5 Shocking Facts About The West Side Story Original Cast Movie (1961) And Where They Are Now

The 1961 film adaptation of *West Side Story* is a cinematic masterpiece, a groundbreaking musical that captured ten Academy Awards and remains a cultural touchstone more than six decades later. As of late 2025, the original cast continues to fascinate audiences, especially following the release of Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake, which brought new attention to the film’s complex legacy. This article dives deep into the lives of the iconic Jets and Sharks—Tony, Maria, Anita, Riff, and Bernardo—revealing fresh updates, career trajectories, and the controversial secrets from the set that continue to shape the film's reputation today. The surviving members of the principal cast—Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, Richard Beymer, and Russ Tamblyn—have offered new, candid reflections on the production, providing a unique, updated perspective on Hollywood in the 1960s and the enduring power of the modern-day *Romeo and Juliet* story.

The Original Jets and Sharks: A Complete Biography Profile

The core cast of the 1961 film was a mix of established stars, rising talent, and Broadway veterans. Their collective work created a timeless classic, but their individual careers and personal lives tell a story just as dramatic as the film itself.

• Natalie Wood (Maria)
  • Born: Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko (July 20, 1938, in San Francisco, California)
  • Role: Maria, the younger sister of Sharks leader Bernardo and Tony's love interest.
  • Career Highlights: *Miracle on 34th Street* (1947), *Rebel Without a Cause* (1955), *Splendor in the Grass* (1961). Three-time Academy Award nominee.
  • Status: Deceased (Died November 29, 1981, at age 43).
• Richard Beymer (Tony)
  • Born: George Richard Beymer, Jr. (February 20, 1938, in Avoca, Iowa)
  • Role: Tony, the former leader and co-founder of the Jets, and Maria's tragic love.
  • Career Highlights: *The Diary of Anne Frank* (1959), *Twin Peaks* (as Ben Horne, 1990-1991, 2017), independent filmmaker and photographer.
  • Status: Alive and active in photography and independent film (Age 87 as of 2025).
• Rita Moreno (Anita)
  • Born: Rosita Dolores Alverío (December 11, 1931, in Humacao, Puerto Rico)
  • Role: Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend and Maria's confidante.
  • Career Highlights: The only Hispanic EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony Award). Won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for *West Side Story*. Starred in the TV series *Oz* and *One Day at a Time*.
  • Status: Alive and still actively working (Age 93 as of 2025).
• George Chakiris (Bernardo)
  • Born: George Chakiris (September 16, 1932, in Norwood, Ohio)
  • Role: Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks gang and Maria's protective older brother.
  • Career Highlights: Won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for *West Side Story*. Appeared in *The Young Girls of Rochefort* (1967) and various European films and TV series.
  • Status: Alive, published a memoir in 2021 (Age 93 as of 2025).
• Russ Tamblyn (Riff)
  • Born: Russell Irving Tamblyn (December 30, 1934, in Los Angeles, California)
  • Role: Riff, the charismatic leader of the Jets gang and Tony's best friend.
  • Career Highlights: *Seven Brides for Seven Brothers* (1954), *Peyton Place* (1957), *Twin Peaks* (as Dr. Lawrence Jacoby).
  • Status: Alive and active in writing (Age 90 as of 2025).

The Controversial Truth Behind the Voices: Who Was Really Singing?

One of the most enduring and surprising facts about the 1961 film is that two of its main stars, Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer, did not perform their own singing voices. This decision, common in Hollywood musicals of the era, remains a point of contention and a key piece of trivia for the film's legacy.

The voices you hear for Maria and Tony in the 1961 movie were actually provided by professional opera and studio singers. Marni Nixon, a legendary "ghost singer" who also dubbed for Audrey Hepburn in *My Fair Lady*, performed all of Maria’s songs. Similarly, Tony’s soaring vocals were sung by Jimmy Bryant. While Wood was a talented actress, and Beymer had a pleasant voice, the producers opted for the powerful, trained voices required for the demanding Leonard Bernstein score. This practice, known as dubbing, was a major source of frustration for the actors who spent months rehearsing the songs, only to have their voices replaced.

In contrast, the two Oscar-winning supporting stars, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris, performed most of their own singing. Chakiris sang as Bernardo, and Moreno, while having some lines dubbed, performed the majority of her own vocals, including her iconic spoken lines in "America." This distinction highlights the different demands placed on the leads versus the supporting roles and adds a layer of complexity to the film’s authenticity debate.

Where the Surviving Stars Are Now: Memoirs, Controversy, and the 2021 Remake

The release of Steven Spielberg’s *West Side Story* in 2021 reignited public interest in the original cast, prompting several members to share new, candid stories and reflections on the film’s impact. The topical authority of the original cast remains incredibly high, with all three surviving Oscar winners (Moreno, Chakiris) and nominees (Tamblyn) continuing to engage with the public.

Rita Moreno: The Enduring Icon and Her Return

Rita Moreno, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as Anita, is the most visible and active member of the original cast. In a powerful nod to the film’s legacy, she returned for the 2021 remake, not as Anita, but in a newly created role, Valentina, the widow of Doc and a mentor figure to Tony. Her involvement served as a bridge between the two generations and a clear stamp of approval on the new production.

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Moreno has also been candid about the controversies of the 1961 production. In recent interviews, she discussed the painful experience of having her skin darkened with makeup—a practice known as "brownface"—to appear "more Puerto Rican," a demand she "really resented" at the time. Her willingness to speak openly about the racism and sexism she endured during her early career has made her a crucial voice in the ongoing discussion about representation in Hollywood.

George Chakiris: A Memoir and a New Perspective

George Chakiris, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his intense portrayal of Sharks leader Bernardo, released his autobiography, *My West Side Story: A Memoir*, to coincide with the 2021 film. His book offers a unique behind-the-scenes look, detailing his journey with the musical, which actually began when he played Riff (the leader of the Jets) in the London stage production before being cast as Bernardo for the film. Chakiris's memoir provides a fresh, personal account of the film's demanding production schedule and his transition from a dancer to an Oscar-winning actor.

Russ Tamblyn: Unfinished Business and a New Book

Russ Tamblyn, who played Jets leader Riff, has remained a fixture in Hollywood, notably in the TV series *Twin Peaks* alongside his co-star Richard Beymer. In a major update, Tamblyn announced the publication of his memoir, *Dancing on the Edge*, in 2023, promising new insights into his life and career. Perhaps the most intriguing update from Tamblyn involves his co-star, Natalie Wood. He has repeatedly stated in recent years that he still believes there is "more to the story" regarding her mysterious 1981 drowning, keeping the conversation about her tragic death alive for a new generation of fans.

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The Enduring "Whitewashing" Controversy

A central topic of discussion that the 2021 remake directly addressed is the controversial casting practices of the 1961 film. In the original, the majority of the Puerto Rican characters, including Maria (Natalie Wood), were played by white actors, many of whom wore heavy makeup to darken their skin (brownface).

This practice of "whitewashing" has been widely criticized in the decades since the film's release. Even Rita Moreno, one of the few Puerto Rican actors in a lead role, has spoken out about the discomfort of having her skin darkened. The 2021 adaptation, directed by Steven Spielberg, made a conscious effort to correct this historical inaccuracy by casting exclusively Latinx actors as the Sharks and their families, including a Puerto Rican actress, Rachel Zegler, as Maria. This shift highlights how the legacy of the 1961 *West Side Story* is not just one of artistic achievement, but also one of learning and evolving from past Hollywood mistakes in representation.