Dita Parlo

. The performing arts center was formerly an opera house built in 1914, and later rennovated into the Ritz Movie Theater where Donna Reed first fell in love with movies. She appeared in only three films during the last thirty years of her life making her final film appearance in 1965. The non-profit organization grants scholarships for performing arts students, runs an annual festival of performing arts workshops, and operates The Donna Reed Center for the Performing Arts. With the outbreak of World War II, Parlo returned to Germany. The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts was organized after her death in 1986. She was scheduled to appear in the Orson Welles production of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness but this did not eventuate. She died at age 64 in Beverly Hills, California from pancreatic cancer and was interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

She attempted to establish a career in American films but despite a couple of roles in Hollywood films, was unable to extend her European success. She sued the show's production company and received an undisclosed seven-figure settlement. During the 1930s she moved easily between German and French language films, achieving success in such films as L'Atalante (1934) and La Grande Illusion (The Grand Illusion) (1937). When Bel Geddes was well enough to return to the role, Reed was fired. Born Grethe Gerda Kornstädt in Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin, Poland) Parlo made her first film appearance in 1928 and quickly became a popular actress in Germany. In her later years she temporarily replaced Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie in the television series Dallas in the 1984-1985 season. Dita Parlo (September 4, 1906 - December 13, 1971) was a film actress. She won an Academy Award for playing a prostitute in From Here to Eternity.

". Born Donna Belle Mullenger, Reed is probably best remembered for her roles as the wholesome housewife Donna Stone on American television's The Donna Reed Show and as Mary Bailey in Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. Its title track commences with the line "My name is Dita, I'll be your mistress tonight.. Donna Reed (January 27, 1921 - January 14, 1986) was an American actress. Madonna, said to have been fascinated by Parlo, took her name for the character she created for her Sex book and Erotica album.