Hemky Louis Madera was born on January 26, 1977, in Queens, New York, to Dominican parents Luis and Gisela Madera. At the tender age of two months, he was relocated to Santiago, Dominican Republic, where he spent his formative years. He graduated from Santiago Christian School before embarking on a series of various jobs, ultimately deciding to pursue his lifelong passion for acting.
Madera's early foray into the world of acting came to widespread acclaim with his appearance on the television production "Grandes Series Dominicanas". He then landed the lead role in the mini-series "En La Olla", followed by "Trio en Alta Mar", both of which were directed by renowned Dominican director and producer Alfonso Rodriguez.
After a brief stint in New York City, where he worked on the film production of "Bookies Lament", Madera returned to the Dominican Republic to star in the mini-series "Asalto en la Lincoln". He then became a part of the Primetime television series production and cast member of both hit sitcoms "Los Electrolocos" and "Ciudad Nueva".
Madera's first theatrical performance was in "Pantallas", a production staged at Santo Domingo's Great National Theatre. He later returned to New York to perform in the Inverse Theatre's production of "Icarus and Aria". After participating in workshops and internships at The Actor's Studio and Gene Frankel Theatre, he was cast in a range of productions, including "Life is a Dream", "The Mistress of the Inn", "Chronicles of a Death Foretold", "Blood Weddings", "Midnight Brainwash Revival", "Feast of the Goat", "Burning the Bridges", and "Belisa's Capriciousness".
Madera's television credits include appearances on renowned Primetime shows such as "The Shield" and "Law and Order: Criminal Intent". He also had recurring roles on SHOWTIME's "Weeds" and HBO's "Luck", starring alongside Dustin Hoffman. His film credits include performances with actors such as Harvey Kietel, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Diana Bracho in the film "Dreaming of Julia", where he portrayed a young human rights crusader in 1950s Cuba. He has also appeared in "The Lost City" alongside Andy Garcia, Dustin Hoffman, and Bill Murray, as well as in the Gore Verbinski film "Rango" with Johnny Depp and Ray Winstone.
