Dona Drake
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Dona Drake (born Eunice Westmoreland on November 15, 1914) was an African-American singer, dancer, and film actress active in the 1930s and 1940s. Despite her heritage, she often identified as Mexican or of Latin descent to navigate Hollywood’s racial landscape. Over her career, she was frequently cast in ethnic roles, portraying Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and European characters. She performed under various stage names, including Una Novella, Rita Novella, and Rita Rio. In the early 1940s, she led an all-girl orchestra and gained recognition for her musical and dance performances. She appeared in films such as Kansas City Confidential (1952), Louisiana Purchase (1941), and Road to Morocco (1942). Despite her talents, she remained a supporting actress rather than a leading star. Dona Drake passed away on June 20, 1989, due to pneumonia and respiratory failure. Her ashes were scattered at sea near Point Fermin in California.
Known for
Credits
Hollywood Victory Caravan (1945)
as Dona Drake
Princess of the Nile (1954)
as Mirva
Without Reservations (1946)
as Dolores Ortega
Valentino (1951)
as Maria Torres
Fortunes of Captain Blood (1950)
as Pepita
So This Is New York (1948)
as Kate Goff
Son of Belle Starr (1953)
as Dolores
Aloma of the South Seas (1941)
as Nea
Kansas City Confidential (1952)
as Teresa
Down Laredo Way (1953)
as Narita
I Look at You (1941)
as Herself
The Girl from Jones Beach (1949)
as Connie Martin
Road to Morocco (1942)
as Mihirmah
Another Part of the Forest (1948)
as Laurette Sincee
Beyond the Forest (1949)
as Jenny
Sweet Shoe (1938)
as Rita Rio
The Doolins of Oklahoma (1949)
as Cattle Annie
Rita Rio and Her Orchestra (1939)
as Rita Rio
Hot Rhythm (1944)
as Mary Adams
The Bandits of Corsica (1953)
as Zelda
Strike Me Pink (1936)
as Mademoiselle Fifi
Louisiana Purchase (1941)
as Beatrice
Star Spangled Rhythm (1942)
as Dona Drake
Let's Face It (1943)
as Muriel
Feed the Kitty (1941)
as Self / Singer (as Rita Rio)
Salute for Three (1943)
Actor
Sticks and Stones (1943)
Actor
Dangerous Millions (1946)
as Elena Valdez