Chita Rivera, one of the shining stars of Broadway, sadly left us at 91.
This incredible lady, who won a Tony Award, spent almost seven decades making Broadway magic.
Think of her as Anita in West Side Story, Velma in Chicago, and Rose in Bye Bye Birdie—those were her big moments.
Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original West Side Story film, said Chita was ‘the essence of Broadway.’
“As I write this, I am raising a glass to this remarkable woman and friend,” shared the 92-year-old Moreno on Instagram.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the brain behind Hamilton, called Rivera a ‘trailblazer’ and praised her for being an ‘absolute original.’
Andrew Lloyd Webber said she ‘redefined the words ‘theatrical legend.”
Born in 1933 in Washington DC to a Puerto Rican dad and a mom with Scottish and Irish roots, Rivera started hitting Broadway in the 1950s. She landed roles in shows like Can-Can and Mr. Wonderful.
In 1957, being part of the original West Side Story crew made her a Broadway sensation. She even got a Tony Award nod for Bye Bye Birdie with Dick Van Dyke.
Van Dyke saluted her, saying Rivera was ‘the best that ever was.’
Later on, she wowed us as Velma Kelly in Chicago.
Catherine Zeta-Jones, who won an Oscar for playing Velma, poured her heart out on Instagram: ‘There are no words to tell you what an incredible impact you have had on my life.’
Being a ‘triple-threat’—singing, dancing, and acting—made Rivera special. She also blazed a trail for Latina women.
Her final Broadway show was in 2015 in The Visit alongside the late Roger Rees.
Friends remembered her for being a bright star on stage.
Actor Jason Alexander shared on X: “The incomparable Chita Rivera was one of the greatest spirits and colleagues I’ve ever known. She set the bar in every way. I will cherish her always.”
Mia Farrow called her ‘an authentic Broadway icon,’ saying on X, “No one who was fortunate enough to have seen any of her performances will ever forget the experience.”
The Tony Awards called her a ‘Broadway legend’ whose grace, talent, and passion left a lasting mark on theatre.
Rivera scored two Tony Awards for The Rink and Kiss of the Spider Woman, with eight other nominations.
In 2002, she became the first Latina to get the Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime achievements.
Rivera also got the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2009 for her role as an ‘agent of change.’
In 2018, she got a lifetime Tony award. Last year, she shared her life story in Chita: A Memoir, which became a New York Times bestseller.
Her daughter, Lisa Mordente, shared that Rivera passed away peacefully in New York after a short illness.”
Chita Rivera sadly passed away after a ‘short illness,’ as shared by her daughter, Lisa Mordente. She left us in New York at the age of 91. Lisa, along with three siblings and many relatives, is left to cherish Rivera’s memory. The family wants to keep the funeral private, and details about a memorial service will be shared later. Lisa kindly asked for some privacy for the family during this difficult time.
Back in 2015, at the age of 82, Chita Rivera surprised everyone by making a return to Broadway in a show called The Visit. When asked about retiring, she told Broadway Direct:
“That’s up to God. But in the meantime, life is fabulous and I’m lucky enough to have lived a long time while surrounded by the greatest creative people. I have too much to dance and sing about yet, and too many people to entertain.” — via Broadway Direct.
Our hearts go out to Chita Rivera’s family, and we thank her for the wonderful memories. May she rest in peace.
