Chita Rivera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chita Rivera
Rivera in 2022
Born	Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson (1933-01-23)January 23, 1933 Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died	January 30, 2024(2024-01-30) (aged 91) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, dancer, singer
Years active	1950–2023
Spouse(s)	Tony Mordente ​ ​ (m. 1957; div. 1966)​
Children	Lisa Mordente
Awards	Full list

Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson (January 23, 1933 – January 30, 2024), known professionally as Chita Rivera, was an amazing American actress, singer, and dancer. She won many awards, including two Tony Awards, which are like the Oscars for Broadway shows. She also received two Drama Desk Awards and a Drama League Award.

Chita Rivera made history as the first Latina and Latino American to receive a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002. This award celebrates artists for their lifetime contributions to American culture. In 2009, she was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest honors a civilian can receive in the U.S. In 2018, she earned a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement for her incredible career.

Rivera started her Broadway journey as a dancer in Guys and Dolls in 1950. She became famous for creating important roles in classic Broadway musicals. These included Anita in West Side Story (1957), Velma Kelly in Chicago (1975), and the main character in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993). She was nominated for a Tony Award ten times, winning twice for her roles in The Rink (1984) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993).

Beyond the stage, Chita Rivera also acted in movies like Sweet Charity (1969) and Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021). She was also on TV shows such as The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1973–1974) and Will & Grace (2005). Her life story, Chita: A Memoir, was published in 2023.

Who Was Chita Rivera?

Chita Rivera was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson in Washington, D.C., on January 23, 1933. Her mother, Katherine, worked for the government. Her father, Pedro Julio Figueroa del Rivero, was a talented musician in the U.S. Navy Band.

Chita's father was Puerto Rican, and her mother had Scottish, Irish, and African-American roots. Chita was one of five children. When she was seven, her father passed away, and her mother began working at The Pentagon.

Chita's Early Dance Training

In 1944, Chita's mother enrolled her in the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet. This was a big step for her future. When she was 15, a teacher from George Balanchine's famous School of American Ballet visited her school.

Chita was one of only two students chosen to audition in New York City. She got into the school and received a scholarship. This was a huge opportunity for her to become a professional dancer.

Chita Rivera's Amazing Career

Becoming a Broadway Star (1951–1993)

Chita Rivera's career took off in 1951. She went with a friend to an audition for a show called Call Me Madam. Instead of her friend, Chita ended up getting a role! After that, she landed parts in other Broadway shows like Guys and Dolls and Can-Can.

In 1957, she got the role of Anita in West Side Story. This part made her a true Broadway star. She was nominated for a Tony Award in 1960 for her role as Rose in Bye Bye Birdie, where she starred with Dick Van Dyke.

Paula Kelly (third from right) and Chita Rivera (second from right) in Sweet Charity (1969).

Chita also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show several times. She was praised for her performances on Broadway and in London. Even though she was great in Bye Bye Birdie, she didn't get to play the role in the movie version.

In 1969, Chita starred in the film Sweet Charity with Shirley MacLaine. She played the role of Nickie. She also appeared on The Carol Burnett Show and played Connie Richardson on The New Dick Van Dyke Show from 1973 to 1974.

In 1975, Chita Rivera was nominated for another Tony Award. This was for her role as Velma Kelly in the original Broadway cast of Chicago. She starred alongside Gwen Verdon. Chita later made a small appearance in the 2002 movie version of Chicago.

In 1984, Chita starred in the musical The Rink with Liza Minnelli. For this role, she won her first Tony Award and Drama Desk Award. In 1986, she was in a car accident that severely injured her leg. But after recovering, she bravely returned to the stage.

Later Career and Achievements (1993–2023)

In 1993, Chita Rivera won her second Tony Award and Drama Desk Award. This was for her amazing dual role as Aurora and Spider Woman in Kiss of the Spider Woman. She later performed in the London version of Chicago, this time playing Roxie Hart.

Chita Rivera with President Barack Obama before receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, August 2009

In 2002, she received the Kennedy Center Honors, a very special award. In 2003, Chita returned to Broadway in a new version of Nine. She received her eighth Tony Award nomination for this role. She even appeared with famous actor Antonio Banderas.

In 2005, Chita guest-starred on the TV show Will & Grace. Later that year, a show about her life, Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, opened on Broadway. She received another Tony nomination for playing herself in this show.

In August 2009, Barack Obama, the U.S. President, gave Chita Rivera the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest honor a civilian can receive. She had also released two albums in the 1960s, which were re-released in 2013. In 2008, she released her third album, And Now I Swing.

Chita Rivera returned to Broadway in 2015 in The Visit. She received great reviews and another Tony Award nomination for her performance. In 2017, the Astaire Awards, which honor dance and choreography, were renamed The Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography in her honor.

In 2018, she received a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. This recognized her incredible contributions to theater over many years. Time Out New York magazine called her "one of the best Broadway divas of all time" in 2019. Chita Rivera also often narrated Disney's Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World in 2021 and 2022.

Chita Rivera's Personal Life

On December 1, 1957, Chita Rivera married Tony Mordente, a dancer she met while working on West Side Story. Her role in the show was so important that the London production was delayed until she gave birth to their daughter, Lisa, in 1958. They divorced in 1966.

Chita Rivera was a Roman Catholic. She passed away in New York on January 30, 2024, at the age of 91, after a short illness.

Awards and Honors

Chita Rivera was nominated for the Tony Award ten times. This is a record for the most individual Tony Award nominations for a performer, which she shares with Julie Harris and Audra McDonald. In 2009, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. She also received an honorary degree from the University of Florida in 2018.

See also

In Spanish: Chita Rivera para niños

• List of Puerto Ricans
• List of Puerto Rican Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients