Decades-Old Broadway Icon Chita Rivera Dead at 91

Chita Rivera attends the 72nd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York on June 10, 2018. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Legendary Broadway performer Chita Rivera, who starred in such iconic theatrical productions as “West Side Story,” “Chicago,” and ”Kiss of the Spider Woman,” died Tuesday in New York following a brief illness. She was 91.

Her death was announced by her daughter, Lisa Mordente, who said that Rivera died peacefully. Her representative Merle Frimark confirming Ms. Rivera’s death.

In a statement to NBC, Ms. Mordente said her mother died “after a brief illness.”

During Ms. Rivera’s lengthy career, she not only gained adoration and inspired generations of Latino performers, but garnered enough critical praise to receive 10 Tony nominations. She won twice for “The Rink” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and received the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

Unlike many stars of the theater who end up leaving Broadway for film or television, Ms. Rivera was unique in that she never lost her desire to perform on stage. She was multi-talented in acting, singing and dancing.

“She was a performer, through and through,” performance historian Brian Herrera of Princeton University told NBC, noting that Ms. Rivera “was remarkable, not only for her achievements, but because she was extraordinarily beloved.” “She was one of the few performers who put their stamp on Broadway in virtually every decade,” he continued. “She was a treasure of the American theater.”

Ms. Rivera first rose to fame in 1953 with “Guys and Dolls.” She went on to establish her place as a Broadway leading lady with 1954’s “Can-Can.” That was followed by her performance in “Mr. Wonderful” in 1956.

‘West Side Story’ Seen as Her Signature Role

In 1957, Ms. Rivera landed the role of Anita in the original Broadway premiere of ”West Side Story” which would become her signature role. It also became one of the most beloved performances in Broadway history. During the show, Ms. Rivera collaborated with musical theater legends Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins, and Stephen Sondheim. The songstress would also go on to reprise the role on the London stage.

“She has always won the highest praise from her collaborators,” Mr. Herrera said.

Born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero in Washington D.C. in 1933, Ms. Rivera was of Puerto Rican descent. She was the third of five children of Pedro Julio and Katherine del Rivero.

From the age of nine, Ms. Rivera trained as a ballerina and by age 16 auditioned for famed choreographer George Balanchine, receiving a scholarship to the School of American Ballet in New York City. Her first appearance was at age 19 as a principal dancer in “Call Me Madam.”

For more than five decades, Ms. Rivera played roles in New York City’s most popular entertainment venue. Other career highlights include starring roles in “Jerry’s Girls,” “Bye Bye Birdie” and the original Broadway cast of “Seventh Heaven.” Additionally, she toured productions of “Born Yesterday,” “The Rose Tattoo,” “Call Me Madam,” “Sweet Charity,” “Kiss Me Kate,” “Threepenny Opera,” “Zorba,” and “Can-Can” with The Rockettes.

Ms. Rivera’s most recent roles included the John Kander/Fred Ebb/Terrence McNally musical “The Visit,” which was directed by John Doyle and choreographed by Graciela Daniele, and the Broadway revival of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” She also performed in the Broadway and touring musical productions of “Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life,” which celebrated her career and was written by Terrence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele. Ms. Rivera also lent her talents to the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas.

In 2009, Ms. Rivera was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama. In 2002, she became the first Hispanic woman to receive the Kennedy Center Honor.

Ms. Rivera has also headlined sold-out concerts at New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s Cadogan Hall. She was honored as a Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy.

Last year, she published her book ”Chita: A Memoir,” which was very well-received.