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Engraved portrait of Eartha Kitt
Music · 1960s

Eartha Kitt

In memoriam 1927–2008

“A purring, panther-like voice and a fearless spirit that refused to be tamed.”

Eartha Mae KeithReal name
January 17, 1927, North, South CarolinaBorn
December 25, 2008Died
Catwoman on Batman (1967)TV role
Orson Welles called her 'most exciting woman in the world'Praise
The Turning Point

In 1953, Eartha Kitt recorded 'C'est si bon' and the sly Christmas novelty 'Santa Baby,' showcasing the purring, feline delivery that made her an international sensation. Orson Welles had already dubbed her 'the most exciting woman in the world,' and the records turned that praise into stardom.

Portrait of Eartha Kitt by Carl Van Vechten
Portrait of Eartha Kitt by Carl Van Vechten

From Cotton Fields to Cabaret

Born Eartha Mae Keith in rural South Carolina in 1927, she endured a harsh, impoverished childhood. A scholarship to the Katherine Dunham dance company carried her to New York and then Europe.

Eartha Kitt photographed by Allan Warren
Eartha Kitt photographed by Allan Warren

An International Star

Parisian nightclubs and Broadway's New Faces made her a multilingual cabaret sensation. Her purring voice and exotic glamour produced hits like Santa Baby and C'est si bon.

Outspoken and Resilient

Her 1968 anti-war comments at the White House nearly ended her US career, but she rebuilt it abroad and on stage. She enjoyed a late renaissance in disco, theater, and animated films.

Career Timeline

  1. 1927Born January 17 in North, South Carolina
  2. 1940sJoins Katherine Dunham dance troupe
  3. 1950Performs in Paris nightclubs to acclaim
  4. 1952Stars in Broadway revue New Faces
  5. 1953Records Santa Baby and C'est si bon
  6. 1954Films New Faces of 1952 adaptation
  7. 1967Plays Catwoman on TV's Batman
  8. 1968Anti-war remarks at White House luncheon
  9. 1978Returns to Broadway in Timbuktu!
  10. 2000Voices Yzma in The Emperor's New Groove
  11. 2008Dies December 25 at 81

Biggest Hits

1953
Santa BabySultry Christmas novelty and her signature song
1953
C'est si bonFrench standard delivered with purring charm
1953
I Want to Be EvilPlayfully wicked cabaret showpiece
1956
Just an Old Fashioned GirlWitty hit poking fun at material wealth
1983
Where Is My ManDisco comeback that topped dance charts
1954
Love for SaleCole Porter standard reinvented as her own
Did You Know
  • Her 1968 anti-Vietnam War remarks at a White House luncheon stalled her US career for years.
  • She replaced Julie Newmar as Catwoman in Batman's final season in 1967.

The Moment You Remember

At a 1968 White House luncheon, when asked about the nation's youth, Eartha Kitt spoke plainly against the Vietnam War. The room fell silent. It was a moment of conviction that cost her dearly at home, yet it remains a defining image of an artist's courage.

Portrait: Boris Carmi (Meitar Collection / National Library of Israel) · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

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