Tony Mordente, the esteemed choreographer and dancer known for his iconic role in “West Side Story,” has died at the age of 88. His daughter, Lisa Mordente, confirmed the heartbreaking news.
Mordente’s love for dance blossomed well before his Broadway debut. He honed his craft at the High School of Performing Arts and the American Ballet Theater School, laying the foundation for a distinguished career in the arts.
In an early 2007 interview. Mordente reminisced about his early love for ballet, saying, “I was a real ballet fan. I knew nothing else, but ballet and that’s all I ever wanted to know. One night at the Met, I saw part of ‘Black Swan’ and a performance of ‘Fancy Free,’ which profoundly changed my life and career.”
Mordente’s career breakthrough came with his role as A-Rab in the 1957 Broadway and 1958 West End productions of “West Side Story.”
It was during this time that he met his future ex-wife, Chita Rivera, who passed away in January. The couple had a daughter, Lisa, in 1958 and divorced in 1966.
Mordente also starred as Action in the 1961 film adaptation of “West Side Story” and worked as a choreographer on Broadway and television, contributing to shows like “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” during the 1960s.
In the 1970s, Mordente transitioned to directing, working on popular TV shows such as “M*A*S*H,” “Family Ties,” “The A-Team,” and “7th Heaven,” among many other notable shows.
