Tony Award-winner Chita Rivera dies at 91

Fred Topel
·1 min read
Chita Rivera has died. File Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI
Chita Rivera has died. File Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI
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Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Three-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera died Tuesday. Rivera's daughter, Lisa Mordente, confirmed to The Washington Post, Deadline and The Guardian via Rivera's publicist.

Rivera was 91. The statement said she died peacefully in New York,

Rivera originated the roles of Anita in West Side Story and Velma in Chicago. The 2002 Chicago movie gave Rivera the role of Nickie.

But it was her roles in Kiss of the Spider Woman and The Rink that won Rivera Tony Awards. The Tonys gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. She was nominated eight additional times.

Rivera last appeared on stage in a 2015 Broadway production of The Visit. Past stage credits include 1953's Guys and Dolls, 1960's Bye Bye Birdie and 2003's Nine.

Broadway legend Chita Rivera died Tuesday. File Photo by Serena Xu-Ning/UPI
Broadway legend Chita Rivera died Tuesday. File Photo by Serena Xu-Ning/UPI

On film, Lin-Manuel Miranda cast Rivera among other Broadway legends for a sequence in tick, tick... BOOM!

Lisa Mordente (R), daughter of Chita Rivera (L) announced her mother's death to the press. File Photo by Ron Sachs/UPI
Lisa Mordente (R), daughter of Chita Rivera (L) announced her mother's death to the press. File Photo by Ron Sachs/UPI