Eartha Kitt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eartha Kitt
Kitt in 1957
Born	Eartha Mae Keith (1927-01-17)January 17, 1927 North, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	December 25, 2008(2008-12-25) (aged 81) Weston, Connecticut, U.S.
Other names	Miss Kitt, Mother Eartha, Kitty
Occupation	Singer actress comedian dancer activist
Years active	1942–2008
Spouse(s)	John W. McDonald ​ ​ (m. 1960; div. 1964)​
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Vocal jazz cabaret dance disco
Labels	RCA Victor Kapp MGM EMI GNP Crescendo Decca Spark Can't Stop Ariola ITM DRG Strike Force
Associated acts	Julie Newmar Lena Horne Della Reese Miles Davis Sammy Davis Jr. Josephine Baker

Eartha Mae Kitt (born Eartha Mae Keith; January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was a famous American singer and actress. She was known for her unique singing voice. Some of her most popular songs include "C'est si bon" and the Christmas song "Santa Baby" from 1953.

Eartha Kitt started her career in 1942. She performed in the Broadway musical Carib Song in 1945. In the early 1950s, many of her songs became hits. These included "Uska Dara" and "I Want to Be Evil". She also had a UK Top 10 hit with "Under the Bridges of Paris" (1954). The famous director Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world". Later, she played Catwoman in the TV show Batman in 1967.

In 1968, her career in the U.S. faced challenges. This happened after she spoke out against the Vietnam War at a White House event. But ten years later, Kitt made a successful return to Broadway. She starred in the musical Timbuktu! in 1978. For this role, she was nominated for a Tony Award. She received another Tony nomination in 2000 for The Wild Party. Eartha Kitt also wrote three books about her life.

A new generation of fans discovered Eartha Kitt through her voice acting. She played the villain Yzma in the Disney movie The Emperor's New Groove (2000). She also appeared in the film Holes (2003). Kitt continued to voice Yzma in the sequel Kronk's New Groove (2005) and the TV series The Emperor's New School (2006–2008). Her work on the TV show earned her two Daytime Emmy Awards. She won a third Emmy in 2010 after her death for her role in Wonder Pets!

Early Life and Beginnings

Eartha Mae Keith was born in a small town called North, South Carolina. Her birthday was January 17, 1927. Her mother, Annie Mae Keith, had Cherokee and African heritage. Eartha didn't know much about her father. After her mother passed away, Eartha went to live with a relative named Mamie Kitt. She moved to Harlem, New York City. There, she went to the Metropolitan Vocational High School. This school later became the High School of Performing Arts.

A Star is Born

Kitt photographed by Carl Van Vechten, October 19, 1952

Eartha Kitt started her professional career in 1943. She joined the Katherine Dunham Company, a famous dance group. She stayed with them until 1948. Eartha was a talented singer with a very special voice. She recorded many hit songs. These included "Let's Do It", "Champagne Taste", and "C'est si bon". Her most famous song was "Santa Baby", released in 1953.

Eartha's unique style grew even more as she became fluent in French. She learned this while performing in Europe. She could speak four languages and sing in eleven! This was clear in her live shows. The famous singer Diana Ross said that she based her look and sound on Eartha Kitt.

Career Highlights

Kitt asleep on a bus, 1962

In 1950, Orson Welles gave Eartha Kitt her first main acting role. She played Helen of Troy in his play Dr. Faustus. Two years later, she was in the show New Faces of 1952. In this show, she sang "Monotonous" and "Bal, Petit Bal". These songs are still linked to her. In 1954, a movie version of New Faces came out. In the film, she sang "Monotonous", "Uska Dara", "C'est si bon", and "Santa Baby". She also appeared in films like The Mark of the Hawk (1957) and Anna Lucasta (1958).

Kitt as Catwoman in the Batman television series, 1967

Through the 1950s and early 1960s, Eartha Kitt continued to record music. She also worked in movies, television, and nightclubs. She returned to Broadway in shows like Mrs. Patterson and Shinbone Alley. In the late 1960s, she became famous for playing Catwoman in the TV show Batman. She took over the role in 1967. In 1956, she wrote her first autobiography called Thursday's Child.

The White House Event

In January 1968, Eartha Kitt faced a big challenge in her career. This happened after she spoke about the Vietnam War at a White House lunch. She shared her thoughts on why young people might rebel. She mentioned that poverty and the war were making them angry.

Many people believe that her comments caused her career in the United States to slow down. After this event, Eartha Kitt spent more time performing in Europe and Asia.

Return to Broadway

In the 1970s, Eartha Kitt appeared on British TV shows. In 1987, she took over a role in the London musical Follies. She was praised for her performance of the song "I'm Still Here". Kitt then returned to New York City in 1978. She starred in the Broadway show Timbuktu!. This was a new version of the musical Kismet, set in Africa. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her role.

In the late 1990s, she played the Wicked Witch of the West in a touring show of The Wizard of Oz. In 2000, she was back on Broadway in The Wild Party. She also played the Fairy Godmother in a U.S. tour of Cinderella. In 2003, she joined the cast of Nine on Broadway.

Voice Acting Success

In 1978, Eartha Kitt did a voice-over for a TV commercial. She also voiced Kaa in a 1994 radio show based on The Jungle Book. In 1998, she voiced Bagheera in a Disney movie called The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story.

One of her most famous voice roles was Yzma in Disney's The Emperor's New Groove (2000). She won an Annie Award for this. She played Yzma again in Kronk's New Groove and the TV show The Emperor's New School. For the TV show, she won two Emmy Awards. She also voiced the villain Vexus in the Nickelodeon series My Life as a Teenage Robot.

Later Years and Legacy

1980s and 1990s

In 1984, Eartha Kitt had another hit song called "Where Is My Man". This was her first song to be certified gold. It became popular in dance clubs and reached the Top 40 in the UK. Kitt found new fans in nightclubs, including many gay male fans. She often performed at events to support HIV/AIDS organizations. In 1989, her song "Cha-Cha Heels" was also a hit in UK dance clubs.

In 1991, Kitt appeared in the movie Ernest Scared Stupid. In 1992, she had a supporting role in Boomerang. She also appeared as herself in an episode of The Nanny in 1995. She even did commercials for Old Navy.

2000s

In 2000, Eartha Kitt won an Annie Award for her voice work as Yzma in The Emperor's New Groove. She played Yzma again in 2005 in Kronk's New Groove. In 2003, she had a charming role as Madame Zeroni in the movie Holes. This film was based on the popular book. In 2007, she was a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics. She also appeared in the 2007 film And Then Came Love. In her later years, Eartha Kitt often performed in New York City's cabaret clubs. She also did voice work for animated shows like The Emperor's New School and My Life as a Teenage Robot. In April 2008, she performed at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. She was also a guest star in an episode of The Simpsons.

Personal Life

Kitt at the Carlton Tower hotel in London, 1973

Kitt performing in concert, 2007

Eartha Kitt married John William McDonald in 1960. He worked for a real estate company. They had one daughter named Kitt McDonald, born in 1961. Eartha and John separated in 1963 and divorced in 1964.

Eartha Kitt lived in New Milford, Connecticut for many years. She was involved in local charities. Later, she moved to Pound Ridge, New York. But in 2002, she moved back to Weston, Connecticut. This was to be closer to her daughter and family. Her daughter, Kitt, married Charles Lawrence Shapiro in 1987.

Activism and Advocacy

Eartha Kitt was active in many social causes in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1966, she started the Kittsville Youth Foundation. This group helped young people in the Watts area of Los Angeles. She also worked with a group of young people in Washington, D.C., called "Rebels with a Cause". Kitt supported their efforts to clean up streets and create recreation areas. She even spoke with them before a government committee in 1967. She said that these young people had achieved a lot with little money. She believed they could be a model for other cities. The "Rebels with a Cause" later received the money they needed.

Kitt was also part of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Her comments about the Vietnam War in 1968 showed her strong belief in peace. Like many public figures at the time, Eartha Kitt was watched by the CIA. This started in 1956. When The New York Times found her CIA file in 1975, she allowed them to print parts of it. She said, "I have nothing to be afraid of and I have nothing to hide."

Later in her life, Eartha Kitt became a strong supporter of LGBT rights. She publicly supported same-sex marriage. She believed it was a civil right. She said, "I support it [gay marriage] because we're asking for the same thing." Kitt often appeared at events to raise money for LGBT causes.

Death

Eartha Kitt passed away from colon cancer on Christmas Day 2008. She was almost 82 years old and died at her home in Weston, Connecticut.

Awards and Recognitions

Eartha Kitt won many awards for her work in movies, TV, and on stage. In 1960, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6656 Hollywood Boulevard.

Major Awards

Images for kids

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  Kitt in 1957

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  Kitt photographed by Carl Van Vechten, October 19, 1952

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  Kitt asleep on a bus, 1962

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  Kitt as Catwoman in the Batman television series, 1967

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  Kitt at the Carlton Tower hotel in London, 1973

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  Kitt performing in concert, 2007