RIP: Catwoman
Ok this is #2 Whos next.
Reprinted From People.com
Groundbreaking actress and the sultry singer of the stylishly sexy Christmas standard “Santa Baby,” Eartha Kitt, died on Christmas Day in New York City, her publicist confirmed to CNN.
Kitt, 81, had been treated for colon cancer. Her daughter Kitt Shapiro was by her side at the time of her death.
Known primarily for singing in her distinctively raspy voice and purring like a cat as Catwoman on the ’60s TV series Batman, Kitt was a star of stage, the small and big screen and music. She was nominated for three Tony awards, two Grammy awards and two Emmys, according to her official Web site.
A performer to the very end, Kitt taped a PBS special in Chicago six weeks ago that is set to air in February, CNN reports.
Born Dirt Poor
Leaving the cotton fields of South Carolina at the age of 4 to go live with an aunt in New York City’s Harlem, Kitt began her career after she auditioned on a dare for the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe – and landed a spot as a featured dancer and vocalist.
Touring Europe, she built a name for herself, then became famous in America when she appeared in the Broadway revue New Faces of 1952 – where she introduced “Santa Baby,” as well as her other trademark songs, “C’est Si Bon” and “Monotonous.”
Honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 1960, Kitt became infamous for speaking out against American involvement in the Vietnam War while she was at a White House luncheon in 1968. It took a good 10 years for her career to recover, and she headlined on Broadway in the musical Timbuktu!
An Icon
She also became a staple on the cabaret circuit, and toured as the Wicked Witch in a national touring production of The Wizard of Oz, based on the classic 1939 movie.
Among her other accomplishments, she wrote three autobiographies. Only last week, “Santa Baby” was certified gold.
According to her bio, Kitt lived in Connecticut near her daughter and four grandchildren. They survive her – as does her reputation as an icon.
December 28th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Wow J, you keep bringing bad news. Where is everybody BTW? Hopefully we didn’t lose anyone in the MRC community.
December 28th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Well you know, Sunn covers the music morgue beat, and I get the TV/Movie slab.
December 29th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I saw Eartha Kitt perform at Jazz Alley in Seattle back in, mmm, maybe 1994-5? She put on an the entertaining show and was quite the stage presence, even at her age then.
December 30th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I may even have an old 78 of hers down in a dark, dusty corner of the basement. No way to play though.
December 30th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
A few years ago, I was on a committee at work to put on a skit for our Christmas party. We had an aspiring female vocalist who worked for me. I persuaded her to sing “Santa Baby” (directed at the owner of the company). She did a wonderful job imitating Eartha.