Legendary broadway icon passes away
<p>Iconic Broadway performer Chita Rivera has passed away at the age of 91. </p>
<p>The dynamic dancer, singer and actress scored two Tony awards throughout her career, while blazing a trail for Latin American artists to shine on stage. </p>
<p>On Wednesday morning, Rivera's daughter Lisa Mordente confirmed the news of her passing, sharing that her mother had died in New York after a brief illness. </p>
<p>Rivera's representative Merle Frimark also shared a statement about her death, writing, "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 was 91."</p>
<p>"She is also survived by her siblings Julio, Armando and Lola del Rivero, (her older sister Carmen predeceased her), along with her many nieces, nephews and friends."</p>
<p>"Her funeral will be private. A memorial service will be announced in due course."</p>
<p>Rivera's breakout role came in 1957 as she starred as Anita in the original production of <em>West Side Story</em>, and she stayed performing in a multitude of roles until 2015.</p>
<p>Chita starred in Broadway shows such as <em>Bye Bye Birdie</em>, <em>Chicago</em>, <em>Merlin</em>, <em>Jerry's Girls</em>, <em>Nine</em>, and many more. </p>
<p>She also released two solo albums during her career, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former US president Barack Obama.</p>
<p>Rivera won Tonys for <em>The Rink</em> in 1984 and <em>Kiss of the Spider Woman</em> in 1993, and when accepting a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018, she said, "I wouldn't trade my life in the theatre for anything, because theatre is life."</p>
<p>In 2015, she told <em>The Associated Press</em>, "I wouldn't know what to do if I wasn't moving or telling a story to you or singing a song." </p>
<p>"That's the spirit of my life, and I'm really so lucky to be able to do what I love, even at this time in my life."</p>
<p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>
