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Chita Rivera

Highest Rated: 100% Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (2024)

Lowest Rated: 82% Sweet Charity (1969)

Birthday: Jan 23, 1933

Birthplace: Washington, D.C., USA

Dynamic Latina dancer-singer-actress, a staple of Broadway musicals for four decades. Shortly after studying for several years at George Balanchine's American School of Ballet, Rivera made her Broadway debut in "Call Me Madam" (1952). A sinuous dancer very much in the vein standardized by Jerome Robbins and later Bob Fosse, Rivera brought her fiery energy to many Broadway and regional productions, including originating the role of Anita in "West Side Story" (1959), "Can Can," "Mr. Wonderful," "Bye, Bye Birdie" (as Spanish Rose), "Shinebone Alley," "Chicago" (as Velma), "Merlin," "Jerry's Girls" and a Tony-winning turn opposite Liza Minnelli in "The Rink." Rivera has frequently appeared on TV, most often on such variety specials as "Broadway Sings: The Music of Jule Styne" (1987). She has played occasional dramatic roles on TV, including a memorable turn as the sinister Mrs. Dame on an episode of the cult series "The Outer Limits" (1963-64). Rivera also appeared in Bob Fosse's adaptation of the Broadway hit "Sweet Charity" (1969), in which, as one of Shirley MacLaine's sassy girlfriends, she sparkled singing and dancing to "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" with MacLaine and Paula Kelly. After a severe automobile accident in 1986, it seemed doubtful that Rivera would ever dance again, but she returned to Broadway in triumph as the film star centerpiece of a gay prisoner's fantasies in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1993). The role earned her second Tony as Best Actress in a Musical. Chita Rivera died on January 30, 2024 in NY at the age of 91.

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Highest-Rated Movies

100% Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story Watchlist
100% Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back
Watchlist
100% 90% Bathtubs Over Broadway Watchlist
82% 73% Sweet Charity
Watchlist
80% Kalamazoo?
Watchlist
100% Amy's Victory Dance Watchlist
Waiting in the Wings: Still Waiting
Watchlist
The Marcus-Nelson Murders
Watchlist
Studio One Forever Watchlist
Mayflower Madam
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies TV Shows
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story 100% 2024 Self Studio One Forever 2023 Self Amy's Victory Dance 100% 2022 Self Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back 100% 2019 Self Bathtubs Over Broadway 100% 90% 2018 Self Waiting in the Wings: Still Waiting 2017 Broadway Diva Actor Show Stopper: The Theatrical Life of Garth Drabinsky 2012 Actor Kalamazoo? 80% 2006 Giannina Actor Mayflower Madam 1987 Risa Dickstein Actor The Marcus-Nelson Murders 1973 Josie Hopper Actor Sweet Charity 82% 73% 1969 Nickie Actor
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