Key Takeaways
- Nia Novella Travilla's husband was Jose L. Ariza. They got married in 1971 but split up in May 1973.
- Nia was the only child of Hollywood actress Dona Drake and Oscar-winning costume designer William Travilla.
- She was born on August 16, 1951, in Los Angeles, California.
- Instead of chasing fame like her parents, Nia became a veterinarian and worked with animals her whole life.
- She passed away on October 1, 2002, at the age of 51 in Los Angeles.
- Her parents never officially divorced, even though they separated in 1955.
Introduction: Why People Are Still Asking About Nia Novella Travilla
If you have ever gone down a rabbit hole about classic Hollywood families, you have probably come across the name Nia Novella Travilla. She is not a household name. She never starred in movies or walked red carpets. But her family story? That is something else entirely.
Her dad was William Travilla, the man who designed some of the most famous dresses in movie history. Her mom was Dona Drake, a singer and actress who had her own complicated journey through the entertainment world. And Nia herself? She quietly stepped away from all of it and built a life that had nothing to do with Hollywood glamour.
A lot of people search for information about Nia Novella Travilla and her husband because her family connections are fascinating. So lets put together the full picture. Who was her husband? What was her life like? And why does her story still matter today? We are going to answer all of that right here. If you enjoy stories like this, you might also want to check out some other deep-dive celebrity family profiles over at Just Ask Genie for more reads just like this one.
Who Was Nia Novella Travilla?
A Quick Look at Her Background
Nia Novella Travilla was born on August 16, 1951, in Los Angeles, California. She was the only child of two people who were pretty big deals in the entertainment industry. Her birth came just three days before her parents seventh wedding anniversary, which is a fun little detail that shows up in a lot of the family records.
Growing up in Hollywood during the 1950s and 1960s was not exactly a normal childhood. There was always something going on. Parties, film sets, fashion shows, and all sorts of industry events were part of everyday life in her household. But even as a kid, Nia seemed to be on a different path than the one her parents walked.
What Made Her Stand Out
Here is the thing. A lot of celebrity kids try to ride the coattails of their famous parents. Some make it. Some dont. Nia did neither. She looked at the world of Hollywood and basically said "no thanks." Instead, she turned her attention toward something that mattered a lot more to her, and that was animals. Her passion for veterinary medicine and animal care became the defining thread of her life. That alone makes her a pretty interesting person to learn about.
Nia Novella Travilla's Husband: Jose L. Ariza
Who Was Jose L. Ariza?
The big question a lot of people have is about Nia's marriage. And the answer is pretty straightforward. Nia Novella Travilla married a man named Jose L. Ariza in 1971. Not much public information exists about Jose himself. He was not a celebrity. He was not in the entertainment business as far as anyone knows. He was just a regular person who happened to fall in love with the daughter of two Hollywood legends.
Their wedding was described as a small, private event. It was attended by close family and friends. There were no big cameras or press coverage. That fits perfectly with the kind of life Nia was building for herself, one that stayed far away from the spotlight.
How Did Their Marriage End?
Unfortunately, the marriage did not last. Nia and Jose L. Ariza parted ways in May 1973. That means they were together for only about two years before things fell apart. There has been no public explanation about why the marriage ended. No interviews, no drama in the press, nothing like that. It just quietly ended, the same way it quietly began.
Did They Have Children Together?
This is another question people ask a lot. Based on all available records and information, there are no confirmed reports of Nia and Jose having any children together. Some sources suggest that Nia never had kids at all. So it seems like that chapter of her life closed without a family being started.
The Travilla Family: A Deeper Look
William Travilla: The Genius Behind the Dresses
To really understand Nia, you have to know a little bit about her father. William Travilla (March 22, 1920 – November 2, 1990) was one of the most talented costume designers in Hollywood history. He was born on Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California, and showed a natural gift for art from a very young age.
He started selling costume sketches when he was just 16 years old. By the time he hit his stride in the late 1940s and 1950s, he was dressing some of the biggest stars on the planet. He won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for The Adventures of Don Juan in 1948, a film starring Errol Flynn. That was a huge deal.
But his most famous work came when he started designing for Marilyn Monroe. He created costumes for eight of her films, including the legendary white pleated dress from The Seven Year Itch and the pink satin gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Those dresses are still some of the most recognized pieces of clothing in movie history. One version of Marilyn's dress even sold at auction for $5.6 million back in 2011.
William Travilla also won two Emmy Awards later in his career for his work on television shows like Dallas. He dressed an estimated 270 stars over the course of his career. He passed away on November 2, 1990, after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
William Travilla: By the Numbers
| Category | Details |
| Born | March 22, 1920, Catalina Island, California |
| Died | November 2, 1990, Los Angeles, California |
| Oscar Wins | 1 (Adventures of Don Juan, 1948) |
| Oscar Nominations | 4 total |
| Emmy Awards | 2 (Dallas, The Scarlett O'Hara War) |
| Films Designed For | Approximately 100 |
| Stars Dressed | Around 270 |
| Most Famous For | Designing costumes for Marilyn Monroe |
Dona Drake: The Actress With Many Names
Nia's mother had one of the more complicated stories in classic Hollywood. Dona Drake was born Eunice Westmoreland on November 15, 1914, in Miami, Florida. She was of mixed heritage, though for most of her life she presented herself as being of Mexican or Hispanic descent. The studio system encouraged this, and she went by several names over the years including Una Novella, Rita Novella, and Rita Rio.
She was a singer, dancer, and actress who appeared in films throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Some of her notable roles include a part in Road to Morocco (1942) alongside Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, and a role as the maid of Bette Davis in Beyond the Forest (1949).
Dona and William Travilla got married in 1944. At that point, Dona was actually more famous than William. But as the years went on, that changed. William's career took off in a big way while Dona eventually stepped back from acting due to health issues, including epilepsy and emotional difficulties.
Dona Drake passed away on June 20, 1989, in Los Angeles. She was 74 years old.
The Parents' Marriage and Its Effect on Nia
Did Dona Drake and William Travilla Divorce?
This is one of the more interesting details about the family. Dona and William never officially divorced. However, they did separate in 1955, when Nia was only about four years old. So for most of her childhood, her parents were living apart even though they were technically still married.
That kind of family situation can be tough on a kid. It adds a layer of confusion and instability that can shape how a person grows up and how they approach their own relationships later in life. Some people who have looked into Nia's story believe this complicated family dynamic played a role in shaping who she became as an adult.
Growing Up Between Two Worlds
Nia grew up with one foot in Hollywood and one foot somewhere else entirely. Her father was busy designing costumes for movie stars. Her mother was dealing with her own personal struggles. And somewhere in the middle of all that, Nia was figuring out who she wanted to be.
The fact that she eventually chose veterinary medicine over the entertainment industry says a lot. It tells you that she was not trying to impress anyone or follow a script. She was just following what felt right to her. That kind of quiet independence is something a lot of people find admirable, even if it does not make for flashy headlines.
Nia's Career: The Veterinarian Path
Why She Chose Animals Over Hollywood
Nia Novella Travilla became a veterinarian. That was her profession, her passion, and the thing that gave her life meaning outside of her family name. She worked locally in the Los Angeles area and built a reputation as someone who genuinely cared about the animals she treated.
On top of her veterinary work, Nia was also known for breeding Miniature Schnauzers. This was not just a hobby. It was part of her dedication to animal care and responsible breeding practices. She took it seriously, and the people who knew her said she put a real amount of thought and effort into it.
What Her Career Tells Us About Her Character
Here is a simple way to look at it. Nia could have used her last name to open doors. The Travilla name carried weight in Hollywood. But she chose not to do that. She built something on her own, in her own quiet way, doing work that actually helped living creatures. That is not something you do for fame. That is something you do because it matters to you.
Nia Novella Travilla's Legacy and Passing
Her Death in 2002
Nia Novella Travilla passed away on October 1, 2002, in a hospital in Los Angeles. She was 51 years old. The exact cause of her death was never publicly shared with the media. After her passing, she was cremated.
Her death marked the end of the Travilla family line. William had already passed away in 1990, and Dona had died in 1989. With Nia gone, there were no more direct descendants from either side of the family.
What She Left Behind
Nia did not leave behind a big filmography or a stack of awards. She did not have children to carry on her name. But what she did leave behind was a life that was lived with intention. She made choices that were completely her own. In a family defined by Hollywood, she chose compassion over celebrity.
That might not sound like much on the surface. But think about it this way. It takes real courage to walk away from a legacy like the one she was handed and build something different. Most people would have at least tried to ride the wave. Nia did not. And that, in its own way, is the most interesting part of her story.
A Timeline of Nia Novella Travilla's Life
| Year | Event |
| 1944 | Parents William Travilla and Dona Drake get married |
| 1951 | Nia Novella Travilla is born on August 16 in Los Angeles |
| 1955 | Parents separate (no official divorce) |
| 1971 | Nia marries Jose L. Ariza |
| 1973 | Nia and Jose L. Ariza part ways in May |
| 1989 | Mother Dona Drake passes away (age 74) |
| 1990 | Father William Travilla passes away (age 70) |
| 2002 | Nia Novella Travilla passes away on October 1 (age 51) |
Why People Still Search for Information About Nia Novella Travilla
The Celebrity Family Curiosity Factor
People love learning about the families behind famous names. It is just human nature. We see a movie star or a famous designer and we wonder what their home life was like. Did they have kids? Were those kids happy? Did the fame help or hurt them?
Nia's story hits on all of those questions. She was the daughter of two genuinely talented and well-known people in Hollywood. But her own life took a completely different turn. That contrast is what keeps people curious and searching for more information about her even years after she passed away.
The Mystery Element
There is also a bit of mystery to it all. Not a lot of public information exists about Nia. Her marriage to Jose L. Ariza was short and not well documented. Her career as a veterinarian was local and private. Her death was not widely covered in the media. So when people search for her, they are partly trying to fill in the blanks. And honestly, some of those blanks may never be fully filled.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who was Nia Novella Travilla's husband? A: Nia Novella Travilla's husband was Jose L. Ariza. They got married in 1971 but separated in May 1973. Not a lot of public details exist about Jose or the reasons behind their split.
Q: Did Nia Novella Travilla have any children? A: Based on available records, there are no confirmed reports of Nia having any children. Most sources indicate she did not have kids.
Q: Who were Nia Novella Travilla's parents? A: Her mother was Dona Drake, an actress and singer known for roles in films like Road to Morocco. Her father was William Travilla, an Oscar-winning costume designer best known for dressing Marilyn Monroe.
Q: What did Nia Novella Travilla do for a living? A: Nia was a veterinarian. She also bred Miniature Schnauzers as part of her passion for animal care.
Q: How did Nia Novella Travilla die? A: She passed away on October 1, 2002, in Los Angeles at the age of 51. The exact cause of death was never made public.
Q: Did Dona Drake and William Travilla ever get divorced? A: No. They never officially divorced, though they separated in 1955 and lived apart for the rest of their lives.
Q: When was Nia Novella Travilla born? A: She was born on August 16, 1951, in Los Angeles, California. That was just three days before her parents seventh wedding anniversary.
Final Thoughts
The story of Nia Novella Travilla is not a loud one. It is not full of scandals or big Hollywood moments. But it is a real one. She was a woman who grew up surrounded by fame and chose a quieter path. She married Jose L. Ariza in 1971, but that chapter of her life was short. What lasted longer was her work with animals and her steady, private contribution to the world around her.
Her parents, William Travilla and Dona Drake, left huge marks on Hollywood. William dressed Marilyn Monroe. Dona acted in classic films. But Nia? She left a different kind of mark. One that reminds us that not every great life has to be a loud one. Sometimes the quietest stories are the ones worth paying attention to.
If you found this article interesting and want to explore more stories like it, feel free to head over to Just Ask Genie where you can find plenty of other deep dives into celebrity families and hidden Hollywood histories.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information from genealogy records, entertainment databases, and biographical sources. Some details about private individuals like Jose L. Ariza are limited by nature. Always cross-reference with reliable sources if you are doing formal research.