Lupita Tovar was a Mexican-American actress best known for her roles in “Drácula” (1931), “Santa” (1932), and “Imitation of Life” (1959). Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, she made significant contributions to early cinema.
Personal and Family Life
Lupita Tovar was born on July 27, 1910, in Matias Romero, Oaxaca, Mexico, as Guadalupe Tovar. She married Paul Kohner on October 31, 1932, with whom she had two children: Pancho and Susan Kohner. Susan became an acclaimed actress, earning an Oscar nomination for her work in “Imitation of Life.” Tovar was also a grandmother to filmmakers Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz.
Career Highlights
Tovar began her acting career in silent films before transitioning to sound films. She starred in the first Mexican talkie, “Santa,” in 1932, and gained fame for her role in Universal’s Spanish-language edition of “Drácula.” In the 1940s, she stepped back from her film career but remained a notable figure in Hollywood for her early contributions to the industry.
Death and Legacy
Lupita Tovar passed away on November 12, 2016, in Los Angeles, California, just a day after her daughter Susan Kohner’s 80th birthday. Her legacy in film was recognized when both she and her daughter had works selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2015. Tovar is remembered for breaking barriers in early cinema as a prominent Latina actress.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Invader | 1936-01-02 | Lupita Melez |
| South of the Border | 1939-12-15 | Dolores Mendoza |
| Hedy Lamarr: Secrets of a Hollywood Star | 2006-01-21 | |
| Border Law | 1931-10-12 | Tonita |
| Blockade | 1938-06-17 | Palm Reader |
| The Road to ‘Dracula’ | 1999-12-21 | Self |
| Marihuana El Monstruo Verde | 1936-06-04 | |
| East of Borneo | 1931-08-01 | Neila |
| Santa | 1932-03-30 | Santa |
| The Cock-Eyed World | 1929-10-19 | Bit Part |
| Green Hell | 1940-01-26 | Native Girl |
| The Crime Doctor’s Courage | 1945-02-27 | Dolores Bragga |
| Tropic Fury | 1939-09-01 | Maria Scipio |
| The Westerner | 1940-09-18 | Teresita (uncredited) |
| Gun to Gun | 1944-01-08 | Dolores Diego |
| Two Gun Sheriff | 1941-04-09 | Nita |
| Vidas rotas | 1935-03-25 | Marcela |
| Universal Horror | 1998-10-08 | Self – Interviewee |
| Cinema’s Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood | 2009-01-01 | Self – Interviewee |
| The Fighting Gringo | 1939-08-08 | Anita del Campo |
| Drácula | 1931-03-11 | Eva |
| María | 1938-01-01 | |
| Rose Hobart | 1936-12-09 | Woman (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| The Veiled Woman | 1929-04-14 | Young Girl |
| Yankee Don | 1931-05-17 | Juanita |
| Carne de Cabaret | 1931-05-08 | Drothy O’Neil |
| Vampires: Thirst for the Truth | 1996-01-01 | Self |
| Miguel Strogoff | 1944-01-01 | Nadia Fedorova |