Eartha Kitt

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January 17, 1927

Eartha May Keith

John "Bill" McDonald (June 6, 1960–1965)

C'est Si Bon (1954)

Santa Baby (1954)

Santa Baby (1955)

Under The Bridges Of Paris (1955)

Just An Old Fashioned Girl (1958)

Che Vale Per Me (1968)

Where Is My Man (1983)

I Love Men (1984)

I Don't Care (1986)

This Is My Life (1986)

Arabian Song (1987)

Cha Cha Heels (Feat:Bronski Beat) (1989)

If I Love Ya Then I Need Ya (1994)

Santa Baby (2007)

Actress

The Emperors New School (TV series) (voice) (21 episodes, 2006-2007)

Behind the Director's Son's Cut (video short) (2007)

American Dad! (TV series) (voice) (1 episode, 2007)

And Then Came Love (2007)

The Emperor's New Groove 2: Kronk's New Groove (video) (voice) (2005)

On the One (2005)

My Life as a Teenage Robot (TV series) (voice) (2 episodes, 2003-2005)

Escape from Cluster Prime (TV movie) (voice) (2005)

Holes (2003)

Santa, Baby! (TV movie) (voice) (2001)

Feast of All Saints (TV movie) (2001)

The Emperor's New Groove (voice) (2000)

Welcome to New York (TV series) (2 episodes, 2000)

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV series) (voice) (1 episode, 2000)

The Famous Jett Jackson (TV series) (1 episode, 1999)

The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story (video) (voice) (1998)

The Wild Thornberrys (TV series) (1 episode, 1998)

I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998)

Ill Gotten Gains (voice) (1997)

Harriet the Spy (1996)

Living Single (TV series) (1 episode, 1995)

New York Undercover (TV series) (1 episode, 1995)

The Magic School Bus (TV series) (voice) (1 episode, 1995)

Fatal Instinct (1993)

Matrix (TV series) (1 episode, 1993)

Jack's Place (TV series) (1 episode, 1993)

Boomerang (1992)

Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)

Living Doll (1990)

Erik the Viking (1989)

The Pink Chiquitas (voice) (1987)

Dragonard (1987)

Master of Dragonard Hill (1987)

Miami Vice (TV series) (1 episode, 1985)

The Serpent Warriors (1985)

A Night on the Town (TV movie) (1983)

Butterflies in Heat (1979)

To Kill a Cop (TV movie) (1978)

Police Woman (TV series) (1 episode, 1978)

Friday Foster (1975)

The Protectors (TV series) (1 episode, 1974)

Lieutenant Schuster's Wife (TV movie) (1972)

Up the Chastity Belt (1971)

Batman (TV series) (5 episodes, 1967-1968)

Mission: Impossible (TV series) (1 episode, 1967)

All About People (short) (1967)

I Spy (TV series) (1 episode, 1965)

Ben Casey (TV series) (1 episode, 1965)

Synanon (1965)

Onkel Toms Hütte (uncredited) (1965)

Burke's Law (TV series) (1 episode, 1965)

BBC Sunday-Night Play (TV series) (1 episode, 1962)

Drei Männer spinnen (TV movie) (1962)

Play of the Week (TV series) (1 episode, 1961)

Saint of Devil's Island (1961)

Anna Lucasta (1958)

Playhouse 90 (TV series) (1 episode, 1958)

St. Louis Blues (1958)

The Mark of the Hawk (1957)

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV series) (1 episode, 1956)

Omnibus (TV series) (1 episode, 1955)

Your Show of Shows (TV series) (1 episode, 1954)

You Are There (TV series) (1 episode, 1953)

Casbah (uncredited) (1948)

Appearances

The Simpsons (TV series) (voice) (1 episode, 2010)

An Evening with Eartha Kitt (TV documentary) (2009)

Breakfast (TV series) (1 episode, 2008)

Loose Women (TV series) (1 episode, 2007)

American Masters (TV series documentary) (2 episodes, 2005-2006)

Larry King Live (TV series) (2 episodes, 2005)

74th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade (TV special) (2005)

The Many Faces of Catwoman (video documentary short) (2005)

Biography (TV series documentary) (3 episodes, 1998-2004)

The 2nd Annual TV Land Awards (TV special) (2004)

Hollywood Squares (TV series) (5 episodes, 2003)

Standard Time (2002)

The Sweatbox (documentary) (2002)

Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television (TV documentary) (2002)

The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family' (documentary) (2002)

Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (TV special documentary) (2001)

Oz (TV series) (uncredited) (1 episode, 2010)

The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV series) (2 episodes, 1997-2000)

The 54th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)(2000)

The Charlie Rose Show (TV series) (1 episode, 2000)

VH-1 Where Are They Now? (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 1999)

The Roseanne Show (TV series) (1 episode, 1998)

Viva Variety (TV series) (1 episode, 1997)

The Chris Rock Show (TV series) (1 episode, 1997)

The Nanny (TV series) 2 episodes, 1996 )

Lauren Hutton and... (TV series) (1 episode, 1996)

27th NAACP Image Awards (TV special) (1996)

James Dean and Me (TV documentary) (1995)

Unzipped (documentary) (1995)

Space Ghost Coast to Coast (TV series) (1 episode, 1994)

RuPaul's Christmas Ball (TV special) (1993)

Reading Rainbow (TV series) (voice) (1 episode, 1993)

Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV series) (1 episode, 1993)

It's Showtime at the Apollo (TV series) (1 episode, 1992)

Desperately Seeking Roger (TV documentary) (1991)

A Tribute to Terry Thomas (TV movie) (1990)

The Marsha Warfield Show (TV series) (1 episode, 1990)

Geraldo (TV series) (1 episode, 1990)

Forty Minutes (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 1989)

Wogan (TV series) (1 episode, 1989)

Live with Regis and Kelly (TV series) (1 episode, 1989)

The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross (TV series) (1 episode, 1987)

Ebony/Jet Showcase (TV series) (1 episode, 1987)

Royal Variety Performance 1987 (TV special) (1987)

Entre amigos (TV series) (1 episode, 1986)

Brown Sugar (TV mini-series documentary) (1986)

Ladybirds (TV series) (1 episode, 1984)

Musikladen (TV series) (1 episode, 1983)

All by Myself (documentary) (1982)

WWF Club (TV series) (1980)

The 1st Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV special) (1978)

Parkinson (TV series) (1 episode, 1978)

Over Easy (TV series) (2 episodes, 1977-1978)

Everyday (TV series) (1 episode, 1978)

The Merv Griffin Show (TV series) (2 episodes, 1973-1977)

The Good Old Days (TV series) (3 episodes, 1972-1976)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series) (3 episodes, 1972-1973)

Russell Harty Plus (TV series) (1 episode, 1972)

The David Frost Show (TV series) (2 episodes, 1969-1971)

Stars on Sunday (TV series) (5 episodes, 1970-1971)

Glamour... (TV series) (1 episode, 1970)

Eartha Kitt Sings (TV series) (1970)

Frost on Sunday (TV series) (2 episodes, 1968-1970)

The Barbara McNair Show (TV series) (1 episode, 1970)

Della (TV series) (1 episode, 1969)

Romeo und Julia 70 (TV mini-series) (1969)

The Other Americans (TV documentary) (1969)

International Cabaret (TV series) (1 episode, 1968)

The Hollywood Squares (TV series) (40 episodes, 1966-1968)

The Pat Boone Show (TV series) (1 episode, 1968)

P.D.Q. (TV series) (1 episode, 1967)

The Celebrity Game (TV series) (7 episodes, 1964-1965)

Blackpool Night Out (TV series) (1 episode, 1965)

The Eartha Kitt Show (TV movie) (1965)

Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life (TV series) (1 episode, 1965)

That Regis Philbin Show (TV series) (8 episodes, 1964)

Pantomime Quiz (TV series) (2 episodes, 1963)

Toast of the Town (TV series) (15 episodes, 1952-1963)

Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium (TV series) (4 episodes, 1957-1962)

Whats My Line? (TV series) (3 episodes, 1954-1961)

The Mike Wallace Interview (TV series) (1 episode, 1960)

The Nat King Cole Show (TV series) (1 episode, 1956)

Person to Person (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 1954)

The Morning Show (TV series) (1 episode, 1954)

New Faces (1954)

The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV series) (1 episode, 1954)

The Red Buttons Show (TV series) (1 episode, 1953)

Annie Awards

2008 Won Annie Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production for: "The Emperor's New School" (2006) for: episode "Emperor's New Musical"

2007 Won Annie Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production for: "The Emperor's New School" (2006) for: the voice of Yzma for: episode "Kuzclone"

2001 Won Annie Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Feature Production for: The Emperor's New Groove (2000) for: the voice of "Yzma"

Black Reel Awards

2001 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress for: The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

Daytime Emmy Awards

2010 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for: "The Wonder Pets" (2006) for: playing "Cool Cat"

2008 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for: "The Emperor's New School" (2006) (Disney Channel) for: playing "Yzma"

2007 Won Daytime Emmy Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for: "The Emperor's New School" (2006) (Disney Channel) for: playing "Yzma"

Emmy Awards

1966 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama for: "I Spy" (1965)(NBC) for: episode "The Loser"

Image Awards

1996 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for: "Living Single" (1993)

Walk of Fame (Hollywood)

1960 Won Star on the Walk of Fame Recording On February 8, 1960. At 6656 Hollywood Blvd.

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Eartha Mae Kitt (January 17, 1927) – December 25, 2008)was an American actress, singer, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her 1953 Christmas song "Santa Baby". Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world." She took over the role of Catwoman for the third season of the 1960s Batman TV series, replacing Julie Newmar, who was unavailable for the final season.

Eartha Kitt began her career as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company and made her film debut with them in Casbah (1948). A talented singer with a distinctive voice, her hits include "Let's Do It", "Champagne Taste", "C'est si bon", "Just an Old Fashioned Girl", "Monotonous", "Je cherche un homme", "Love for Sale", "I'd Rather Be Burned as a Witch", "Uska Dara", "Mink, Schmink", "Under the Bridges of Paris", and her most recognizable hit, "Santa Baby", which was released in 1953. Kitt's unique style was enhanced as she became fluent in the French language during her years performing in Europe. She had some skill in other languages too, which she demonstrates with finesse in many of the live recordings of her cabaret performances.

In 1950, Orson Welles gave her her first starring role, as Helen of Troy in his staging of Dr. Faustus. A few years later, she was cast in the revue New Faces of 1952 introducing "Monotonous" and "Bal, Petit Bal", two songs with which she continues to be identified. In 1954, 20th Century Fox filmed a version of the revue simply titled New Faces. Though it's often falsely alleged that Welles and Kitt had an affair during her run in Shinbone Alley, Kitt categorically denied this in a June 2001 interview with George Wayne of Vanity Fair. "I never had sex with Orson Welles," Kitt told Vanity Fair, "It was a working situation and nothing else". 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 1964, Kitt helped open the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos, California. Also in the 1960s, the television series Batman featured her as Catwoman after Julie Newmar left the role.

However, in 1968, during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson, Kitt encountered a substantial professional setback after she made anti-war statements during a White House luncheon. It was reported that she made First Lady Lady Bird Johnson cry. The public reaction to Kitt's statements was much more extreme, both for and against her statements. Publicly ostracized in the U.S., she devoted her energies to overseas performances.

"In 1968 she was invited to a White House luncheon and was asked by Lady Bird Johnson about the Vietnam War. She replied: “You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. No wonder the kids rebel and take pot.” The remark reportedly caused Mrs. Johnson to burst into tears and led to a derailment in Ms. Kitt’s career."

During that time, cultural references to her grew, including outside the United States, such as the well-known Monty Python sketch "The Cycling Tour", where an amnesiac believes he is first Clodagh Rodgers, then Trotsky and finally Eartha Kitt (while performing to an enthusiastic crowd in Moscow). She returned to New York in a triumphant turn in the Broadway spectacle Timbuktu! (a version of the perennial Kismet set in Africa) in 1978. In the musical, one song gives a "recipe" for mahoun, a preparation of cannabis, in which her sultry purring rendition of the refrain "constantly stirring with a long wooden spoon" was distinctive.

In 1984, she returned to the music charts with a disco song, "Where Is My Man", the first certified gold record of her career. "Where Is My Man" reached the Top 40 on the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at #36; The song also made the Top 10 on the US Billboard dance chart, where it reached #7. The single was followed by the album "I Love Men" on the Record Shack label. Kitt found new audiences in nightclubs across the UK and the US, including a whole new generation of gay male fans, and she responded by frequently giving benefit performances in support of HIV/AIDS organizations. Her 1989 follow-up hit "Cha-Cha Heels" (featuring Bronski Beat), which was originally intended to be recorded by Divine, received a positive response from UK dance clubs and reached #32 in the charts in that country.

In 1992, Kitt had a supporting role as Lady Eloise in the hit film Boomerang starring Eddie Murphy. In the late 1990s, she appeared as the Wicked Witch of the West in the North American national touring company of The Wizard of Oz. In 2000, Kitt again returned to Broadway in the short-lived run of Michael John LaChiusa's The Wild Party opposite Mandy Patinkin and Toni Collette. Beginning in late 2000, she starred as the Fairy Godmother in the US national tour of Cinderella alongside Deborah Gibson and then Jamie-Lynn Sigler. In 2003, she replaced Chita Rivera in Nine. She reprised her role as the Fairy Godmother at a special engagement of Cinderella, which took place at Lincoln Center during the holiday season of 2004.

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 Disney's The Emperor's New Groove, for which she won her first Annie Award, and returned to the role in the straight-to-video sequel Kronk's New Groove and the spin-off TV series The Emperors New School, for which she won two Emmy Awards and two more Annie Awards (both in 2007-08) for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production. She had a voice-over as the voice of Queen Vexus on the animated TV series My Life as a Teenage Robot.

In recent years, Kitt's annual appearances in New York made her a fixture on the Manhattan cabaret scene. She would take the stage at venues such as the Ballroom and the Café Carlyle to explore and define her highly stylized image, alternating between signature songs such as Old Fashioned Millionaire, which emphasized a witty, mercenary world-weariness, and less familiar repertoire, much of which she performed with an unexpected ferocity and bite that presented her as a survivor with a seemingly bottomless reservoir of resilience: her version of "Here's to Life", frequently used as a closing number, was a sterling example of the latter. This facet of her later performances was reflected in at least one of her recordings, Thinking Jazz, which preserved a series of performances with a small jazz combo that took place in the early 1990s in Germany and which included both standards ("Smoke Gets in Your Eyes") and numbers ("Something May Go Wrong") that seemed more specifically tailored to her talents; one version of the CD includes as bonus performances a fierce, angry Yesterday and a live rendering of "C'est Si Bon" that good-naturedly satirized her sex-kitten persona.

From October to early December, 2006, Kitt co-starred in the Off-Broadway musical Mimi le Duck. She also appeared in the 2007 independent film And Then Came Love opposite Vanessa L. Williams.

In 1978, she did the voice-over in a TV commercial for the album Aja by the rock group Steely Dan.

Kitt died after a long battle against colon cancer on Christmas Day, 2008 in Weston, Connecticut at the age of 81.