgemeester van Bovenkarspel.' His comedy was rooted in a gentle, observational silliness that appealed to all ages, making him a fixture of Dutch family entertainment for decades. While his international fame was limited, within the Netherlands he was the undisputed king of visual comedy, a man who could tell an entire story without saying a word.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Abraham was born in 1918, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Abraham Was Born
The biggest hits of 1918
Abraham's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1918Born
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Started school
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1931Became a teenager
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Could drive
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1936Could vote
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Turned 21
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1948Turned 30
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 40
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 50
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 60
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 70
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 80
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2005Died at 87
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
Key Achievements
- Became one of the most beloved television comedians in the Netherlands through shows like 'Appie en zijn maatje' and 'Boven Wetering.'
- Created the iconic character of the 'Burgemeester van Bovenkarspel,' a flustered small-town mayor.
- Performed for decades in theaters across the country with his unique brand of physical and character comedy.
Did You Know?
He was a direct descendant of a famous 17th-century Portuguese-Jewish philosopher, Uriel da Costa.
During World War II, he was imprisoned in the Westerbork transit camp but survived the Holocaust.
His son, Jeroen, also became a well-known actor and comedian in the Netherlands.
“My face is my instrument, and I must keep it in tune.”
