Wissenswertes

Met Chita Rivera during the run of "West Side Story" in 1957 (she played Anita) and married her in December of that same year.

American dancer and choreographer who played Action, a Jet gang member, in the original Broadway version of "West Side Story." Later turned TV director.

Played A-Rab in the stage version of "West Side Story" before playing Action in the film version (West Side Story (1961)).

Former husband of Broadway legend Chita Rivera and father of Lisa Mordente.

Mordente with Tommy Abbott, William Bramley, Carole D'Andrea, Jay Norman, and David Winters are the only actors in "West Side Story" to have been cast in both the original Broadway show and the film.

The voice of Oliver Cool on the 45-rpm single recording "Oliver Cool" b/w "I Like Girls" by Oliver Cool (Roulette R-4292). The record did not chart nationally in the US but was a big hit in Australia in 1961.