Chita Rivera was born on the 23rd January 1933, in Washington DC, USA of Puerto Rican (father) and Irish-Scottish (mother) descent. She is an actress, singer and dancer, mainly known for her diverse roles in the musical theatre. She is the first Hispanic woman to have been awarded the Kennedy Centre Honours (2002), and in 2009 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Chita was active in the entertainment industry from 1950 to 2013.
How much is the net worth of Chita Rivera? It has been estimated by authoritative sources that the outright size of her wealth is as much as $2 million, as of the data presented in early 2017.
Chita Rivera Net Worth $2 Million
To begin with, Chita is the daughter of Katherine, a government worker and Pedro Julio Figueroa del Rivero, a musician. Rivera was 7 years old when her mother was widowed and went to work for the Pentagon. In 1944, Rivera was accepted to study at ballet school Jones-Haywood, and when she was 15, a professor from George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet visited the school, and she was one of two students selected to enter the school on a scholarship.
Concerning her professional career, Rivera went with a friend to an audition for the Broadway musical “Call Me Madam” (1952), and she ended up getting the role. It was followed by other roles in Broadway productions such as “Can-Can” and “Guys and Dolls” In 1957, she was cast in the role that helped her to become a Broadway star, the fiery Anita in “West Side Story”. In 1963, she starred in musical “Zenda”, and then appeared as Velma Kelly in the musical “Chicago”, and in 1984, she appeared in the musical “The Rink”, winning her first Tony Award. Her net worth was rising steadily.
In 1986, Rivera was in a serious accident when driving her car, and ran into a taxi in Manhattan. After rehabilitation for a leg broken in 12 places, , Rivera continued to work on stage. Then in 1991 she appeared as Fastrada in a television version of the musical “Pippin”. In 1993, Rivera won the second Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Aurora the musical “Kiss of the Spider Woman” written by Kander and Ebb. In 2003, Rivera returned to the Broadway revival of “Nine” starring with Antonio Banderas and winning the Drama Desk Award. On television, Rivera was a guest star in “The Judy Garland Show”, then in 2005 starred with Michele Lee in the television series “Will & Grace”, followed at the end of that year by starring on Broadway in “The Dancer’s Life”, a i retrospective of her career. In 2009, President Barack Obama honoured her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Moreover, Rivera made a cameo appearance in the film version of “Chicago” (2002), and guest starred in the television film “Johnny and the Sprites” aired on the Disney Channel in 2008.
In 1960, Rivera recorded two solo albums, “Chita Rivera: Get Me To The Church On Time” and “And Now I Sing”. In 2008, Rivera issued her third solo album – “And Now I Swing”.
Finally, in the personal life of Rivera, she was married to the actor, dancer, choreographer and director Tony Mordente, who played the A-Rab in the stage version of the “West Side Story”. In 1958, their daughter Lisa Mordente was born, who is now a well-known dancer and choreographer. Mordente and Rivera divorced in 1966.
Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009), Kennedy Center Honors (2002), Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (1993, 1984), The Helen Hayes Tribute (1996), Outer Critics Circle Award (1994), Helen Hayes Awards (2009)
Albums
Chita Rivera: Get Me To The Church On Time, And Now I Sing (1960s)(CD, 2013), And Now I Swing (2008), Stage works: Zenda (1963), Bajour (1964), Flower Drum Song (1966), The Threepenny Opera (1966), V.I.P. Night on Broadway (1979, benefit concert)
Nominations
Drama Desk Award (2003), Drama Desk Award - Great Performances (1999)
Movies
Sweet Charity (1969), The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), Mayflower Madam (1987), Chicago (2002)
TV Shows
Sweet Charity (1969), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (1983, documentary), Chicago (2002),Carol Channing: Larger Than Life (2012, documentary), Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003, documentary)
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Jet Black Hair
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Quote
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I don't see the camaraderie [on Broadway] as much anymore. Everyone wants to be a soloist before really learning how to relate. When you can relate to the person next to you without words and be alive, when you can keep the energy and interest going, it is magical.
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Fact
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She was awarded the 1996 Drama Logue Award for Performance for "The Kiss of the Spider Woman" at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
2
Kicked off her Tour of "Cita Rivera: The Dancers Life" in Cincinnati, Ohio [December 2006]
3
Currently in her own show on Broadway called Chita Rivera: The Dancers Life [December 2005]
4
Chita: A Legendary Celebration For one night only, Chita Rivera - a theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat talents - will offer a star-studded event in honor of her 80th birthday [January 2013]
5
Appearing nightly in her one woman cabaret show at Feinstein's at The Regency Hotel in New York City from February 22-March 12, 2005. [February 2005]
6
Performed the role of "Claire Zachanassian" in John Kander & Fred Ebb's "The Visit" at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia (2008).
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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.
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).
11
Was the first ever Latin-American to receive the Kennedy Honors Award.
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
1998
TV Movie documentary performer: "New York, New York"
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1997
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The 47th Annual Tony Awards
1993
TV Special performer: "Where You Are"
The 41st Annual Tony Awards
1987
TV Special performer: "Sing Happy"
The 40th Annual Tony Awards
1986
TV Special performer: "Put on a Happy Face"
The 39th Annual Tony Awards
1985
TV Special performer: "Make Someone Happy", "People", "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This", "If My Friends Could See Me Now", "Buenos Aires", "Memory"
That's Dancing!
1985
Documentary performer: "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This"
The 38th Annual Tony Awards
1984
TV Special performer: "I Am Free", "All That Jazz", "Nowadays", "Wallflower"
Gala of Stars 1984
1984
TV Movie performer: "The Apple Doesn't Fall"
Pippin: His Life and Times
1981
TV Movie performer: "Spread a Little Sunshine"
De Mike Burstyn show
1979
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1978
performer: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" Finale
The George Burns Special
1976
TV Special performer: "And All That Jazz"
The Mike Douglas Show
1976
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Sammy and Company
1975
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
1975
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Dinah!
1975
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Sweet Charity
1969
performer: "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" - uncredited
The Entertainers
1965
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Ed Sullivan Show
1960
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1958
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The 69th Annual Tony Awards
2015
TV Movie performer: "Love and Love Alone", "I Would Never Leave You"
Think Like a Man Too
2014
performer: "Big Spender"
So You Think You Can Dance
2013
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Submissions Only
2011
TV Series
Gladys Franklin
Kalamazoo?
2006
Giannina
Will & Grace
2005
TV Series
Lenore
Dora the Explorer
2003-2004
TV Series
Witch
Chicago
2002
Nickie
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1997
TV Series
Katy
Mayflower Madam
1987
TV Movie
Risa Dickstein
Strawberry Ice
1982
TV Movie
Pippin: His Life and Times
1981
TV Movie
Fastrada
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
1978
Our Guests at Heartland
Once Upon a Brothers Grimm
1977
TV Movie
Gingerbread Lady (segment "Hansel and Gretel")
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
1973-1974
TV Series
Connie Richardson
Kojak
1973
TV Series
Josie Hopper
Sweet Charity
1969
Nickie
One Life to Live
1968
TV Series
Melody Rambo (1982)
The Outer Limits
1964
TV Series
Mrs. Dame
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Last of the Showmen
2018
Documentary filming
Herself
Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life
2017
Documentary post-production
Herself
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
2017
Documentary post-production
Herself
Move
Documentary filming
Herself
Up in the Air
Documentary filming
Herself
The 70th Annual Tony Awards
2016
TV Special
Herself - Presenter
Live from the Red Carpet: The 2015 Tony Awards
2015
TV Movie
Herself
The 69th Annual Tony Awards
2015
TV Movie
Herself - Performer & Nominee: Best Leading Actress in a Musical
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2015
TV Series
Herself
Today
2005-2015
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The View
2015
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Tavis Smiley
2014
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Private Screenings
2014
TV Series
Herself
Michael Grade's Stars of the Musical Theatre
2014
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Move TV
2012-2013
TV Series
Herself
CBS News Sunday Morning
2013
TV Series documentary
Herself - Guest
Spotlight on Broadway
2013
TV Series
Herself
Show People with Paul Wontorek
2013
TV Series
Herself
The Broadway.com Show
2013
TV Series
Herself
Show Stopper: The Theatrical Life of Garth Drabinsky
2012
Documentary
Herself
Carol Channing: Larger Than Life
2012
Documentary
Herself
West Side Story: A Place for Us - West Side Story's Legacy
2011
Documentary short
Herself
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
2010
TV Special
Herself
American Masters
2009
TV Series documentary
Herself
Mr. Prince
2009
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Kiss of the Spider Woman - Making the Musical
2008
Video documentary short
Herself
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
2008
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The 60th Annual Tony Awards
2006
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Best Choreography & Nominee: Best Leading Actress in a Musical
The 59th Annual Tony Awards
2005
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Sweet Charity
Party Planner with David Tutera
2005
TV Series
Herself
Character Studies
2005
TV Series
Herself
From Stage to Screen: The History of Chicago
2005
Video documentary short
Herself
Broadway: The American Musical
2004
TV Mini-Series documentary
Herself / Velma Kelly
The 58th Annual Tony Awards
2004
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Best Choreography
The 100 Greatest Musicals
2003
TV Movie documentary
Herself
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
2003
TV Special
Herself
Great Performances
1985-2003
TV Series
Herself
The 57th Annual Tony Awards
2003
TV Special
Herself - Performer & Nominee: Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Charlie Rose
2003
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
2003
Documentary
Herself
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
2002
TV Movie
Herself - Honoree
E! True Hollywood Story
2002
TV Series documentary
Herself
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1997-2002
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The 56th Annual Tony Awards
2002
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Best Special Theatrical Event
Paul O'Grady's America
2001
TV Series
Herself
Biography
1995-2000
TV Series documentary
Herself
The 53rd Annual Tony Awards
1999
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Best Featured Actor in a Musical
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
1998
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Barrymore
1997
TV Series
Herself
The 51st Annual Tony Awards
1997
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Best Orchestrations
The 42nd Annual Drama Desk Awards
1997
TV Special
Herself - Presenter
A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury
1996
TV Movie
Herself - Performer
The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story
1996
Documentary
Herself
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
1994
TV Special
Herself
Working in the Theatre
1993
TV Series documentary
Herself
The 47th Annual Tony Awards
1993
TV Special
Herself - Performer & Winner: Best Leading Actress in a Musical
America's Dance Honors
1990
TV Special
Herself
Night of 100 Stars III
1990
TV Movie
Herself
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990
TV Special
Herself
The 42nd Annual Tony Awards
1988
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Best Choreography
A Show of Concern: The Heart of America Responds
1987
TV Movie
Herself - Performer
The 41st Annual Tony Awards
1987
TV Special
Herself - Performer & Presenter: Best Book of a Musical
This Is Your Life
1987
TV Special
Herself
This Is Your Life
1987
TV Series documentary
Herself
The 40th Annual Tony Awards
1986
TV Special
Herself - Performer & Nominee: Best Leading Actress in a Play
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
1985
TV Special
Herself
The 39th Annual Tony Awards
1985
TV Special
Herself - Performer & Presenter: Best Musical
Night of 100 Stars II
1985
TV Movie
Herself
The 38th Annual Tony Awards
1984
TV Special
Herself - Performer & Winner: Best Actress in a Musical
Gala of Stars 1984
1984
TV Movie
Herself
Good Morning America
1978-1984
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
1984
TV Movie
Herself - Performer
He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'
1983
Documentary
Herself (uncredited)
The 37th Annual Tony Awards
1983
TV Special
Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Musical
Broadway Plays Washington on Kennedy Center Tonight
1982
TV Movie
Herself
The 35th Annual Tony Awards
1981
TV Special
Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Musical
Macy's 54th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade
1980
TV Movie
Herself
Horas doradas
1980
TV Series
Herself - Musical Guest
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
1979
TV Special
Herself - Honoree
The Merv Griffin Show
1978-1979
TV Series
Herself / Herself - Guest
V.I.P. Night on Broadway Benefit
1979
TV Movie
Herself - Performer
De Mike Burstyn show
1979
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Bobby Vinton Show
1978
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Hollywood's Diamond Jubilee
1978
TV Special
Herself - Performer
The Chuck Barris Rah-Rah Show
1978
TV Series
Herself
Be My Guest
1977
TV Series
Herself
The Mike Douglas Show
1963-1977
TV Series
Herself - Guest / Herself - Singer / Dancer / ...
Super Night at the Super Bowl
1977
TV Movie
Herself
The George Burns Special
1976
TV Special
Chita Rivera
The Stars and Stripes Show
1976
TV Movie
Herself
The 30th Annual Tony Awards
1976
TV Special
Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Musical
Captain Kangaroo
1976
TV Series
Herself
Sammy and Company
1975
TV Series
Herself
Dinah!
1975
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
1975
TV Series
Herself / Velma Kelly
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1965-1975
TV Series
Herself - Guest / Herself - Musical Guest
The Carol Burnett Show
1969-1971
TV Series
Herself
Rolf Harris Show
1971
TV Series
Herself - Singer
Playboy After Dark
1970
TV Series
Herself
Allen Ludden's Gallery
1969
TV Series
Herself
The Joey Bishop Show
1968-1969
TV Series
Herself
That's Life
1969
TV Series
Herself
The Hollywood Palace
1965-1968
TV Series
Herself - Singer / Dancer
The Jonathan Winters Show
1968
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Woody Woodbury Show
1968
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Dean Martin Show
1966
TV Series
Herself
ABC's Nightlife
1965
TV Series
Herself
The Entertainers
1965
TV Series
Herself
On Broadway Tonight
1964
TV Series
Herself
Juke Box Jury
1964
TV Series
Herself - Panellist
Blackpool Night Out
1964
TV Series
Herself
The Garry Moore Show
1960-1964
TV Series
Herself
The Judy Garland Show
1964
TV Series
Herself
Arthur Godfrey and the Sounds of New York
1963
TV Movie
Herself
The Ed Sullivan Show
1960-1962
TV Series
Herself - Singer
The Revlon Revue
1960
TV Series
Herself
Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium
1959
TV Series
Herself
The Voice of Firestone
1958
TV Series
Herself
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1958
TV Series
Herself
General Motors 50th Anniversary Show
1957
TV Movie
Herself
Caesar's Hour
1956
TV Series
Herself
Tonight!
1956
TV Series
Herself - Guest
Max Liebman Presents: The Maurice Chevalier Show
1956
TV Movie
Herself
Frankie Laine Time
1955
TV Series
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
De par en par
2007
TV Series
Herself
E! True Hollywood Story
2007
TV Series documentary
Herself
El camino de Antonio Banderas
2006
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Great Performances
1997-2005
TV Series
Herself - Performer / Herself
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1999
ALMA Award
ALMA Awards
Outstanding Performance by an Individual or Act in a Variety or Comedy Special