The First Lady of Broadway Bids Farewell: Iconic Star Chita Rivera Dies at 91
The lights of Broadway dimmed today as we mourn the loss of the legendary Chita Rivera, the trailblazing talent who paved the way for Latinas on the Great White Way. Rivera, best known for originating the role of Anita in the iconic 1957 production of “West Side Story,” passed away Tuesday in New York City at the age of 91, her daughter confirmed.
From her auspicious beginnings as a young dancer earning a scholarship to the prestigious School of American Ballet, to her show-stopping Broadway turns in such hit shows as “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Chicago,” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (for which she won her second Tony Award in 1993), Rivera embodied the spirit, passion and fearlessness of a true artist. With her dazzling smile, killer dance moves and that unmistakable voice, Rivera lit up every stage she graced over her decades-long career.
As word spread of her passing, tributes flooded in from the Broadway community and her legions of fans. Her “West Side Story” co-star Rita Moreno took to Instagram to share memories of their long friendship, saying she felt “pride” whenever she was mistaken for Rivera over the years. “Chita Rivera is eternal,” Moreno wrote. “She was the essence of Broadway.” Others like Kristin Chenoweth and Lin-Manuel Miranda also posted emotional messages in honor of Rivera’s legacy.
Rivera never seemed to slow down, even as she grew older, starring in revivals of “The Visit” and “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” in her 80s. She spoke often of the two sides to her persona – the darker, more tempestuous Dolores and the glittering stage presence Chita. “I believe that Dolores is responsible for me having a career,” Rivera wrote in her 2023 memoir. “She’s the guts. She’s the courage.”
That courage fueled a career that earned Rivera the Kennedy Center Honors in 2002 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. And her influence stretches beyond Broadway as well – she served as inspiration for the role Anita in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning 1961 film adaptation starring Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno.
As the theater world’s leading lady for over 60 years, Rivera set the bar high for Latinas and lit the path forward with her indomitable spirit. She may take her final curtain call today, but her legacy in lights will never fade. Rivera is survived by her daughter, Lisa Mordente, and siblings Julio, Armando and Lola del Rivero. As her dear friend Rita Moreno said, “Chita Rivera is eternal.” And so she shall remain, frozen forever in time high-kicking across the Broadway stage into history.
RIP 🙏