Portrait of Chita Rivera

Chita Rivera

Acting

Biography

Chita Rivera was an American actress, singer, and dancer who became a musical theater icon. Born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero, she won two Tony Awards for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her roles in The Rink (1984) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993). Rivera achieved stardom for her performance as Anita in the original Broadway production of West Side Story, a role she reprised in London.

Born: January 23, 1933

Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., USA

Known For

Filmography

2025
Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration

as Self (archive footage)

2021
tick, tick... BOOM!

as "Sunday" Legend #13

2006
Kalamazoo?

as Giannina

2005
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards

as Spider Woman / Aurora ("Kiss Of The Spider Woman") (arch. foot.)

2003
Broadway's Lost Treasures

as Host (segment "Record Breakers") / Velma Kelly (segment "Chicago")

2002
Chicago

as Nickie

1998
Will & Grace

as Lenore

1997
1987
Mayflower Madam

as Risa Dickstein

1985
That's Dancing!

as From 'Sweet Charity' (archive footage)

1981
Pippin

as Fastrada

1978
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

as Our Guests at Heartland

1977
Once Upon a Brothers Grimm

as Gingerbread Lady

1976
1974
Dinah!

as Self

1973
1969
Sweet Charity

as Nickie

1967
The Carol Burnett Show

as Self - Guest / Various Characters

1964
The Hollywood Palace

as Self - Singer / Dancer

1963
The Outer Limits

as Mrs. Dame

1956
Tony Awards

as Self - Performer