Tony Mordente was an actor in the original cast of “West Side Story,” the ex-husband of Broadway star Chita Rivera (1933–2024), and a longtime television director.
· Died: June 11, 2024 (Who else died on June 11?)
· Details of death: Died in Henderson, Nevada at the age of 88.
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Tony Mordente’s legacy
Brooklyn-born Tony Mordente was already carving out a place for himself on New York stages by age 13, attending the High School of Performing Arts and going to the American Ballet Theater School on a scholarship. In 1957, he became one of the original cast members of the Broadway stage production of “West Side Story,” playing A-Rab. A few years later, he was also featured in the hit 1961 film adaptation of the musical, this time playing Jets member Action.
It was during the Broadway lead-up to “West Side Story” that Mordente met Tony Award-winning actress, singer, and dancer Chita Rivera (1933–2024). The pair married and raised a daughter, Lisa Mordente — who herself went on to become a Tony Award-nominated actress — before splitting in 1966.
When not acting, Mordente also choreographed stage shows like “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Ben Franklin in Paris,” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” as well as numerous television shows in the 1960s and ‘70s.
In the mid-1970s, Mordente transitioned into directing, working on dozens of television series over the years. He directed more than 40 episodes of “Rhoda” and over 30 each of “7th Heaven” and “Walker, Texas Ranger,” plus episodes of “M.A.S.H.,” “Benson,” “The A-Team,” “Family Ties,” and other TV shows.
Tributes to Tony Mordente
Full obituary: Deadline
