Birth Name: Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero
Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., U.S.
Date of Birth: January 23, 1933
Ethnicity:
*father – Puerto Rican [Spanish, possibly other]
*mother – Scottish, Irish, African-American
Chita Rivera is an American actress, singer, and dancer. She is known for her work on stage, primarily West Side Story, Chicago, and Kiss of the Spider Woman. She has appeared in the films Sweet Charity and Kalamazoo?, and on television’s The New Dick Van Dyke Show and One Life to Live.
Chita is the daughter of Katherine Rosalia (Anderson), a government clerk, and Pedro Julio Figueroa del Rivero, a clarinetist and saxophonist for the U.S. Navy Band. Her father was Puerto Rican. Her mother was of Scottish, Irish, and African-American ancestry. Her mother worked at the Pentagon.
Chita has a daughter, actress, singer, and dancer Lisa Mordente, with her former husband, dancer, choreographer, actor, and television director Tony Mordente.
Chita’s paternal grandfather was Modesto Figueroa Maldonado (the son of Pedro Figueroa and Maria Del Rosado Maldonado). Modesto was born in Yabucoa.
Chita’s paternal grandmother was Aurora del Rivero Quiñones (the daughter of Atanacio de La Cruz Del Rivero Vergara and Isabel Quiñones Sánchez). Aurora was born in Naguabo. Atanacio was the son of José Ramón Del Rivero, who was born in Cartagena, Murcia, Spain, and of Tomasa Vergara. Isabel was the daughter of Manuel Quiñones Rivera and Concepción Sánchez.
Chita’s maternal grandfather was named Robert Anderson.
Chita’s maternal grandmother was named Sarah “Sallie” Rand.
She has said:
While I knew about my father’s Puerto Rican heritage, I uncovered a secret on my mother’s side while researching my family history for the memoir: My maternal grandparents were mulatto, mixed-race descendants of the once enslaved. I wished I’d known earlier – it might have deepened my connection with my Black friends and colleagues, especially my onetime love Sammy Davis Jr.
