On Jan. 30, 2024, Chita Rivera unfortunately passed away after a brief illness. As per the official statement, the actress-singer was 91 and died peacefully in New York. Her friend and publicist, Merle Frimark, shared the statement (via The Guardian).
Highly celebrated as a “triple-threat,” Chita Rivera was well-known for acting, singing, and dancing. The icon was a trailblazer for Latina women and has been dabbling in theater since the 1950s. Moreover, she was also center-stage in her last Broadway appearance in 2015, starring in “The Visit” (via BBC).
Chita Rivera shot to stardom after playing the role of Anita in the original “West Side Story.” She was later nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of Rose in “Bye Bye Birdie,” where she appeared alongside Dick Van Dyke.
Her friends and family have decided to keep the funeral private, with the statement noting that a memorial service will be announced soon (via People). With Rivera’s unfortunate passing, many are curious about her family. Here’s everything we know.
Chita Rivera had one kid
Chita Rivera was married to Tony Mordente from 1957 to 1966. The couple welcomed Lisa Mordente together on July 30, 1958. Lisa has followed in her mother’s footsteps, working in TV and Broadway. Moreover, the 65-year-old was nominated for a Tony Award for her work in “Marlowe” (via People).
Rivera was a loving mother who maintained a balance between her personal and professional life. In a 2002 interview, Lisa Mordente noted that her mom was unaffected by the success and fame. She exclaimed, “She taught me the difference between showbiz life and real life…We had dinner at 4 p.m. every day at the table with place mats and no TV” (via The Washington Times).
A year before Chita Rivera’s death, her daughter threw her a 90th birthday bash. While it was a major milestone, the Broadway legend exclaimed that seeing the big “90” on the banner made her shiver.
