Achieved her first fame on Broadway in 1957, portraying Anita in West Side Story.
Chita Rivera is the 2002 John F. Kennedy Center Honors recipient.
Daughter of the late Puerto Rican musician Pedro del Rivero, and his wife, Katherine.
Has won two Tony Awards as Best Actress (Musical): in 1984 for "The Rink," and in 1993 for "Kiss of the Spider Woman--The Musical." And she has earned six additional nominations: one as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) in 1961 for "Bye, Bye Birdie;" four additional Best Actress (Musical) entries, in 1976 for "Chicago," in 1981 for "Bring Back Birdie," in 1983 for "Merlin," and in 1986 for "Jerry's Girls;" and one as Best Actress (Featured Role - Musical) in 2003 for "Nine The Musical!" This is a total of eight nominations, making her the second most nominated actress in Tony history (after Julie Harris, who has ten).
Her father was Puerto Rican, and her mother was of mostly Scottish extraction.
Mother of actress Lisa Mordente.
One of her more unusual dancing partners was children's TV stalwart Dancing Bear (Cosmo Allegretti) on "Captain Kangaroo" (1955).
Originated two roles on Broadway which would later win Oscars for the actresses playing them in the film versions: Rita Moreno in West Side Story (1961) and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago (2002).
Performed the role of "Claire Zachanassian" in John Kander & Fred Ebb's "The Visit" at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia (2008).
Played "Rosie" in the original Broadway production of "Bye Bye Birdie" (early 1960s), opposite Dick Van Dyke ("Albert"), in a cast which also included Paul Lynde, Michael J. Pollard, and Richard Gautier.
Played a character called "Nickie" in both Chicago (2002) and Sweet Charity (1969).
She was nominated for a 2002 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Principal Role in a Musical for "The Visit" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
Was the first ever Latin-American to receive the Kennedy Honors Award.