Rafael Trujillo.

Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina

Born 24 Oct 1891 San Cristóbal

Died 30 May 1961 Santo Domingo

Citizenship Dominican Republic

TL;DR

Rafael Trujillo, dictator of the Dominican Republic from 1930 to 1961, was assassinated on May 30, 1961. He joined the National Guard in 1918, seized power in 1931, and ordered the 1937 massacre of over 20,000 Haitians. Trujillo also had an uncredited cameo in Casablanca 1943.

At a glance.

STATS

Rafael Trujillo by the numbers — life, work, and family.

69 Years lived

2 Film credits

28 Awards

3 Marriages

3 Children

Family ties.

KIN · 9

The relatives of Rafael Trujillo — parents, partners, children, and siblings.

PARENTS: Altagracia Julia Molina Chevalier José Trujillo Valdéz
SPOUSES: Bienvenida Ricardo Aminta Ledesma María Martínez Alba
CHILDREN: Ramfis Trujillo Angelita Trujillo Flor de Oro Trujillo
SIBLINGS: Héctor Trujillo

Who was Rafael Trujillo?

BIOGRAPHY

Rafael Trujillo — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Rafael Trujillo joined the Dominican National Guard in 1918, a force created by the US occupation. The son of Altagracia Julia Molina Chevalier and José Trujillo Valdéz, he grew up in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic. Rising quickly through the ranks, he helped US troops crush a Dominican resistance movement. When the US left in 1924, they placed him in charge of the Guard.

Career

In Casablanca 1943, Trujillo appeared uncredited as a man turning a propeller at the airport. Politically, he ran for president in 1930 and though he lost, he claimed 95% of the vote and used the National Guard to force his way into the presidency in 1931. He established a secret police, ordered the 1937 massacre of over 20,000 Haitians, and modeled his regime after Spanish fascist Francisco Franco. He renamed the capital Santo Domingo to Ciudad Trujillo and the highest peak Pico Duarte to Pico Trujillo. He survived several uprisings in the 1940s and 1950s, including a 1959 invasion backed by Fidel Castro. By 1961, the CIA had supplied weapons to a group of Dominican army officers who ambushed and killed him on May 30, 1961.

Personal life

Trujillo married three times: Aminta Ledesma 1913-1924, Bienvenida Ricardo from 1925, and María Martínez Alba. He had three children: Ramfis Trujillo, Angelita Trujillo, and Flor de Oro Trujillo. His son Ramfis married American actress Lita Milan. His daughter Flor de Oro married playboy Porfirio Rubirosa, who continued to receive government assignments even after their 1937 divorce. Trujillo’s brother Héctor Trujillo also served as a puppet president.

Legacy

Trujillo’s regime killed tens of thousands, including over 20,000 Haitians in the 1937 massacre. His personality cult, with the capital renamed Ciudad Trujillo and the peak Pico Trujillo, exemplified his egomania. After his assassination in 1961, the capital reverted to Santo Domingo and the peak to Pico Duarte. He ranks among Latin America’s most brutal dictators, and his uncredited cameo in Casablanca 1943 remains a curious footnote.

Filmography.

FILMS · 2

Browse the complete filmography of Rafael Trujillo — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

Movie
Casablanca
1943
Movie
They Called Us Trujillo's Jews
2026

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 27

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Rafael Trujillo — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great
Knight in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X the Wise
Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy
Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III
Grand Cross of the Order of the Condor of the Andes
Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Order of Francisco Morazán
Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Order of Christopher Columbus
Order of the Liberator General San Martín
Order of Propitious Clouds
Order of the Pioneers of Liberia
National Order of Merit
Order of Merit
Order of Boyacá
Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero
Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Order of the Liberator
National Order of Honour and Merit
National Order of Merit Carlos Manuel de Céspedes

Did you know?

FACTS · 6

Little-known facts about Rafael Trujillo — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Dictator of the Dominican Republic from 1930 to 1961.
Renamed the capital Santo Domingo to Ciudad Trujillo to honor himself; it reverted after his death.
Renamed the country’s highest peak Pico Duarte to Pico Trujillo; it also returned to its original name after his death.
Had an uncredited cameo in Casablanca 1943, seen in the background of the airport tarmac scene starting a silver airplane’s propeller.
Former father-in-law of playboy Porfirio Rubirosa, who continued to receive government assignments even after Trujillo granted his daughter a divorce in 1937.
Father-in-law of American actress Lita Milan, who married his son Ramfis.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 45

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Rafael Trujillo.

What is Rafael Trujillo's real name?
Rafael Trujillo’s full birth name is Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina.
When was Rafael Trujillo born?
Rafael Trujillo was born on October 24, 1891 in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic.
Where was Rafael Trujillo born?
He was born in San Cristóbal, a city in the Dominican Republic.
When did Rafael Trujillo die?
Rafael Trujillo died on May 30, 1961 at the age of 69.
How old was Rafael Trujillo when he died?
Trujillo was 69 years old at the time of his death.
How did Rafael Trujillo die?
Trujillo was assassinated by a group of Dominican army officers on a highway near Santo Domingo. The CIA had supplied weapons to the conspirators.
Where did Rafael Trujillo die?
He died on a highway near Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
What was Rafael Trujillo's occupation?
His listed occupation is actor, but he was primarily a politician and dictator. He appeared uncredited in Casablanca 1943.
What nationality was Rafael Trujillo?
He was a citizen of the Dominican Republic.
Who were Rafael Trujillo's parents?
His parents were Altagracia Julia Molina Chevalier and José Trujillo Valdéz.
Did Rafael Trujillo have siblings?
Yes, he had a brother named Héctor Trujillo.
Who was Rafael Trujillo married to?
Trujillo was married three times: to Aminta Ledesma 1913-1924, Bienvenida Ricardo from 1925, and María Martínez Alba.
Did Rafael Trujillo have children?
Yes, he had three children: Ramfis Trujillo, Angelita Trujillo, and Flor de Oro Trujillo.
What awards did Rafael Trujillo receive?
He received numerous decorations, including the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, and the Order of the Chrysanthemum among many others.
What is Rafael Trujillo best known for?
He was the dictator of the Dominican Republic from 1930 to 1961 and had an uncredited cameo in the film Casablanca 1943.
What does the nickname 'El Jefe' mean?
El Jefe means The Chief and was the title Trujillo insisted on being called as part of his personality cult.
Why was Trujillo called 'El Chivo'?
El Chivo means The Goat and was a mocking nickname used by his detractors, referencing his alleged sexual exploits and brutality.
What was the 'Parsley Massacre'?
In 1937, Trujillo ordered the army to massacre Haitians living in the Dominican Republic, using the word perejil parsley to identify them by accent. Over 20,000 were killed.
How did Trujillo come to power?
He joined the National Guard in 1918, became its head in 1924, ran for president in 1930, and despite losing, used the military to force his way into office in 1931.
What was Trujillo's relationship with the US?
The US supported him as an anti-communist ally, but after he attempted to assassinate the Venezuelan president, they withdrew support and the CIA aided his assassins.
Did Trujillo appear in any movies?
Yes, he had an uncredited cameo in the classic film Casablanca 1943 as a man turning a propeller at the airport.
What happened to Santo Domingo's name under Trujillo?
He renamed the capital Santo Domingo to Ciudad Trujillo Trujillo City. After his death, the original name was restored.
Why did the Catholic Church turn against Trujillo?
After Trujillo arrested, tortured, and deported several priests accused of aiding rebels, the Church, which had been a supporter, withdrew its backing.
Who assassinated Rafael Trujillo?
A group of Dominican army officers and politicians ambushed his car on May 30, 1961. The CIA supplied them with weapons and promised protection.
What was Trujillo's philosophy called?
His ideology was called Trujilloism, and all Dominicans were encouraged to learn it as part of his personality cult.
How did Trujillo enrich himself?
He looted the country through corruption, gave American corporations favorable deals, and spent millions on monuments to himself while most Dominicans lived in poverty.
What was the 1959 invasion by Cuban exiles?
Fidel Castro helped arm and train Dominican rebels who invaded in June 1959. They were quickly crushed, and Trujillo used the invasion to request more US military aid.
Who was Porfirio Rubirosa in relation to Trujillo?
Porfirio Rubirosa was Trujillo’s son-in-law, married to his daughter Flor de Oro. Even after their divorce in 1937, Rubirosa continued to receive government assignments.
Did Trujillo have any siblings in politics?
Yes, his brother Héctor Trujillo served as puppet president from 1952 to 1960.
What was the Dominican National Guard?
It was an internal police force created by the US occupation forces. Trujillo joined in 1918 and rose to lead it by 1924.
What was Trujillo's view of Francisco Franco?
Trujillo was a fervent admirer of Spanish fascist dictator Franco and modeled his regime after Franco’s.
How did Trujillo maintain control?
He used a secret police force to monitor threats, imprisoned, tortured, and killed opponents, and fostered a personality cult that equated him with God.
What happened to the city name after Trujillo's death?
The capital Ciudad Trujillo reverted to its original name Santo Domingo.
What was the highest peak renamed?
He renamed Pico Duarte to Pico Trujillo. After his death, it was changed back.
Which US secretary of state said a famous quote about Trujillo?
Secretary of State Cordell Hull said, ‘He may be a son of a bitch, but he’s OUR son of a bitch, reflecting US tolerance of his tactics.
Did Trujillo have any other film appearances?
His only known film appearance is the uncredited role in Casablanca 1943.
Why did the US cut ties with Trujillo?
After he attempted to assassinate Venezuelan President Rómulo Betancourt in 1960, the US condemned him and began supporting his removal.
How many Haitians were killed in the 1937 massacre?
Over 20,000 Haitians were killed in the massacre ordered by Trujillo.
What was Trujillo's personality cult like?
He required Dominicans to address him as El Jefe and study Trujilloism. He built monuments to himself and renamed landmarks after himself.
Did Trujillo receive any foreign honors?
He received 28 major awards from various countries, including Japan’s Order of the Chrysanthemum and Germany’s Order of Merit.
How did Trujillo die?
He was shot multiple times by assassins who ambushed his car on a highway near Santo Domingo.
Who was Lita Milan?
Lita Milan was an American actress who married Trujillo’s son, Ramfis Trujillo.
What economic policies did Trujillo follow?
He gave American corporations huge contracts and concessions, crushed labor movements, and portrayed himself as a bulwark against communism.
What happened after Trujillo's assassination?
His son Ramfis Trujillo briefly took over, but the family was eventually forced into exile, and the country transitioned away from dictatorship.
Why is Trujillo considered a controversial figure?
His regime featured brutal repression, human rights abuses, and economic exploitation. The 1937 massacre is a lasting atrocity.

View all 45 questions View fewer questions