Broadway icon Chita Rivera has died at the age of 91, her daughter has announced.
Her passing made by her friend and publicist Merle Frimarkon on Tuesday (January 30). A statement read: “It is with great sadness that Lisa Mordente, the daughter of Chita Rivera, announces the death of her beloved mother who died peacefully in New York after a brief illness.”
The statement continued: “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. Her funeral will be private. A memorial service will be announced in due course.”
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Merle also requested that donations be made in Chita’s memory to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Rivera’s death comes sadly just one week after her most recent birthday.
(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)
Fans have taken to social media to share tributes to Chita and many flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter. One wrote: “R.I.P Chita Rivera (1933-2024). We’ve lost a legend.”
More poured in as drag artist Marti Cummings wrote: “Chita Rivera was a trailblazer. A true icon, a word thrown around often but one that fits her legacy as a groundbreaking artist, advocate, teacher. I am honoured to have met her several times and to have interviewed her twice. She was kind and gave great hugs. Rest well.”
(Image: Mirrorpix)
Someone else added: “Though she was 91, I had kept expecting to see her perform at least one more time. She emanated that kind of energy that felt endlessly, improbably rechargeable. Farewell to a solar force.”
Another fan said that her death is a “monumental loss to the theatre world, the acting world and the entertainment world” entirely. Chita was a heavily decorated performer and received the Kennedy Centre Honour along with two Tony Awards.
(Image: Getty Images)
She was nominated for the prestigious accolade six times throughout her career and has starred in many famous Broadway shows, including West Side Story, Guys and Dolls and Kiss of the Spider Woman. The theatre icon was the original Velma Kelly for the 1975 Chicago production and reprised her role for the 25th anniversary.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
