#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION
Regarding the film Chicago (2002), who was the oldest cast member at time of filming, how old were they, and what was their role?
#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE
In the 2002 film Chicago, the oldest credited cast member was the Broadway legend Chita Rivera.
Identity and Age
Chita Rivera was born on January 23, 1933. The film was produced between December 10, 2001, and May 2002.
- At the start of filming, she was 68 years old.
- She turned 69 during production in January 2002.
For comparison, other senior members of the cast included:
- Sean McCann (The Judge), born September 24, 1935: 66 years old.
- Jayne Eastwood (Mrs. Borusewicz), born December 17, 1946: 55 years old.
- Richard Gere (Billy Flynn), born August 31, 1949: 52 years old.
Role and Significance
Chita Rivera played the role of Nickie, an inmate at the Cook County Jail.
- Specific Detail: She appears in a cameo as the very first inmate to greet Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger) upon her arrival at the jail. She is seen leaning against a wall, smoking a cigarette, and asking Roxie if she has ever met the prison matron, "Mama" Morton.
- Historical Context: Her inclusion was a deliberate homage to the original 1975 Broadway production of Chicago, where she originated the starring role of Velma Kelly (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the film). Rivera’s cameo served as a "passing of the torch" to the new generation of performers and recognized her pivotal role in the musical's history.
Rivera’s presence in the film was highly celebrated by fans of musical theater, as she remained one of the most respected performers in the industry until her passing in 2024 at the age of 91.
#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)
[1] Chita Rivera (born Jan 23, 1933) is the oldest credited cast member. The next oldest is Sean McCann (born Sept 24, 1935).
[2] Chita Rivera's birthdate is confirmed as January 23, 1933.
[3] Principal photography took place from December 2001 to March 2002, with post-production continuing through May 2002.
[4] In December 2001, Chita Rivera (born Jan 1933) was 68 years old.
[5] She turned 69 on January 23, 2002, which was during the filming period.
[6] Sean McCann was born September 24, 1935, making him 66 during filming.
[7] Jayne Eastwood was born December 17, 1946, making her 55 during filming.
[8] Richard Gere was born August 31, 1949, making him 52 during filming.
[9] Chita Rivera is credited as 'Nickie' in the film.
[10] The scene description is accurate: she is the first inmate Roxie meets, is smoking, and asks about Mama Morton.
[11] Chita Rivera originated the role of Velma Kelly in the 1975 Broadway production.
[12] Chita Rivera passed away on January 30, 2024, at age 91.
#C RELATED QUERIES
#01 Who was the oldest cast member in the original 1975 Broadway production of Chicago?
#02 Did any other original Broadway cast members have cameos in the 2002 Chicago film?
#03 What other films did Chita Rivera appear in?
In the 2002 film *Chicago*, the oldest credited cast member was the Broadway legend **Chita Rivera**.
### **Identity and Age**
Chita Rivera was born on **January 23, 1933**. The film was produced between **December 10, 2001, and May 2002**.
* At the start of filming, she was **68 years old**.
* She turned **69** during production in January 2002.
For comparison, other senior members of the cast included:
* **Sean McCann** (The Judge), born September 24, 1935: **66 years old**.
* **Jayne Eastwood** (Mrs. Borusewicz), born December 17, 1946: **55 years old**.
* **Richard Gere** (Billy Flynn), born August 31, 1949: **52 years old**.
### **Role and Significance**
Chita Rivera played the role of **Nickie**, an inmate at the Cook County Jail.
* **Specific Detail:** She appears in a cameo as the very first inmate to greet Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger) upon her arrival at the jail. She is seen leaning against a wall, smoking a cigarette, and asking Roxie if she has ever met the prison matron, "Mama" Morton.
* **Historical Context:** Her inclusion was a deliberate homage to the original 1975 Broadway production of *Chicago*, where she originated the starring role of **Velma Kelly** (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the film). Rivera’s cameo served as a "passing of the torch" to the new generation of performers and recognized her pivotal role in the musical's history.
Rivera’s presence in the film was highly celebrated by fans of musical theater, as she remained one of the most respected performers in the industry until her passing in 2024 at the age of 91.