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Tony Mordente, who made his mark on Broadway as a dancer and choreographer, played the hot-headed Jet named Action in the 1961 film West Side Story and later segued into a long and busy career as a director of such TV series as Family Ties, Walker Texas Ranger and 7th Heaven, died June 11 in Henderson, Nevada, following a brief illness. He was 88.

His death was announced by his family, including daughter Lisa, whom he shared with his first wife, the late Chita Rivera.

Born December 3, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, Mordente began dancing at the age of 13, and trained at New York City’s High School of Performing Arts and American Ballet Theater School, which led to the launch of his Broadway career as Lonesome Polecat in 1956’s Lil’ Abner.

Related: Michael Callan Dies: ‘Cat Ballou’ Star, Riff In Original ‘West Side Story’ On Broadway Was 86

Tony Mordente in 2005

His next stage...

Tony Mordente, the actor, dancer and choreographer who starred in the original Broadway and big-screen versions of West Side Story before carving out a long career as a TV director, has died. He was 88.

Mordente, who lived in Henderson, Nevada, died Tuesday, his family announced.

Mordente also worked on Broadway as an actor, understudy and/or assistant choreographer in Li’l Abner, Bye Bye Birdie and Ben Franklin in Paris.

The Brooklyn native portrayed A-Rab on stage in West Side Story, which premiered at the Winter Garden Theatre in September 1957, and played Action, another member of the Jets gang, in the 1961 United Artists adaptation. (David Winters was given the part of A-Rab in the movie.)

He married West Side Story castmate Chita Rivera, who of course played Anita, in December 1957. “A Jet marrying a Shark. It was quite a thing,” he said in a 1963 interview. (Rivera died in January.)

Mordente began...

Chita Rivera, the legendary singer, dancer and Broadway actress died “peacefully” in her New York home at 91 years old. She is known for her iconic roles on Broadway as Anita in West Side Story and Velma Kelly in Chicago.

On January 30, Rivera’s publicist, Merle Frimark, said in a statement, “It is with immense personal sorrow that I announce the death of the beloved Broadway icon Chita Rivera. My dear friend of over 40 years was 91.”

The daughter of the actress, Lisa Mordente, shared that her mother “died peacefully… after a brief illness.” She stated that the funeral will be private, and memorial services will be “announced in due course.”

According to Rivera’s wishes, Mordente requested that all donations made in her name be given to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a non-profit that helps people across the country with life-saving AIDS medication, access to healthcare and mental health resources.

Chita Rivera, the triple-threat Broadway legend who originated roles in classic musicals like West Side Story and Chicago, died on Jan. 30 of an unspecified illness, according to a statement by her daughter, Lisa Mordente. She was 91 years old.

Born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero to a Puerto Rican father and an Irish Catholic mother, Rivera started dancing when she was 11 years old, eventually enrolling in George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet when she was just 15. In the 1950s, she was cast in various roles in Broadway musicals like Guys and Dolls...

Two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera died Tuesday. She was 91.

Her death was confirmed to The New York Times by her daughter, Lisa Mordente; a cause of death was not disclosed.

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Rivera’s illustrious stage career spanned seven decades and more than two-dozen shows. She originated the roles of Anita in West Side Story and Velma Kelly in Chicago.

She was the recipient of 10 Tony nominations,...

Chita Rivera, one of Broadway’s show-stopping legends and one of the most Tony Award-nominated performers in history, has died at the age of 91. Rivera’s death was announced by her daughter, Lisa Mordente, who says she died peacefully after a brief illness. Rivera is known for starring in some of the most beloved Broadway musicals since the 1950s. She became a star when she originated the role of Anita in first production of West Side Story in 1957. Rivera also originated the role of Velma Kelly in Chicago, which opened in 1975 with Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart. Rivera is a 10-time Tony nominee with two competitive Tony Award wins (for The Rink and Kiss of the Spider Woman). She also received a Tony lifetime achievement award in 2018 and was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009. In 2002, she became the first Latina to be given a Kennedy Center Honor.

Chita Rivera has sadly passed away at the age of 91.

The Tony-winning entertainer was a legend of the stage, originating the roles of Anita in West Side Story, Rose in Bye Bye Birdie, Velma Kelly in Chicago, and Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman, just to name a few.

Chita‘s death was confirmed by her daughter Lisa Mordente.

Keep reading to find out more…

The late actress died “after a brief illness.”

“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,” Lisa said in a statement (via People).

Chita‘s friend Merle Frimark added, “It is with immense personal sorrow that I announce the death of the beloved Broadway icon Chita Rivera. My dear friend of...

Chita Rivera, the beloved Broadway star of West Side Story, Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman, died today in New York following a brief illness. She was 91.

Her death was announced by her daughter, Lisa Mordente, who said that Rivera died peacefully.

One of America’s foremost Latina artists, Rivera was a groundbreaker, riveting critics and audiences alike with seminal performances of such soon-to-be Broadway standards as “America” and “A Boy Like That” from West Side Story and “All That Jazz” from Chicago. She was among the most nominated performers in Tony Award history – she earned 10 nominations, winning twice (for The Rink and Kiss of the Spider Woman) and receiving the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

Rivera rocketed to fame in 1953 with Guys and Dolls, then cemented her stature as a Broadway leading lady in 1954 with Can-Can, Mr. Wonderful in 1956 and, in 1957, the role that...

Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley announced today that their live and in person Stars in the House at The Town Hall will be rescheduled to Monday, October 25th at 8:00 Pm, consistent with Theatre Authority guidelines.

Broadway’s brightest stars will come together at the live concert benefitting The Actors Fund. The line-up will include appearances by Andy Karl, Anika Larsen, Bebe Neuwirth, Brenda Braxton, Charlotte d’Amboise, Christine Pedi, Chita Rivera, Dana Delany, Kelli O’Hara, Laura Benanti, Linda Benanti, Liz Callaway, Marc Shaiman, Orfeh, Schele Williams and many others. CBS Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon Lapook will also take the stage to give the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic. The evening will be directed by Lisa Mordente.

Ticket buyers who have purchased tickets to the original September 12th show will have the option to attend the new date, or will receive a refund. Ticket buyers will receive an email from TicketMaster with further details.

There’s no business like show business, and if anyone has proven that over the past 16 months, it is “Stars In The House” co-hosts Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley!

The moment the theaters on Broadway went dark, the two put their heads together to find a way to give back, and provide much-needed entertainment to the community that they love. After hundreds of shows, thousands of guests, and millions of viewers, the impact of “Stars In The House” cannot be overstated, as it celebrates raising $1 Million for The Actors Fund. Donations from all around the world flooded in as people tuned in nearly every night to revisit beloved Broadway shows, television series, and films with the stars who made them, and have their spirits lifted by this one-of-a-kind series.

Rudetsky and Wesley will mark this unbelievable accomplishment with a very special In Person “Stars In The House” show on Wednesday,...