Chita Rivera
Biography
Chita Rivera built a long career as an American actress, singer, and dancer, with decades of Broadway work. Born in Washington, D.C., she studied at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet and earned a scholarship to the School of American Ballet. Her first Broadway job was dancing in Guys and Dolls (1950), and she became a star when she originated Anita in West Side Story (1957). She created Rose in Bye Bye Birdie, earning a Tony nomination, and played Nickie in the film Sweet Charity (1969). She originated Velma Kelly in Chicago and later appeared briefly in the 2002 movie Chicago (2002). She won Tony Awards for The Rink (1984) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993), and was a ten-time nominee. Her honors included two Drama Desk Awards, a Kennedy Center Honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a special Tony for lifetime achievement.
91years old at death
- Born Washington, D.C.
- Died New York City
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 10
- Career span
- 56 years1969 to 2025
Genres
- Documentary50%, 5 films
- Comedy40%, 4 films
- Music40%, 4 films
- Musical40%, 4 films
- Drama20%, 2 films
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A first
In 2002 Rivera became the first Latina and first Latino American to receive a Kennedy Center Honor. She was also given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
A first
Rivera received ten Tony Award nominations in all, eight of them for Best Actress in a Musical, and her eight nominations in that category remain the record for it.
Early training
Rivera was accepted into George Balanchine's School of American Ballet and given a scholarship after a teacher from the school visited her studio and picked her to audition in New York City.
Big break
In 1957, Rivera landed the part of Anita in West Side Story, and that role turned her into a Broadway star.
A role that slipped away
Rivera was passed over for the film version of Bye Bye Birdie, where the role she created was played by Janet Leigh.
Chita Rivera movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Broadway's Lost Treasures2003as Host (segment "Record Breakers") / Velma Kelly (segment "Chicago")
IMDb rating 7.8124 votes
Most often with
Ben Vereen appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Ben Vereen's page
Julie Andrews's page
Joel Grey's page
Bruce Vilanch's page
Carol Channing's page
Awards
Seven awards and honors from 1984 to 2015, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Awards | |||
| 1993 | Best Actress in a Musical | Kiss of the Spider Woman | Won |
| 1984 | Best Actress in a Musical | The Rink | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 2015 | John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement | Won | |
| 2009 | Presidential Medal of Freedom | Won | |
| Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Won | ||
| Drama League Award | Won | ||
| Kennedy Center Honors | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.