Profile Text
Birth Name: Eunice Westmoreland
Date of Birth: November 15, 1914
Place of Birth: Miami, Florida, U.S.
Date of Death: June 20, 1989
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: African-American
Dona Drake was an American actress, singer, dancer, and bandleader. She starred as characters of various ethnicities including Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and European. Her roles included the films Strike Me Pink , Aloma of the South Seas , Louisiana Purchase , Road to Morocco , Star Spangled Rhythm , Salute for Three , Let’s Face It , Hot Rhythm , Hollywood Victory Caravan , Without Reservations , Dangerous Millions , Another Part of the Forest , So This Is New York , The Doolins of Oklahoma , The Girl from Jones Beach , Beyond the Forest , Fortunes of Captain Blood , Valentino (1951), Kansas City Confidential , The Bandits of Corsica , Son of Belle Starr , Down Laredo Way , and Princess of the Nile ; and the serial Adventures of Superman . She was also known as Una Novella, Rita Novella, Rita Rio, Rita Ray, Una Velon/Una Villon, Rita Shaw, and Dona Travilla.
Dona was born to African-American parents, Novella (Smith) and Joseph Andrew Westmoreland. Her father was from Augusta, Woodruff County, Arkansas. Her mother was from Montgomery, Eufaula, Barbour, Alabama. On the 1920 U.S. Census and the 1930 U.S. Census, Dona and her family are listed as “Mulatto” or “Negro.” On the 1950 U.S. Census, Dona listed herself as “White” and her birthplace as New York. Dona passed as white Hispanic in order to succeed as an entertainer in the 1930s and 1940s. Various sources stated that Dona was of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent, though this is incorrect.
Dona was married to costume designer William Travilla, until her death, with whom she had a daughter.
Dona’s maternal grandfather was named John Smith. John was born in Florida.
Dona’s maternal grandmother was named Cordie Townsend. Cordie was born in Alabama.
Sources: Genealogy of Dona Drake – https://www.findagrave.com
Dona Drake on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org Dona Drake on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org Dona Drake on the 1950 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org