CELEBRITIES

Broadway legend Chita Rivera dies at 91: Revisit the 'West Side Story' star's career in photos

Pamela Avila Sean Dougherty
Chita Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists and shrugged off a near-fatal car accident, died Jan. 30. She was 91. Rivera's death was announced by her daughter, Lisa Mordente, who said she died in New York after a brief illness. Scroll through to revisit Rivera's career highlights and biggest moments, starting with her attendance at the Evening Standard Drama Awards in 1961, held at the Savoy Hotel in London, England on Jan. 23,1962.
Chita Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists and shrugged off a near-fatal car accident, died Jan. 30. She was 91.

Rivera's death was announced by her daughter, Lisa Mordente, who said she died in New York after a brief illness.

Scroll through to revisit Rivera's career highlights and biggest moments, starting with her attendance at the Evening Standard Drama Awards in 1961, held at the Savoy Hotel in London, England on Jan. 23,1962.
Evening Standard, Hulton Archive Via Getty Images
Rivera is seen in the original production of Cole Porter's "Can-Can," where she was a featured dancer in 1953.
Rivera is seen in the original production of Cole Porter's "Can-Can," where she was a featured dancer in 1953.
AP
Dick Van Dyke, left, and Chita Rivera, second from right, stars of the Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie," visit with Nashville theater fans Mrs. Moore Milan (her name not available), second from left, of Nashville, and Mrs. E. Ridley Derryberry Jr., right, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., backstage at the 54th Street Theater in New York, Nov. 5, 1960.
Dick Van Dyke, left, and Chita Rivera, second from right, stars of the Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie," visit with Nashville theater fans Mrs. Moore Milan (her name not available), second from left, of Nashville, and Mrs. E. Ridley Derryberry Jr., right, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., backstage at the 54th Street Theater in New York, Nov. 5, 1960.
AP
Actress Mary Martin, center, is shown backstage at the Mark Hellinger Theater in New York where she congratulated Doug Henning, left, and Chita Rivera, after their performance of "Merlin," on Jan. 16, 1983.
Actress Mary Martin, center, is shown backstage at the Mark Hellinger Theater in New York where she congratulated Doug Henning, left, and Chita Rivera, after their performance of "Merlin," on Jan. 16, 1983.
Nancy Kaye, AP
The cast of the Broadway musical "Bajour" are shown, with Chita Rivera and Herbert Edelman at center, on Jan. 15, 1965.
The cast of the Broadway musical "Bajour" are shown, with Chita Rivera and Herbert Edelman at center, on Jan. 15, 1965.
AP
Musical director Lehman Engel, right, and actress Chita Rivera, star of the new Broadway musical "Bajour," pose together backstage at the Shubert Theater in New York, on Nov. 25, 1964.
Musical director Lehman Engel, right, and actress Chita Rivera, star of the new Broadway musical "Bajour," pose together backstage at the Shubert Theater in New York, on Nov. 25, 1964.
Matty Zimmerman, AP
Newlyweds Chita Rivera and Tony Mordente pictured after they were married at Notre Dame church in New Hyde Park, New York, on Dec. 1, 1957. Rivera, of Puerto Rican descent, and Mordente, of Mexican descent, starred together in the musical "West Side Story."
Newlyweds Chita Rivera and Tony Mordente pictured after they were married at Notre Dame church in New Hyde Park, New York, on Dec. 1, 1957. Rivera, of Puerto Rican descent, and Mordente, of Mexican descent, starred together in the musical "West Side Story."
AP
Choreographer Jerome Robbins, second from left, goes through rehearsals for the upcoming Broadway musical "West Side Story" on July 22, 1957. Chita Rivera is seen beside Robbins at center.
Choreographer Jerome Robbins, second from left, goes through rehearsals for the upcoming Broadway musical "West Side Story" on July 22, 1957. Chita Rivera is seen beside Robbins at center.
AP
Chita Rivera first gained wide notice in 1957 as Anita in the original production of "West Side Story" and was still dancing on Broadway with her trademark energy a half-century later in 2015's "The Visit." "I wouldn't know what to do if I wasn’t moving or telling a story to you or singing a song," she told The Associated Press then. "That's the spirit of my life, and I'm really so lucky to be able to do what I love, even at this time in my life."
Chita Rivera first gained wide notice in 1957 as Anita in the original production of "West Side Story" and was still dancing on Broadway with her trademark energy a half-century later in 2015's "The Visit."

"I wouldn't know what to do if I wasn’t moving or telling a story to you or singing a song," she told The Associated Press then. "That's the spirit of my life, and I'm really so lucky to be able to do what I love, even at this time in my life."
AP
Chita Rivera won Tonys for "The Rink" in 1984 and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in 1993. When accepting a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018, she said "I wouldn’t trade my life in the theater for anything, because theater is life."
Chita Rivera won Tonys for "The Rink" in 1984 and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in 1993. When accepting a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018, she said "I wouldn’t trade my life in the theater for anything, because theater is life."
Richard Drew, AP
Chita Rivera and composer John Kander pictured together ahead of an interview with USA TODAY in 2015.
Chita Rivera and composer John Kander pictured together ahead of an interview with USA TODAY in 2015.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
President Barack Obama presented the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to Chita Rivera, who as a Puerto Rican American broke barriers as an actress, singer and dancer. She was the first Hispanic woman to receive a Kennedy Center Honors award.
President Barack Obama presented the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to Chita Rivera, who as a Puerto Rican American broke barriers as an actress, singer and dancer. She was the first Hispanic woman to receive a Kennedy Center Honors award.
J. Scott Applewhite, AP
Chita Rivera at the 72nd annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 10, 2018, in New York.
Chita Rivera at the 72nd annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 10, 2018, in New York.
Evan Agostini, Invision
Broadway star Chita Rivera, foreground, and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes rehearse Cole Porter's "Can Can" in New York on Jan. 21, 1988. Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists, died Tuesday. She was 91.
Broadway star Chita Rivera, foreground, and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes rehearse Cole Porter's "Can Can" in New York on Jan. 21, 1988. Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists, died Tuesday. She was 91.
Marty Lederhandler, AP
Liza Minnelli, left, Chita Rivera, center and Robert De Niro, during a party Minnelli hosted to honor Rivera for winning the best actress Tony Award for "The Rink" on June 9, 1984, in New York.
Liza Minnelli, left, Chita Rivera, center and Robert De Niro, during a party Minnelli hosted to honor Rivera for winning the best actress Tony Award for "The Rink" on June 9, 1984, in New York.
AP
Chita Rivera, right, and Liza Minnelli, who co-star in the musical "The Rink," are pictured at the Martin Beck Theater in New York.
Chita Rivera, right, and Liza Minnelli, who co-star in the musical "The Rink," are pictured at the Martin Beck Theater in New York.
AP
From left to right: singer Engelbert Humperdinck, Lisa Mordente, and her mother actress Chita Rivera are shown at a party Liza Minnelli hosted for Rivera to congratulate her on her Tony Award for "The Rink," at Gotham restaurant in New York on June 9, 1984.
From left to right: singer Engelbert Humperdinck, Lisa Mordente, and her mother actress Chita Rivera are shown at a party Liza Minnelli hosted for Rivera to congratulate her on her Tony Award for "The Rink," at Gotham restaurant in New York on June 9, 1984.
AP
Ben Vereen, right, congratulates Chita Rivera in her dressing room following her opening night performance in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in New York on May 4, 1993. Woman at left is unidentified.
Ben Vereen, right, congratulates Chita Rivera in her dressing room following her opening night performance in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in New York on May 4, 1993. Woman at left is unidentified.
Paul Hurschmann, AP
Broadway legend Chita Rivera poses at Joe Allen's restaurant in New York on Nov. 10, 2005.
Broadway legend Chita Rivera poses at Joe Allen's restaurant in New York on Nov. 10, 2005.
JIM COOPER, AP
Chita Rivera dances with others on stage during a dress rehearsal to her career-spanning Broadway show, "The Dancer's Life," at the Schoenfeld Theatre in New York on Nov. 22, 2005.
Chita Rivera dances with others on stage during a dress rehearsal to her career-spanning Broadway show, "The Dancer's Life," at the Schoenfeld Theatre in New York on Nov. 22, 2005.
GREGORY BULL, AP
Chita Rivera, left, and Dick Van Dyke are interviewed by the media on the stage of Broadway's Schoenfeld Theater on Jan. 24, 2006 in New York as they reunited onstage for the first time in more than 45 years since they co-starred in the musical "Bye Bye Birdie."
Chita Rivera, left, and Dick Van Dyke are interviewed by the media on the stage of Broadway's Schoenfeld Theater on Jan. 24, 2006 in New York as they reunited onstage for the first time in more than 45 years since they co-starred in the musical "Bye Bye Birdie."
TINA FINEBERG, AP
Chita Rivera dances with the Dames Ensemble for the "Nothing Like A Dame" fundraiser on March 18, 2002 at the St. James theatre in New York.
Chita Rivera dances with the Dames Ensemble for the "Nothing Like A Dame" fundraiser on March 18, 2002 at the St. James theatre in New York.
Dennis Clark, Getty Images
Former U.S. President George W. Bush, right, and first lady Laura Bush, second from right, sing the National Anthem with recipients of the 2002 Kennedy Center Honors, (L-R) Paul Simon, Chita Rivera and James Earl Jones prior to a gala performance Dec. 8, 2002 at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Former U.S. President George W. Bush, right, and first lady Laura Bush, second from right, sing the National Anthem with recipients of the 2002 Kennedy Center Honors, (L-R) Paul Simon, Chita Rivera and James Earl Jones prior to a gala performance Dec. 8, 2002 at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Alex Wong, Getty Images
From left, 1993 Tony Award winners Ron Leibman, best actor in a play; Wayne Cilento, best choreography; Pete Townshend, best musical score; Chita Rivera, best actress in a musical; Madeline Kahn, best actress in a play; and Tony Awards hostess Liza Minnelli pose backstage after the show.
From left, 1993 Tony Award winners Ron Leibman, best actor in a play; Wayne Cilento, best choreography; Pete Townshend, best musical score; Chita Rivera, best actress in a musical; Madeline Kahn, best actress in a play; and Tony Awards hostess Liza Minnelli pose backstage after the show.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP Via Getty Images
Jared Grimes, Derek Hough, Chita Rivera and John Kander attend the Chita Rivera Awards 2023 at NYU Skirball Center on May 22, 2023 in New York.
Jared Grimes, Derek Hough, Chita Rivera and John Kander attend the Chita Rivera Awards 2023 at NYU Skirball Center on May 22, 2023 in New York.
Jason Mendez, Getty Images
Chita Rivera performs on Oct. 7, 2013 in New York.
Chita Rivera performs on Oct. 7, 2013 in New York.
John Lamparski, WireImage
Chita Rivera, second left, and the cast of "The Visit" perform at the 69th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 7, 2015 in New York.
Chita Rivera, second left, and the cast of "The Visit" perform at the 69th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 7, 2015 in New York.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
(L-R) Eric McCormack as Will, Michele Lee, Chita Rivera, and Sean Hayes as Jack in an episode of "Will and Grace."
(L-R) Eric McCormack as Will, Michele Lee, Chita Rivera, and Sean Hayes as Jack in an episode of "Will and Grace."
NONE, NBC
Antonio Banderas and Chita Rivera are photographed in the actor's dressing room at the Eugene O'Neill Theater on March 16, 2003.
Antonio Banderas and Chita Rivera are photographed in the actor's dressing room at the Eugene O'Neill Theater on March 16, 2003.
TODD PLITT, USA TODAY
Chita Rivera accepts the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 72nd Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall.
Chita Rivera accepts the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 72nd Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
A member of the cast of "On The Town" dances with Chita Rivera in the audience at the 2015 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
A member of the cast of "On The Town" dances with Chita Rivera in the audience at the 2015 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY