Chita Rivera, Broadway Musical Legend And 'West Side Story' Star Dies Aged 91

Chita Rivera, a renowned Broadway icon, has passed away at the age of 91, as confirmed by her daughter in an official statement.

Rivera's daughter, Lisa Mordente, mentioned that her mother passed away peacefully in New York after a short illness.

"It is with great sadness that Lisa Mordente, the daughter of Chita Rivera, announces the death of her beloved mother who died peacefully on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 in New York after a brief illness," she said in a statement.

With a career in the theater industry that spanned nearly seven decades, Chita Rivera, a Tony-award winning entertainer, is celebrated for her remarkable roles, including Anita in West Side Story and Rose in Bye Bye Birdie.

Born in 1933 in Washington DC, Chita Rivera's heritage was a blend of Puerto Rican from her father and Scottish and Irish from her mother. Her Broadway journey commenced in the 1950s, where she secured roles in productions such as Can-Can and Mr. Wonderful.

In 1957, Chita Rivera joined the original cast of 'West Side Story', portraying the sassy and hip-swaying Anita, as she commanded the stage with renditions of 'America' and delivered a warning about 'A Boy Like That', a performance that catapulted her into Broadway stardom.

Chita Rivera once expressed her deep appreciation for the experience of witnessing the creation of that groundbreaking musical by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, saying, "To be there when those geniuses created that show was something that is a blessing, you know. It's something that you can never, ever forget."

Chita Rivera is widely acclaimed as a "triple-threat" artist, excelling in singing, dancing, and acting in numerous Broadway successes over the years. Additionally, she is believed to be a trailblazer for Latina women in the entertainment industry.

Renowned playwright Terrence McNally, known for penning the book for Chita Rivera's Tony-winning performances in "The Rink" alongside Liza Minnelli in 1984 and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" a decade later, eloquently characterized her as "a walking history book of the golden age of American musical theater."

Following that, Rivera earned a Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of Rose in the musical Bye Bye Birdie, sharing the stage with Dick Van Dyke. Several decades later, she took on another iconic role as the vaudeville performer Velma Kelly in Chicago.

In 2018, Chita Rivera was honored with a lifetime achievement Tony Award. She is also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, presented to her by former President Barack Obama.

She was the first Hispanic woman to be honored with the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor in 2002.