Eartha Kitt

Eartha Mae Kitt, born January 17, 1927, is an actress and singer whose mother was black/Cherokee, and whose father was white.

Related Topics:
January 17 - 1927 - Actress - Singer

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She was born out-of-wedlock, as would have to be the case given the laws regarding miscegenation at the time, in tiny North, South Carolina, but jokes about the fact that many audiences assume her to be from somewhere more exotic. Her hits include "Let's Do It", "C'est Si Bon", "An Old-Fashioned Millionaire", "Monotonous", "Love for Sale", "I'd Rather Be Burned as a Witch", "Uska Dara", "Mink, Schmink", "Under the Bridges of Paris", and "Santa Baby". Kitt's unique style was enhanced as she became fluent in French during her years performing in Europe. She dabbled in other languages as well, which she demonstrates with finesse in many of the live recordings of her cabaret performances.

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Eartha Kitt got her start as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company and made her film debut with them in Casbah (1948). A few years later, she was cast in the revue New Faces of 1952 introducing "Monotonous", "C'est Si Bon" and "Santa Baby", her 3 signature songs. During her run, 20th Century-Fox filmed a version of the play and Orson Welles cast Kitt as Helen of Troy in an upcoming play. Welles and Kitt allegedly had a torrid affair, which earned her the nickname by Welles as "the most exciting girl in the world". In 1958, Kitt made her feature film debut opposite Sidney Poitier in The Mark of the Hawk. Throughout the rest of the 1950s and early 1960s, Kitt would work on and off in film, television and on nightclub stages. In the late 1960's television series Batman, she played Catwoman in succession to Julie Newmar. This role would be the role she would best be remembered for, due to her purring drawl.

Related Topics:
Katherine Dunham Company - Casbah - 1948 - New Faces of 1952 - 20th Century-Fox - Orson Welles - Helen of Troy - 1958 - Sidney Poitier - The Mark of the Hawk - Television - Batman - Catwoman - Julie Newmar

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In 1968, however, Kitt came into controversy. She made anti-war statements during a White House luncheon that year that made first lady Lady Bird Johnson weep uncontrollably. She was virtually exiled from the U.S. for a few years. Again, Kitt would appear on film, variety shows, and on the stage in the U.S. and overseas.

Related Topics:
White House - Lady Bird Johnson

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In 1984, she returned to hit music with a dance song, "Where Is My Man". In 2000, Kitt again appeared on Broadway in the short but notable run of the revival of the 1920s themed, The Wild Party, opposite Mandy Patinkin and Toni Collette. In 2003, she replaced Chita Rivera in Nine.

Related Topics:
1984 - 2000 - The Wild Party - Mandy Patinkin - Toni Collette - 2003 - Chita Rivera - Nine

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One of her more unusual roles was as Kaa the python in a 1994 BBC Radio adaptation of The Jungle Book. Kitt lent her distinctive voice to the role of Yzma in The Emperor's New Groove and is currently doing other voiceover work such as the voice of Queen Vexus on the animated TV series My Life as a Teenage Robot.

Related Topics:
Kaa - Python - 1994 - BBC Radio - The Jungle Book - The Emperor's New Groove - Queen Vexus - My Life as a Teenage Robot

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