Katie Couric Instagram – Chita Rivera, the extraordinarily talented Broadway 🌟 who originated roles in “West Side Story,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Chicago” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” won two competitive Tony Awards, and became one of the most honored Latina entertainers of her generation, died Jan. 30 in New York. She was 91. 💔 Rivera’s death was announced by her daughter, Lisa Mordente, who said she died in New York after a brief illness. Rivera first gained wide notice in 1957 as Anita in the original production of “West Side Story” and was still dancing on Broadway with her trademark energy a half-century later in 2015’s “The Visit.” In August 2009, Rivera was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor the U.S. can give a civilian. Ms. Rivera won Tonys for “The Rink” in 1984 and “Kiss of the Spider Woman” in 1993. When accepting a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018, she said “I wouldn’t trade my life in the theater for anything, because theater is life.” Rivera married fellow “West Side Story” performer Tony Mordente in 1957. The marriage ended in divorce. Their daughter, Lisa, also became a performer who occasionally appeared on Broadway, garnering a Tony nomination in 1982 for “Marlowe.” On a personal note, in 2002, Chita participated in an event I helped organize to raise money for colon cancer research and the Jay Monahan Center at New York Hospital. It was a tribute to the music of West Side Story. Chita, Rita Moreno and Bette Midler sang America. It was amazing. And Chita was so lovely to lend her talent to the evening. Thank you Chita…for everything. ❤️ 📸: @gettyimages