Chita Rivera (Actor)

Actress Chita Rivera at Palace Theater on February 26, 2009 in NYC. (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images)

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". Although she has had her fair share of shows which quickly closed ("Bajour", "Bring Back Birdie"), Rivera has typically been worth watching.

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's lone feature film appearance of note was 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.