Julie Newmar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julie Newmar
Newmar in 1965
Born	Julia Chalene Newmeyer (1933-08-16) August 16, 1933 (age 91) Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation	Actress dancer singer businesswoman writer
Years active	1952–present
Known for	Catwoman in Batman The Marriage-Go-Round (play, film adaptation)
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Spouse(s)	J. Holt Smith ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 1984)​
Children	1
Awards	Inkpot Award (2014)

Julie Newmar (born Julia Chalene Newmeyer on August 16, 1933) is a famous American actress, dancer, and singer. She is also a writer and businesswoman. Many people know her best for playing Catwoman in the 1960s TV show Batman. She also won a special award called a Tony Award for her acting on Broadway in the play The Marriage-Go-Round.

Julie Newmar also appeared in a music video for George Michael's song "Too Funky" in 1992. She played herself in the 1995 movie To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. Later, she used her voice for animated movies like Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016) and Batman vs. Two-Face (2017). In these movies, she voiced Catwoman again, 50 years after the TV series.

Early Life and Family

Julie Newmar was born in Los Angeles, California, on August 16, 1933. She was the oldest of three children. Her parents were Don and Helene Newmeyer. Her father, Don, worked as a physical education teacher at Los Angeles City College. He also played American football professionally in the 1920s.

Julie's mother, Helene, was a fashion designer. She used the professional name Chalene. Later, she became a successful real estate investor. Julie has two younger brothers. One brother, Peter, sadly passed away in a skiing accident. Her other brother, John, is a writer and scientist. Julie started dancing when she was very young. By age 15, she was a lead dancer with the Los Angeles Opera.

Acting Career

Early Roles and Stage Work

On the set of Adventures in Paradise (1960). From left: George Tobias, Newmar, and Gardner McKay.

Julie Newmar started her acting career with small roles in movies. She often played dancers. For example, she was a "dancer-assassin" in Slaves of Babylon (1953). She was also a "gilded girl" covered in gold paint in Serpent of the Nile (1953). She danced in other films too, like The Band Wagon (1953) and Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954). When she was 19, she also worked as a choreographer and dancer for Universal Studios.

Her first big role was as Dorcas in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). She was called Julie Newmeyer in this movie. In 1956, she appeared on Broadway in the musical Li'l Abner. She played a character called Stupefyin' Jones. This role was so popular that she played it again in the movie version in 1959. She also starred in a comedy movie called The Rookie (1959).

Julie Newmar made her Broadway debut in 1955 in Silk Stockings. A few months later, she starred in The Marriage-Go-Round. She won a Tony Award in 1959 for her role as Katrin Sveg. She later played this role again in the 1961 movie version. In 1963, she toured with the play Stop the World – I Want to Get Off.

Television Appearances

Newmar as Catwoman (1966).

Julie Newmar became very famous for her roles on television. She played Rhoda the Robot in the TV series My Living Doll (1964–1965). But she is most famous for playing the supervillain Catwoman in the 1960s TV series Batman. She played Catwoman for two seasons. Other actresses also played Catwoman in Batman, like Lee Meriwether in the movie and Eartha Kitt in the final season. Julie Newmar even changed her Catwoman costume to make it fit her hourglass figure better. This costume is now kept in the Smithsonian Institution.

In 1962, she appeared twice on the show Route 66. She played Vicki Russell, an adventurous heiress who rode a motorcycle. She also guest-starred in many other popular TV shows. These include The Twilight Zone, F Troop, Bewitched, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Get Smart. In 1967, she was a guest star on The Monkees and Star Trek. In Star Trek, she played a pregnant princess named Eleen.

Later Acting Roles

Newmar at Phoenix Comicon in 2014.

Julie Newmar continued to act in movies and TV shows for many years. She guest-starred on shows like The Love Boat, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, CHiPs, and Fantasy Island. In 1992, she was in the music video for George Michael's song "Too Funky". She also appeared as herself in an episode of Melrose Place in 1996.

In 2003, Julie Newmar played herself in the TV movie Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt. She was joined by her former Batman co-stars, Adam West and Burt Ward. In 2016 and 2017, she voiced Catwoman again in the animated movies Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders and Batman vs. Two-Face. In 2019, she played a role in an audio drama series called Dark Shadows: Bloodline.

Inventor and Businesswoman

Julie Newmar is not just an actress; she is also an inventor and businesswoman. In the 1970s, she received two patents from the U.S. government for new designs of pantyhose. She also got a patent for a special brassiere. Her pantyhose designs were known for having "cheeky derriere relief" and were sold under the name "Nudemar".

In the 1980s, Julie Newmar started investing in real estate in Los Angeles. She bought properties and helped improve neighborhoods. A women's magazine even said she helped make areas like La Brea Avenue and Fairfax Avenue better places.

Personal Life

Julie Newmar was married to J. Holt Smith, a lawyer, from 1977 to 1984. She has one child, a son named John Jewl Smith, who was born in 1981. John has a hearing impairment and Down syndrome.

Julie Newmar has a neurological condition called Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease. This is a condition that affects about one in 2,500 Americans. She had a friendly disagreement with her neighbor, actor Jim Belushi. This disagreement even led to her appearing in his TV show According to Jim. The episode made fun of their friendly feud.

Julie Newmar loves gardening. She even helped create a temporary ban on leaf blowers in Los Angeles. She is also a strong supporter of LGBT rights. Her brother, John Newmeyer, is gay. In 2013, she received an award for her support from an organization called Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing. Julie Newmar is also a trained pianist.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage Credits

Images for kids

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  Newmar with Bob Cummings in My Living Doll (1964).

See also

In Spanish: Julie Newmar para niños