The Star Who Fooled Hollywood

Dona Drake was a gifted and fiery triple threat of the 1940s and 50s. But behind her elegant stage alias lay more than just an ordinary name that studio heads wanted audiences to forget. After all, most Hollywood starlets of the time changed their names. Dona Drake was different, and it killed her.
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[@neideparente1449]

She was exceptionally beautiful and talented, a truly gifted dancer. That should be what mattered.

[@lishkat1167]

She was so gorgeous

[@fred3467]

I remember her as Bette Davis' maid in Beyond The Forest. Thank you for posting this intriguing post,about one of Hollywoods forgotten actress.

[@smorgasbroad1132]

I've watched many an old movie (I'm almost 70) and never heard of her, she doesn't even look familiar. Interesting and fresh Hollywood & entertainment information. 👍🏻

[@loopylyn6548]

Same here, I'm 71 and I have never heard of her!

[@smorgasbroad1132]

@@loopylyn6548 It almost doesn't seem possible. Even with the name changes (Rita Rio) nothing about her career and life has ever been told to me before. Lots of nights while I was a kid-watching those old late, late, late movies on tv. You'ld think I would have remembered some of those gowns or dance scenes at least. I wonder if her movies were purposely shelved, as they don't seem familiar either. I also wonder how she learned to play all those musical instruments, natural talent? 🤷🏼

[@carriereaves719]

Not sure ​@@loopylyn6548not surprised whatever the studios told you

[@barbaramollmann5990]

68 and watched many old movies, love them. Never heard of her

[@user-nq7de7il5j]

Same here. I'm 78 and never heard of her.

[@shadowlouise]

Excellent! Very engaging story, but I would like to know more. When and how did the truth finally come out? I thought about her parents as well, and wondered if she was able to have any relationship with them. Like most parents, they put their child first, and made a great sacrifice so she could have the successful life she would have been denied as a Black woman. This makes me wonder how many other successful celebrities had the same secret. She was a very beautiful woman, with such a sad story.

[@minervamclitchie3667]

Merle Oberon went through this as well. She was Eurasian Anglo-Indian.

[@afquan9211]

I appreciate all your videos but I especially love these videos where you focus on a lesser known person with all their struggles. You really flesh out what these people were like. THANK YOU.

[@Factinate]

Thanks for the feedback! So glad you're a fan.

[@arundhatighosh2897]

I agree! That is the main reason why I love watching your videos

[@danielthoman7324]

Very interesting video. I had never heard of Dona Drake. Even though she is dead now, I feel bad for her.😢

[@deniseedodson1938]

I'm 75 - I also can't recall seeing her - I'll keep searching - thought I knew all the old stars- sure don't know any stars of this generation.🤣

[@herminepursch2470]

​@@deniseedodson1938same here and I'm 74

[@deadwalking100]

It is indeed horrendous to have to hide your origins; and yet still such struggles continue. I found that she had a very interesting and at times challenging life. Stardom comes at a high price it seems. Thank you for this excellent presentation of her life. I will now seek out her films.

[@ellenwangler4153]

she reminds me of Gene Tierney

[@jelsner5077]

I am a big fan of Old Hollywood but was unaware of Dona Drake's sad story. I remember seeing her in Beyond the Forest where she played Bette Davis' Indigenous American maid. It looked like they darkened her skin with makeup for the role. So there's another race she portrayed.

[@mysteryelysian]

Indigenous Anericans are the people who were here before the Native American arrived here by crossing the Bering Straits. These Tribes because the.looked simular to the Africans (except the hair and even that depends on the African Tribe) were forced from their land and made to change their race to "Colored " thereby (for centuries) erasing their history, their original names, and putting them amongst the Slaves, creating the lie they were Slaves from Africa (when in reality the slaves were brought from Europe, African, the Bahamas, etc and of course here Turtle Island aka USA.)

[@watchmagichappen83smith38]

She kinda looks like the rapper Latto when she smiles big

[@mitzicrowder2186]

I love your shows. Its like reading a biography

[@Factinate]

Thanks so much. We're glad you like them!

[@esmith712]

Systemic Racism cost so many people so much! How much untapped potential has been lost, it's heartbreaking.

[@marsh443]

💐 So sad. Were I in her place, I'd probably do the same thing. A girl' gotta work... RIP

[@mysteryelysian]

Many, many people did. It was called "passing" by other Black people and it still happens, and no one is the wiser about the truth (except another Black person maysuspect. but they won't tell anyone)

[@carinwiseman4309]

Very thorough. I would add that Drake was clearly as much white as she was black.

[@elizabethblackwell6242]

Americans are obsessed with race.

[@rebeccalee1065]

Compared To Those Colors...How About Neither?

[@user-fq8rs7rz3i]

@@rebeccalee1065Ok, what would you call her?

[@dawnemile7499]

She was as little black as her ancestry. Being described as black is just a Jim Crow designation that was horribly racist.

[@voyaristika5673]

Black is a stretch. She had blue eyes.

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

What a sad story! I think you did a good job, sensibly and sensitively presenting material that is still controversial and difficult today, after all these years. Well done!

[@kristinepauwels4086]

Indeed a beautiful woman. It's as if all the beautiful features of all beautiful actrices are present when you look at her beautiful face. I certainly see a young Monroe and a young Bardot. I see the beauty of Olivia de Havilland and of Jennifer Jones,...

[@darganx]

Jennifer Jones.. there's another story I'm interested in!

[@Colorbrush21]

And Gene Tierney. ❤

[@pauladouglas9891]

She looks like a grownup Shirley Temple.

[@lees_box]

true.

[@mollyhall2954]

I was trying to think what famous star she resembled! She does resemble Shirley Temple.

[@marymoor9293]

Now I know why a lot of the coloured actors and singers liked coming to England, as there was no colour bar, and no laws against marrying someone from a different race, because if that was the case, my whole family wouldn't exist. I loved what Billie Holiday said about London, she loved London, as she could leave her hotel by the front door. America didn't allow mixed raced marriages until 1967, I was born in that year, I am the youngest to 5 brothers, my oldest brother is in his 70's now. Felt so sorry for this actress, I bet if there was no colour bar, and she had a good acting coach, she would of been a star.

[@jrt818]

The US is a FEDERAL republic where STATES make the marriage, divorce laws, etc. So there were thousands of interracial marriages by 1967 and not always enforced where it was illegal. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii always permitted it. The US Constitution was set up so no one state or metropolis (like London or New York) would make laws for everyone.

[@Elizabeth-nt7uq]

More people, more exposure, more $$$$.. Plus people can trap you...

[@garethjones2596]

@@jrt818 Yes, interracial marriage was illegal in California, with some quirky exceptions in Imperial County, but legal in Illinois where one of my school mates' parents went to marry. The Lovings (of Loving v Virginia) did the same and Virginia tried to nullify their out of state marriage as illegal and they appealed citing the equal faith and credit provisions of the Constitution. Not only did the Supreme Court uphold the doctrine that eah state must respect the laws of the others (so sophistiated Bostonians must recognize a Texan's marriage to his 14 year-old first cousin as valid) but they also ruled that the state had no compelling interest preventing interracial marriages.

[@rebeccalee1065]

RACE Is A Social Construct That We, As A Society, Can Do Without. Whose Fit To Determine Whose "Black" Or Whose "White"? Isn't It Just A GUESS Based On One's Opinion? It's So Insane.

[@user-ld9xw8ck2r]

She is so beautiful

[@Hummingbird108]

I remember her bless her

[@annsidbrant7616]

It's horrible to think that Dona Drake was stopped from getting the career that she deserved because she was black. Of course, she didn't look black, which makes the laws from back then doubly reprehensible. It was apartheid politics.

[@rebeccalee1065]

It's Ridiculous To Say She Was "Black" Based On Someone's Interpretation Of What Is Black. After All, Isn't Race A Social Construct? If That's The Case...How Was She "Black"?

[@mysteryelysian]

She looked "Black" to me, around :42 I became suspicious of her "race". She looks like many of my relatives on my Mother's side of the family.

[@joegausch]

Shes positively gorgeous. She reminds me of Vanessa Williams. People are assholes being closed minded bigots. I would date her without thinking twice about it. Theres definitely no shame to her game!!! Quite beautiful .

[@SEJ3333]

Yes! Quite beautiful. I see the Vanessa Williams similarity, and I'd add that she also reminds me very much of Gene Tierney! Even one of her costumes is reminiscent of one worn by Gene Tierney, who I always thought was one of the top most beautiful actresses....

[@nwicconsultants6640]

lol....might not want to tell your wife that.🤣

[@joegausch]

@@nwicconsultants6640 no worries Unless they invent a time machine...

[@darganx]

The deeper in the comments I went, the more ignorant it gets. 'What does it matter?' well in Jim Crow America it could have cost her life. It's high school level not to understand this ffs

[@seriousros7280]

She was a brilliant dancer. What a tough, beautiful, talented woman.

[@BlackCatsandPumpkins]

I have a 'thing' about voices and you have a fantastic voice. Tone, pitch, lilt. The kind of voice I could listen to all day 😁.

[@Factinate]

Wow, thank you!

[@deborahrhoades1577]

The prime reason for the movie Imitation of Life

[@samanthabusch750]

my goodness breathtakingly beautiful

[@Cassie-pt7mt]

My local college had a blacks only graduation last year. The sad thing is that the kids think it's progress.

[@myronfrobisher]

well, she made it to 75 - I wonder what happened to her daughter ?

[@user-eh1gv5ld5o]

Her daughter became a veterinarian and died in 2002 at the age of only 51. I was curious as well and looked it up.

[@precociousone2003]

​@@user-eh1gv5ld5othank you. I appreciate your existence! ❤

[@myronfrobisher]

@@user-eh1gv5ld5o That's really sad

[@voyaristika5673]

​@@user-eh1gv5ld5oThanks!

[@virginiawilkinson5038]

I think many actors had to hide somethings.

[@estherstephens1858]

I love your videos. I Googled Dona Drake after watching this video as I often do watching your videos to learn more about those you post here. Thank you.

[@catmomjewett]

She looks like Shirley Temple.

[@seanjones5682]

That's just crazy what they had to go through back then.

[@figmo397]

It's not clear whether her parents approved or disapproved. They went to Philadelphia to get away from all the southern prejudice. Philadelphia wasn't segregated, and people intermingled with no regard to race. Given the racist climate of the time, it made sense for her to pass as white. She wasn't the only person out there doing that. White Privilege was a VERY real thing. I remember how uneasy my father was about his dark-skinned, half-African mother when he wanted to move to a "restricted" neighborhood.

[@elainevankat5353]

Wow!!! Such an interesting story…. Love your channel!👏

[@Factinate]

Thank you so much!

[@donnettewebster2504]

She really was beautiful

[@timefoolery]

I have never heard of this gal. Thanks for being more informative than TCM.

[@prof113]

I remember Dona. Stunning and talented girl!

[@fashiondolldreamer]

Why didn't anyone make a bio-pic of her? (I could see a younger Vanessa Williams playing her!!!)

[@joannecannon5033]

she was unbelievably beautiful,stunning

[@916familyfun2]

Great story She's gorgeous ⭐

[@mrm7098]

She died at 74. How is that young?

[@heidibee501]

*I look at Dona Drake and l see a bi-racial person.* The way l see it, if she said she was black she was being truthful. If she said she was white, she was also being trurhful. Genetically she was both. If l have learned anything from these stories it is that fame is a fickle mistress. Her musical/terpsichorean prowess could not be learned, but acting can. I hope l can get some of her movies, and find out a bit more about her daughter.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

I go to nightclubs to find savory characters.

[@irie3yed]

She’s got betty davis eyes ❤

[@aleksstosich]

Louis Amberg may have been born in Russia, but he was definitely an American gangster. His family came to the USA when he was 7. "Russian Mobster" is inaccurate to say the least.

[@sharrigarvin3348]

Quite frankly i have had my suspicions about Ms. Dorothy as well. The daughter Nia Travilla has passed on. Wonder what became of her siblings? This would make a fantastic movie. She sort of resembles Zendaya but it would be a great movie role for someone new

[@firebyrd437]

I certainly can't blame her for hiding her true heritage. Life back in her day for black people was grim

[@KimiPetri]

I’m assuming she wasn’t black…she was mixed (biracial). I can see it (I’m mixed myself). I can’t even imagine the turmoil and confusion she felt inside when by herself due to lieing about her ethnicity and background. All she could do was lean in so as not to go crazy. Very sad.

[@dickmartn]

It looks that way. She has a lot of white in the woodpile.

[@SEJ3333]

Those who are of mixed heritage with a parent who is "black" are generally considered black. Whether technically correct or not. As such, I've always considered myself black, irregardless of the fact that one of my parents was white. It's a crazy world, and these labels shouldn't matter at all - I hope someday they really won't.....

[@danih7577]

@@SEJ3333labels has a bad connotation because it’s a shame based world, they are no longer labels when you embrace the human being that you are and also finding pride and dignity in every heritage. Labels are nothing more than hijacking the human spirit and esteem. Labels control.

[@salliepotts2519]

​@@SEJ3333Both my parents were the same race, but I'm tempted when filling out forms that ask my race to write Human. That should be the only one that matters.

[@user-ld9xw8ck2r]

Drake was to copation

[@mitzicrowder2186]

It doesn't mater her parents. Shes was beautiful and talented. Who cares about the past.she truly unchained herself to live!

[@billyghostal]

Unfortunately it did matter at the time, we havent fully ended racism and bigotry but we have made some progress. This lady was amazing I had never heard of her, what a total badass

[@elainevankat5353]

The past does matter… or we wouldn’t know or learn anything!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU… GEEZ!

[@rebeccalee1065]

​We Can End Racism - By ENDING Race Categories (For People To Check)...As If It's Important.

[@rebeccalee1065]

​@@billyghostal We Keep It Alive EVERY Time We Check A Box.

[@MissKim...333]

So how did we ever find out about her if she kept her secret from everyone?

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@shielajarvis8977]

Reading a book now about King Vidor and a murder in old Hollywood, re:Mary Minter and her mother and sister.

[@alexiswilson939]

Being a black person, shes a pioneer

[@rez3501]

Heartbreaking 💔

[@Broadwayst]

😁She was Simply Beautiful"!!!, 🤨 In those times it was Drastically Bad for Colored People"!!!, There were quite a few who passed themselves as White", 🤨 just to get By"!!!,She, she did what She Had too"!!, And done it Well"!!!, ❤🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹May She Rest in Peace ❤🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹.

[@intheredcold9216]

So u have focused everything on race. May I ask what are ur sources? Did she write a biography? Letters? It's a very stark statement to say she died from stress at hiding her race.

[@aeginamonroe]

Looks like something intentionally made her this beautiful.

[@carolinezervan6301]

She looks like a young Vanessa Williams.

[@hoboonwheels9289]

Buffy Ste Marie was Latin pretending to be Indian, who was harmed?

[@TheNester.]

The Hollywood producers wallets that's who. The wyte Americans patronizing the theater's were "mostly" racist. That was back in the 40's, America has only moved a couple of notches about racism since then. It's STILL here.

[@pauladouglas9891]

Buffy was Italian.

[@almanook3005]

Her parents are of Italian and English descent. She fooled everybody. But there's a dark side to her story so somebody was definitely harmed.

[@precociousone2003]

​@@almanook3005 I am a fair-skinned indigenous individual & I adore Buffy St. Marie. I believe talent & aspirations should mean MORE to the public than "racial history"! We are all spiritual beings having a "human experience"! Our souls have no color, race, gender or even nationality... I wish people would view each other as souls instead of looking at the "clothes" we are given in this plane of human existence. (just my own personal opinion...)

[@garethjones2596]

All of the indigenous people trying to find a seat at the table who found it taken by a pushy Euro-American, that's who.

[@oobihdahboobeeboppah]

Society was wrong, we all know that. No one is qualified to pass judgement on her.

[@rebeccalee1065]

....And NO ONE Has A Right To Label Her As "Black".

[@suneethamay3615]

Never happened anything like that. Unable person expecting in a fantasy world!

[@user-wl8wl8lp9r]

She apparently was an extremely talented actress- she played her part in real life and was believable. Sad she had to do that, but it does attest to the talent she had but did not give herself credit for.

[@danny2518]

Well she wasn't all black that's for sure. A true beauty.

[@Truth845]

👀🤔😔SMH

[@mysteryelysian]

Looking at her at :42 I suspected she was "Black". My family looked like her on my Mothers side and Ive been told by a friend she at first thought i was Hispanic or Bi-Racial.

[@Snakesnarl]

Praaaeeegnant

[@darganx]

Scottish.

[@poolnoodleninja8686]

Are these videos narrated by a bot? I’ve seen a few of them now, and there are frequent mispronunciations

[@anitareasontobelieve378]

Today was the eclipse. My neighbors from all over the world were outside whooping it up together. We neighbors know race is one..the human race! And it is good here but there is a city in Alabamastan that hasn't had an election in 60 years. I can't imagine living like that!

[@calliopec544]

Where is Alabamastan?

[@grantkruse1812]

@@calliopec544 It's in the Amerikkkan deep south.

[@calliopec544]

@@grantkruse1812 I live in the Deep South and am unaware of any place that hasn’t held an election in 60 years. But please, do go on.

[@lilycollins4616]

I'm 63 never seen her. Maybe my mom's time?

[@danny2518]

1940's - 50's

[@deborahbaker4770]

I knew it even before they said it she was black which doesn’t matter but I like when I’m right ‼️ Lol 😂

[@KarmicSalt]

geesh you didn't have to repeat the same thing a million times.

[@carolinezervan6301]

If she tried black hollywood they would have blackfaced her just like Fredie Washington.

[@TheNester.]

If having "mixed" blood from parents, then Dorothy Lamour would also be considered biracial, she was of Spanish descent. Same as child star Margaret O'Brien, Raquel Welch, Lynda Carter, Rita Hayworth, Vanna White, Joanna Kerns and Helena Bonham Carter.

[@caraqueno]

Spaniards are white, not non-white.

[@300books]

but Spanish isn't a race. It's a nationality, just like Italian or German.

[@TheNester.]

@@300books Please read my post again. No one said Spanish was a race.

[@300books]

@TheNester. I wasn't too clear on what you meant by mixed blood (sorry). Mixed blood usually means two or more races. Didn't know that mixed nationalities could also be called mixed blood (i.e. English & Belgian).

[@TheNester.]

@@300books No problem. 😉

[@MaiRaven3]

She was obviously not “black”, but of mixed race. She was beautiful and talented. Who cares what races she was. Stardom is so overrated.

[@KateSannicksLerner]

She was listed on the census as "negro", so yes, Black; the one-drop rule applied. Mixed race wasn't a thing then. Race is a social construct; therefore, Dona Drake was Black.

[@MaiRaven3]

@@KateSannicksLerner So what she was listed as “negro” and the “one drop rule”, is racist and outdated. It was wrong then, and is still wrong to label people that way. Mixed race is the reality. We’re all connected.

[@StamfordBridge]

@@MaiRaven3The point is to blithely say now that she was not black is to be oblivious to the very history she had to struggle with. You’re not impressing anyone by stating the stultifyingly obvious truth that the racial notions imposed then were racist. But saying we can now pretend they did not exist is to be utterly naive to the history of racism. By the racist standards of the time, she was black - that is important to state.

[@DJarry394]

Hollywood cared. In many parts of the US there were laws against “race mixing”, aka Miscegenation. Hollywood was no different during the first 40 or 50 years. There is still a big deal made about mixed “race” actors and entertainers

[@300books]

Whether Black or White, her light skin and blue eyes made her physical appearance more convincing as White. That is something she couldn't change, even if she had wanted to. It's like a dwarf born into a family of tall persons. He/she is going to appear short despite the family background.

[@tedtimmis8135]

Dona Drake was a beautiful, talented woman who had a successful career as an entertainer. Americans need to stop hyping all the racial BS.

[@maymalone1505]

It is as obvious as the nose on a face that drake was mixed race therefore not black or white, it is ridiculous to keep calling her black, she dosent look lateeno either! And what colour would that be! Its all extreem prejudice on so call white people part😮

[@rebeccalee1065]

....And On "Black" People's Part, As Well, Today.

[@maymalone1505]

@@rebeccalee1065 is that surprising after all the Horror they have had to endure for many centuries 😠

[@herminepursch2470]

I thought people that were Americans were just Americans no matter what color your skin was or where your family came from

[@herminepursch2470]

When it comes down to it we are all imegrents

[@NiKiMa023]

Latinos don’t have one set look

[@FallenAngel9979]

I’d not heard of Dona till now, but she was clearly talented and stunning. The fact is, I don’t think she ever needed to come out as black, as she just *wasn’t* black. It’s pretty clear one or both parents had white heritage. She was mixed race, not black.

[@darganx]

She's Black, for sure.

[@NiKiMa023]

But at the time, what was the law, what was the rule far as race was concerned? She was Black

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

"Ah lie us"? Did you mean "alias"?

[@elizabethblackwell6242]

Downa? Downa? Why in the world would you pronounce it that way?

[@300books]

It's pronounced that way because of the spelling. It's DONA and rhymes with Mona.

[@elizabethblackwell6242]

@@300books Nonsense.

[@300books]

It's Dona, not Donna. Pronounced "Doh-Nah". You can research the correct pronunciation.

[@herminepursch2470]

Not to many people can pronounce my name. So what and who cares

[@dawnemile7499]

Black! Yes that's what she looked like.

[@JoanTarpley-hx9sh]

Doe-nah?

[@grantkruse1812]

RIGHT! I knew of her in the 50s and she was called DONNA by EVERYONE..She just did the old Hollywood trick of strange spelling for a unique name that might stick in your mind...She was so beautiful she has a place in this memory of a 73 yr old man

[@wannabetrucker7475]

so sad, so pointless. DEI 👍🏼

[@Silversmoke1000]

Oh, what an evil web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

[@herminepursch2470]

I don't like that quote

[@Silversmoke1000]

@@herminepursch2470 That's an odd thing not to like but, in any event, it is true.

[@herminepursch2470]

@@Silversmoke1000 maybe it's true for you but not for me

[@herminepursch2470]

@@Silversmoke1000 I don't try to decive anyone

[@Silversmoke1000]

@@herminepursch2470 My comment was regarding Dona Drake, not you. I didn't know you existed until you replied to my comment. Unless you are trying to pass yourself off as a race (or sex) to which you were not born, I'm not sure why you would even think my comment applied to you.

[@josi4251]

She must not have known that a dona = donut in Spanish.

[@BettyG1369]

😂😂😂 In actual Spanish, it's spelled Doña and means like Mrs. 😂😂😂

[@josi4251]

@@BettyG1369 Ya lo sé, linda. Soy bilingüe y maestra de español.

[@jtbaying2312]

B-list comments about a B-List star. What...Not mexican! I'll never watch her again

[@iamjustsaying4787]

She was NOT black. That was a white women with a bit of black heritage.

[@psisky]

Like Prince William.

[@sandrachestnut6449]

Ignorance is bliss.!!!

[@blackshoe2000]

So did her ethnicity ever, even once create a stumbling block in her life? You could very well have made your video and never brought it up, instead of obsessing over what remained a non-issue throughout her career. Every time you called her "black" it sounded more and more ridiculous.

[@rebeccalee1065]

Thank You! I Thought I Was The Only One Who Was Offended By That. ONE Drop Rule, Even Today. Yet, They Are The FIRST To Complain About Racism. Smh.

[@NiKiMa023]

@@rebeccalee1065who’s ‘they’. You say things like that and don’t even hear yourself

[@stacywilson4790]

She had African blood ,but she was very white .

[@victorsilvester78]

The narrator seems at least irritated if not angry, that Miss Drake kept her heritage secret.