Kitt returned to New York City in a triumphant turn in the Broadway spectacle Timbuktu! She took over the role of Catwoman for the third and final season of the television series Batman (1966), replacing Julie Newmar. Given away by her mother, she arrived in Harlem at age nine. ... After her husband's historic win in 2008 they moved into The White House for eight years. My whole life? So I don't think of myself as belonging to any particular group and never have. And sometimes she would come and sit somewhere up front, and she would yell out, 'Eartha, sing 'Waray Waray!'' Goodbye to what? 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. Was nominated in 1996 for a Grammy Award in traditional pop vocal performance for her album "Back in Business". She went on to perform her own one-woman show at The Shaftesbury Theatre to sold-out houses for three weeks in early 1989 after Follies. Well-known for her recordings of "Santa Baby" in the 1950s and 1960s. Age: N/A . She also did a series of commercials for Old Navy. She was also famous from other names as Miss Kitt, Mother Eartha, Kitty. No wonder the kids rebel and take pot. Unfortunately, the relationship didn't last. |  If someone would even suggest such a vulgar thing as a goodbye-themed event for me, I would pretend I didn't hear it. pp. The baby, born November 27, weighed in at 7lbs., 9 oz., and was named Kitt. Beginning in late 2000, Kitt starred as the Fairy Godmother in the U.S. national tour of Cinderella. Eartha Kitt Family Details: Father: Unknown Mother: Mamie Kitt Spouse/Husband: William O. McDonald (m. 1960-1965) Children: Kitt McDonald (Daughter) Grandchildren: Justin Shapiro, Rachel Shapiro Siblings: Unknown. Hearings, 90th Cong., 1st Sess. But the public has adopted me and that has been my only family. I don't know whether this is because I had such a tough life when I was a child. In 2000, Kitt again returned to Broadway in the short-lived run of Michael John LaChiusa's The Wild Party. She appeared in a 1967 Mission: Impossible episode, "The Traitor," as a contortionist. In 1988, Kitt replaced Dolores Gray in the West End production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies as Carlotta, receiving standing ovations every night for her rendition of "I'm Still Here" at the beginning of act 2. "[35], On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Eartha Kitt among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal Studios fire. Orson Welles called her "the most exciting girl in the world". AKA Eartha Mae Keith. [citation needed] She was also a guest star in "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" of The Simpsons, where she was depicted as one of Krusty's past marriages. 559–60. [28] "Rebels with a Cause" subsequently received the needed funding. They divorced in 1965. In the 1970s, Kitt appeared on television several times on BBC's long-running variety show The Good Old Days, and in 1987 took over from fellow American Dolores Gray in the London West End production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies and returned at the end of that run to star in a one-woman-show at the same Shaftesbury Theatre, both to tremendous acclaim. Eartha Kitt Education: High School of Performing Arts. When I was traveling in the Philippine Islands my daughter and I, from time to time, used to stay with Mr. and Mrs. Marcos. [in an Essence magazine interview regarding her anti-war statements to. During a question and answer session, Kitt stated: The children of America are not rebelling for no reason. [33][34] Her daughter, Kitt McDonald, described her last days with her mother: I was with her when she died. Why Famous: Catwoman of Batman, television show. As well as the singer late Eartha Kitt and Heavy Weight champion Muhammad Ali. In 1984, she returned to the music charts with a disco song titled "Where Is My Man", the first certified gold record of her career. 7. Tom Weaver , Other Works "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire", "Selections from the Katherine Dunham Collection", "Eartha Kitt and Orson Welles in Paris in 1950", "Eartha Kitt wins raves in Welles' show at Frankfurt", "Harold Pinter and Eartha Kitt, artists and opponents of imperialist war", The Interviews: An Oral History of Television. However, by the 1950s, she had sung and danced her way out of poverty and into the spotlight: performing with the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe on a European tour, soloing at a Paris nightclub and becoming the toast of the Continent. Elle fut qualifiée de « the most exciting woman in the world » (la femme la plus stimulante du monde) par Orson Welles qui lui fit tenir sur scène le rôle d'Hélène de Troie. In her testimony, in May 1967, Kitt stated that the Rebels' "achievements and accomplishments should certainly make the adult 'do-gooders' realize that these young men and women have performed in 1 short year – with limited finances – that which was not achieved by the same people who might object to turning over some of the duties of planning, rehabilitation, and prevention of juvenile delinquents and juvenile delinquency to those who understand it and are living it". In a 1992 interview with Dr. Anthony Clare, Kitt spoke about her gay following, saying: We're all rejected people, we know what it is to be refused, we know what it is to be oppressed, depressed, and then, accused, and I am very much cognizant of that feeling. Eartha Kitt was born Eartha Mae Keith, on January 17, 1927, in North, or St. Matthews, South Carolina. Her second was for the 2000 original production of the musical The Wild Party. Why Famous: Ex-Husband of Eartha Kitt. An out-of-wedlock child, Eartha Kitt was born in the cotton fields of South Carolina. Eartha Mae Kitt endured much trauma as a child. Was nominated twice for Broadway's Tony Award: in 1978, as Best Actress (Musical) for "Timbuktu! If I have a partner and something happens to me, I want that partner to enjoy the benefits of what we have reaped together. John William McDonald's Relationships (1) Eartha Kitt. They had one daughter: She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6656 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960. In her later years, Kitt made annual appearances in the New York Manhattan cabaret scene at venues such as the Ballroom and the Café Carlyle. [11], Kitt began her career as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company in 1943 and remained a member of the troupe until 1948. However, Eartha Kitt did get married in 1960 to Bill McDonald, a Korean war veteran and accountant. for no reason. [9] Kitt's daughter, Kitt McDonald, has questioned the accuracy of the claim. That was the bitchiest letter I ever read in my life. Kitt's unique style was enhanced as she became fluent in French during her years performing in Europe. Eartha Kitt (born Eartha Mae Keith; January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer, actress, dancer, voice actress, comedienne, activist, author, and songwriter known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby", both of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. (a version of the perennial Kismet, set in Africa) in 1978. According to The New York Times, the couple divorced in 1963, with Kitt leaving McDonald on grounds of what was then described as "mental cruelty." Kitt McDonald, the only child that the famous singer and actress Eartha Kitt had, took to Instagram to share a photo of her father John McDonald on Father's Day. I have a baby and then you send him off to war. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, Black Actors in Traditionally White Roles, Best Actress Performances (1937 and Beyond). I don't carry myself as a black person but as a woman that belongs to everybody. Kitt 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. January 2021 She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance. After the death of Annie Mae, Eartha was sent to live with another relative named Mamie Kitt (who may, in fact, have been her biological mother) in Harlem, New York City,[7] where she attended the Metropolitan Vocational High School (later renamed the High School of Performing Arts). 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, reaching No. Kitt found a new generation of fans through her roles in the Disney films The Emperor's New Groove (2000), in which she voiced the villainous Yzma, and Holes (2003). They had one child, a daughter named Kitt McDonald, born on November 26, 1961. Kitt appeared with Jimmy James and George Burns at a fundraiser in 1990 produced by Scott Sherman, agent from the Atlantic Entertainment Group. "[14] Her other films in the 1950s included The Mark of the Hawk (1957), St. Louis Blues (1958) and Anna Lucasta (1958). Kitt had a minor hit in Sweden 1956 with her record in Swedish, "Rosenkyssar" ("Rose Kisses", RCA FAS 511). Was inspired to go into show business after witnessing the wild applause that the audience gave, Her name can be seen on a marquee in the infamously terrible. In 1995, Kitt appeared as herself in an episode of The Nanny, where she performed a song in French and flirted with Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy). No wonder the kids rebel and take pot. "Where Is My Man" reached the Top 40 on the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at No. Kitt found new audiences in nightclubs across the UK and the United States, including a whole new generation of gay male fans, and she responded by frequently giving benefit performances in support of HIV/AIDS organizations. Eartha Kitt with Husband William O. McDonald : News Photo . They are rebelling against something. Kitt wrote three autobiographies.[3]. [12], In 1950, Orson Welles gave Kitt her first starring role as Helen of Troy in his staging of Dr. Faustus. Publicity Listings Official Sites. Jul 14, 2019 - Eartha Kitt's daughter talks about the challenges of looking different than her mother I'm so glad that I got to know you.' Kitt's age was always a mystery, until 1998, when a group of students from her hometown in South Carolina unearthed her birth certificate. I'm an orphan. In January 1968,[16] during Lyndon B. Johnson's administration, Kitt encountered a substantial professional setback after she made anti-war statements during a White House luncheon. [24] As noted, Kitt did voice work for the animated projects The Emperor's New Groove and its spinoffs, as well as for My Life as a Teenage Robot. She has been married to Allan Bruce Rothschild since May 26, 2002. Eartha Kitt sings Swedish and talks about her gay-fans, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer In An Animated Program, Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, "Eartha Kitt, Chanteuse, Cherokee, and a seducer of audiences, Walked On at 81", "Eartha Kitt: Singer who rose from poverty to captivate audiences around the world with her purring voice", "Eartha Kitt's life was scarred by failure to learn the identity of her white father, says daughter", https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/arts/26kitt.html, The black actress who made Lady Bird Johnson cry; The truth hurts, "Eartha Kitt, a Seducer of Audiences, Dies at 81", "CIA gave Secret Service a Report containing Gossip about Eartha Kitt after a White House Incident", "George Burns, Eartha Kitt are delightful at 'Lifesongs 1990'", "Kitt McDonald is Wed to Charles L. Shapiro", "Eartha Kitt, actress and gay rights ally, dies at age 81", "Seductive singer Eartha Kitt dies at 81". [25] They had one child, a daughter named Kitt McDonald, born on November 26, 1961. But of course, she always insisted on singing right along with me! She composted long before anyone knew what it was. In 1998, she voiced Bagheera in the live-action direct-to-video Disney film The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story. Her mother, Annie Mae Keith, was of Cherokee and African descent and worked in a cotton plantation. We don't have what we have on Sunset Blvd. She later moved to Pound Ridge, New York, but returned in 2002 to the southern Fairfield County, Connecticut, town of Weston, in order to be near her daughter Kitt and family. My mother ‎Eartha Kitt used her maiden name as her stage name and my father was named Bill McDonald. "I never had sex with Orson Welles," Kitt told Vanity Fair: "It was a working situation and nothing else. My mother was organic way before it was chic. It was reported that she made. A man has always wanted to lay me down but he never wanted to pick me up. [29] Kitt was also a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom; her criticism of the Vietnam War and its connection to poverty and racial unrest in 1968 can be seen as part of a larger commitment to peace activism. [20] The dossier contained comments about Kitt's sex life and family history, along with negative opinions of her that were held by former colleagues. Kitt was active in numerous social causes in the 1950s and 1960s. She was sent to live with her aunt Mamie Kitt in Harlem, New York. Although the marriage did not last, they brought a beautiful mixed race child into the world. Her other notable recordings include the UK Top 10 hit "Under the Bridges of Paris" (1954), "Just an Old Fashioned Girl" (1956) and "Where Is My Man" (1983). Kitt had voiced Vexus in My Life as a Teenage Robot. I think it's disgusting. The only other actress to achieve this is Camren Bicondova who was two years older than David Masouz on Gotham (2014-2019). Dec 8, 2013 - Find high resolution royalty-free images, editorial stock photos, vector art, video footage clips and stock music licensing at the richest image search photo library online. She was home for the last few weeks when the doctor told us there was nothing they could do any more. She also appeared in the 2007 independent film And Then Came Love opposite Vanessa Williams. She had one daughter, Kitt Shapiro, with husband John William McDonald. In the photo, a very young Kitt was seen wearing a blue and white dress and a white headband while playing next to John, who wore black pants and matching shirt. Holds two Daytime Emmy Award records. In 1954, 20th Century Fox distributed an independently filmed version of the revue entitled New Faces, in which she performed "Monotonous", "Uska Dara", "C'est si bon",[13] and "Santa Baby". She died on Christmas Day 2008 at her home in Weston, Connecticut. Kitt's mother was a sharecropper of African-American and Cherokee Native American descent. Eartha Kitt "I like to use the freedom of my own imagination." John William McDonald. We didn't have to [talk] because I always knew how she felt about me. Her father's identity is unknown. It was arranged that James would impersonate Kitt and then Kitt would walk out to take the microphone. Other - Spouse. Her name can be seen on a marquee in the infamously terrible Edward D. Wood Jr. cult film Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957). Her husband, William O. McDonald, was a real estate developer. "[31] Kitt famously appeared at many LGBT fundraisers, including a mega event in Baltimore, Maryland, with George Burns and Jimmy James. "; and in 2000, as Best Actress (Featured Role - Musical) for "The Wild Party". Hersh published an article about the dossier in The New York Times. 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