Chita Rivera in ‘West Side Story’.Photo:Everett
Everett
The lights on Broadway are a little less bright tonight, as the theater world mourns the death of stage legend Chita Rivera.The actress died on Jan. 30, 2024,at 91 years old.Throughout her career, the star brought her talents to a host of iconic roles, including Anita inWest Side Story,Velma Kelly inChicagoand the titular Spider Woman inKiss of the Spider Woman.She also made her mark on the big and small screens, and earned accolades including three Tony Awards and a Kennedy Center Honor along the way.Here, look back on some of Chita Rivera’s career highlights in photos.
The lights on Broadway are a little less bright tonight, as the theater world mourns the death of stage legend Chita Rivera.
The actress died on Jan. 30, 2024,at 91 years old.
Throughout her career, the star brought her talents to a host of iconic roles, including Anita inWest Side Story,Velma Kelly inChicagoand the titular Spider Woman inKiss of the Spider Woman.She also made her mark on the big and small screens, and earned accolades including three Tony Awards and a Kennedy Center Honor along the way.
Here, look back on some of Chita Rivera’s career highlights in photos.
01of 07
‘West Side Story’
Chita Rivera in ‘West Side Story’.Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty
Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty
Rivera famously originated the role of Anita inWest Side Storyin 1957, the part that launched her into superstardom.
She performedthrough much of her pregnancy with her only child, daughter Lisa Mordente.
02of 07’Bye Bye Birdie’Chita Rivera and Dick van Dyke in ‘Bye Bye Birdie’.EverettRivera earned her first Tony nomination in 1960 for her role as Rose inBye Bye Birdie.In the musical she starred oppositeDick van Dyke; the two would form a lifelong friendship from their time together, and she’d later appear on hisNew Dick Van Dyke Showin the ’70s.
02of 07
‘Bye Bye Birdie’
Chita Rivera and Dick van Dyke in ‘Bye Bye Birdie’.Everett
Rivera earned her first Tony nomination in 1960 for her role as Rose inBye Bye Birdie.In the musical she starred oppositeDick van Dyke; the two would form a lifelong friendship from their time together, and she’d later appear on hisNew Dick Van Dyke Showin the ’70s.
03of 07’Sweet Charity’Chita Rivera in ‘Sweet Charity’.EverettRivera’s work extended to movies, too, notably in 1969’sSweet Charityalongside Paula Kelly andShirley MacLaine.“I’ll never forget an instance with Shirley MacLaine when we were filming the movieSweet Charity,“Rivera recalled to theHarvard Business Review.“She was the star, so [director and choreographer Bob Fosse] told us that he would use the take that was her best and we needed to make sure we were perfect every time.“On the last take, which was Shirley’s best, I had twisted my body just a bit and afterward said under my breath, ‘Darn it.’ Shirley heard me and asked what was wrong. Whispering, I said, ‘I just didn’t do that right.’ Then she went to Fosse and said, ‘You know, I’d like to do that take over.’ And we did.”
03of 07
‘Sweet Charity’
Chita Rivera in ‘Sweet Charity’.Everett
Rivera’s work extended to movies, too, notably in 1969’sSweet Charityalongside Paula Kelly andShirley MacLaine.
“I’ll never forget an instance with Shirley MacLaine when we were filming the movieSweet Charity,“Rivera recalled to theHarvard Business Review.“She was the star, so [director and choreographer Bob Fosse] told us that he would use the take that was her best and we needed to make sure we were perfect every time.
“On the last take, which was Shirley’s best, I had twisted my body just a bit and afterward said under my breath, ‘Darn it.’ Shirley heard me and asked what was wrong. Whispering, I said, ‘I just didn’t do that right.’ Then she went to Fosse and said, ‘You know, I’d like to do that take over.’ And we did.”
04of 07’Chicago’Chita Rivera in ‘Chicago’.Uli WeberRivera originated the role of Velma Kelly in the 1975 production ofChicagoon Broadway, and 25 years later, she returned, this time as Roxie Hart — playing the part in Toronto, Las Vegas, and London.She also had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in the 2002 film version of the musical.
04of 07
‘Chicago’
Chita Rivera in ‘Chicago’.Uli Weber
Rivera originated the role of Velma Kelly in the 1975 production ofChicagoon Broadway, and 25 years later, she returned, this time as Roxie Hart — playing the part in Toronto, Las Vegas, and London.
She also had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in the 2002 film version of the musical.
05of 07’Kiss of the Spider Woman’Chita Rivera in ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’.AlamyRivera won her second best actress in a musical Tony Award for her work as Aurora, the fantastical “Spider Woman” of a man’s dreams in 1993’sKiss of the Spider Woman.(Her first award was for 1984’sThe Rink.)Composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb “were great friends, and they believed in me,“Rivera told theHarvard Business Review.“I didn’t have the role initially. It was given to another actress before Broadway. But even though she was a great singer and actress, she couldn’t dance, and one critic said in his review, ‘Why don’t they get Chita Rivera?’ And I almost hit my head: ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ I finally did get the part, thanks to God, and history was made.”
05of 07
‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’
Chita Rivera in ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’.Alamy
Alamy
Rivera won her second best actress in a musical Tony Award for her work as Aurora, the fantastical “Spider Woman” of a man’s dreams in 1993’sKiss of the Spider Woman.(Her first award was for 1984’sThe Rink.)
Composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb “were great friends, and they believed in me,“Rivera told theHarvard Business Review.“I didn’t have the role initially. It was given to another actress before Broadway. But even though she was a great singer and actress, she couldn’t dance, and one critic said in his review, ‘Why don’t they get Chita Rivera?’ And I almost hit my head: ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ I finally did get the part, thanks to God, and history was made.”
06of 07’The Dancer’s Life’Chita Rivera in ‘The Dancer’s Life’.Jemal Countess/WireImageRivera was so beloved that she performed in her own show,Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life,on Broadway from 2005 to 2006. The musical — a history of her roles and the choreographers behind some of the major moments — earned her her ninth Tony nomination.
06of 07
‘The Dancer’s Life’
Chita Rivera in ‘The Dancer’s Life’.Jemal Countess/WireImage
Jemal Countess/WireImage
Rivera was so beloved that she performed in her own show,Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life,on Broadway from 2005 to 2006. The musical — a history of her roles and the choreographers behind some of the major moments — earned her her ninth Tony nomination.
07of 07’The Visit’Chita Rivera in ‘The Visit’.Jason Smith/EverettRivera’s final Broadway role was in 2015’s short-livedThe Visit,in which she starred as the wealthy, conniving Claire Zachanassian. Her performance earned her her 10th and final Tony Award nomination.Three years later,she’d win her third Tony, a Lifetime Achievement Award. “I said, ‘Does that mean it’s all over?’ " she joked when she accepted the award at the 2018 Tonys. She thanked her mother for putting her into ballet classes at a young age, which “led me here.““I wouldn’t trade my life in the theater for anything, as the theater is life,” she concluded, adding, “there’s still a lot of salt left in this shaker.”
07of 07
‘The Visit’
Chita Rivera in ‘The Visit’.Jason Smith/Everett
Jason Smith/Everett
Rivera’s final Broadway role was in 2015’s short-livedThe Visit,in which she starred as the wealthy, conniving Claire Zachanassian. Her performance earned her her 10th and final Tony Award nomination.
Three years later,she’d win her third Tony, a Lifetime Achievement Award. “I said, ‘Does that mean it’s all over?’ " she joked when she accepted the award at the 2018 Tonys. She thanked her mother for putting her into ballet classes at a young age, which “led me here.”
“I wouldn’t trade my life in the theater for anything, as the theater is life,” she concluded, adding, “there’s still a lot of salt left in this shaker.”
source: people.com
