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
Kansas City Confidential (1952)
as Teresa
Princess of the Nile (1954)
as Mirva
Sweet Shoe (1938)
as Rita Rio
Fortunes of Captain Blood (1950)
as Pepita
Valentino (1951)
as Maria Torres
Star Spangled Rhythm (1942)
as Dona Drake
Road to Morocco (1942)
as Mihirmah
The Bandits of Corsica (1953)
as Zelda
Another Part of the Forest (1948)
as Laurette Sincee
Feed the Kitty (1941)
as Self / Singer (as Rita Rio)
Down Laredo Way (1953)
as Narita
Without Reservations (1946)
as Dolores Ortega
Aloma of the South Seas (1941)
as Nea
I Look at You (1941)
as Herself
Hot Rhythm (1944)
as Mary Adams
So This Is New York (1948)
as Kate Goff
Son of Belle Starr (1953)
as Dolores
Pan-Americonga (1941)
as Rita Rio
The Doolins of Oklahoma (1949)
as Cattle Annie
The Girl from Jones Beach (1949)
as Connie Martin
Strike Me Pink (1936)
as Mademoiselle Fifi
Beyond the Forest (1949)
as Jenny
Sticks and Stones (1943)
Actor
Louisiana Purchase (1941)
as Beatrice
Dangerous Millions (1946)
as Elena Valdez
Rita Rio and Her Orchestra (1939)
as Rita Rio
Let's Face It (1943)
as Muriel
Salute for Three (1943)
Actor