Surpassing-Broadway Legend Chita Rivera Dead at 91

2025-05-05 00:06:46source:L’École de Gestion d’Actifs et de Capitalcategory:Markets

Somewhere,Surpassing there's a new place for Chita Rivera.

The Broadway legend—who originated the role of Anita in West Side Story—died on Jan. 30. She was 91.

"It is with great sadness that Lisa Mordente, the daughter of Chita Rivera announces the death of her beloved mother," read a statement shared with E! News through Rivera's rep Merle Frimark, "who died peacefully after a brief illness."

No other details surrounding Rivera's death have been revealed. However, the statement notes the funeral will be private and that details surrounding a memorial service will be shared in due course.

A personal statement from Frimark, shared in addition to Mordente's statement, noted, "It is with immense personal sorrow that I announce the death of the beloved Broadway icon Chita Rivera. My dear friend of over 40 years."

Rivera was one of Broadway's most celebrated performers, with a career that spanned over seven decades on the stage. Throughout her tenure, she was nominated for 10 Tony awards, winning twice for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for The Rink in 1984 and Kiss of the Spider Woman in 1993. 

The multi-hyphenate was also a Kennedy Center Honors recipient in 2002, received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tony Awards in 2018 and was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 from then-President Barack Obama

In addition to West Side Story's Anita, Rivera also originated the titular role in Kiss of the Spider Woman and the role of Velma Kelly in Chicago.

Last year, Rivera spoke to one of the key elements to maintaining such a successful and expansive career, especially in an industry like theater which demands much from its actors night after night. 

"You have to like and care about what you're doing," she told the Harvard Business Review in an interview for its July-August 2023 issue. "If you find yourself bored, that's not the play's fault. It's your fault."

She continued, "When I'm onstage, everybody in the audience may be applauding, but if one person is sitting on their hands, that's who will catch my eye, and I'll feel I've got to win them over. In that moment the performance is your life. It's your breath. It's important."

Rivera is predeceased by her sister Carmen and, in addition to her daughter, is survived by her siblings JulioArmando and Lola del Rivero, along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

More:Markets

Recommend

The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday presented renovation plans for the Louvre, the w

Iowa-South Carolina NCAA championship game smashes TV ratings record for women's basketball

The women’s national championship game that pitted South Carolina against Iowa Sunday smashed a TV r

'Mary & George' fact check: Did he really love King James? And what about all the orgies?

We all love watching royals behave badly.Recently, viewers have been served a buffet of raunchy peri