Actress and singer Chita Rivera, died at the age of 91, in New York after a short illness on January 30, 2024. Rivera's parents were Puerto Rican, she was born in Washington, D.C., and she received recognition for her work on stage as well as films. And TV shows.
Rivera's rep also shared a statement with People magazine, saying that they have been friends for about 40 years. Chita's daughter, Lisa Mordente, said details about her memorial will be revealed soon, and people can send donations to the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS charity.
Actress Rita Moreno paid tribute to Rivera on Facebook and recalled the time they first met. She further stated:
“When I discovered that this amazing creature was one of my people, I squealed with pride. Over the years, we've always gotten it wrong on occasion, which I've always considered a badge of honor.”
Chita's survivors include her siblings Julio, Armando and Lola del Rivero, along with other family members.
Chita Rivera started pursuing her career as a dancer at a very young age: her early life and other details are explored
According to Band of Outsiders, Chita Rivera's father, Pedro Julio, who is Puerto Rican, played in the U.S. Navy Band and was well-trained on the saxophone. Her mother, Katherine Anderson, worked as a government employee, and knew all about the Scottish, Irish, and African American cultures.
Chita Rivera was seven years old when her father died, and she had four other siblings. She reportedly became interested in dancing and joined the Jones Hayward Ballet School.
Rivera later auditioned for a teacher from George Balanchine's School of American Ballet and was awarded a scholarship. She trained herself under some of the most talented dancers of the time, and at the age of 17, she applied to audition for a Broadway musical. Call me ma'amwhere she was chosen.
Also known as Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson, she has gone on to appear in numerous Broadway musicals such as Guys and Dolls, Seventh Heaven, And more. In 1957, she became famous for her work in West Side Story Spider Woman/Aurora is depicted in Spider Woman Kiss.
PBS reported that Chita participated in various national tours, making her a popular face. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to theatre, including a Tony Award in the category of Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.
Chita Rivera has been praised for her performances in films and television shows
People magazine states that Chita Rivera has been active on stage since the 1950s, and in between, she has portrayed various roles in films and television. She appeared as Connie Richardson in the CBS sitcom, The new Dick Van Dyke show.
She lent her voice to The Witch in two episodes of The Witch Dora the Explorer She appeared in documentaries such as: Makes me feel like I'm dancing And Still waiting in the wings. Chita's filmography includes such TV shows as The Gary Moore Show, One Life to Live, And Will & Grace.
According to People Magazine, Chita Rivera was romantically linked to actor Tony Mordente while working together West Side Story. The couple married in 1957, and their daughter was born the following year. Like her mother, Lisa is active in the entertainment industry and has appeared in TV shows such as Team A.
