Chita Rivera, iconic Broadway actress and two-time Tony Award winner, has passed away at age 91. Rivera, known for her roles in “Chicago,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and “Sweet Charity,” died after a brief illness in New York. With a career spanning several decades, Rivera received a record 10 Tony Award nominations and won for her performances in “The Rink” and “The Kiss of the Spider Woman.” She also appeared in films and television shows, including “Sweet Charity” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
Born in Washington, D.C. in 1933, Rivera began as a dancer at a young age before becoming one of Broadway’s leading performers. She paved the way for other Latinos in the industry and played the role of Anita in the original Broadway premiere of “West Side Story” in 1957. Rivera’s honors include a tribute at the Kennedy Center in 2002, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2009, and the 2018 Special Tony Award for her career in theater. She also wrote a book, “Chita: A Memoir,” which was published last year.
Rivera’s daughter, Lisa Mordente, confirmed that the star’s funeral will be private and that she is survived by her daughter, siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends. Stephanie Pope, a Broadway actress and friend of Rivera, described her as “a legend” and “a true star” who achieved a standard of excellence that will never be matched. Rivera’s publicist, Merle Frimark, confirmed the news of her passing and provided a statement from Mordente. CNN’s Brian Lowry and Dan Heching contributed to this report.