Eartha Kitt, famed for decades as a singer, actress, dancer, and frequently outspoken cultural commentator, has died in New York, where she was being treated for colon cancer, according to CNN, citing confirmation from Kitt’s publicist. She was 81. Known to many for her portrayal of Catwoman on the 1960s’ Batman TV series, her signature was a sultry, purring voice, one that New York Times critic Stephen Holden described in a 2000 review of her show at N.Y.’s Cafe Carlyle as suggesting “a steel beam lined with mink.” Signature songs included her 1953 hit “C’est Si Bon (It’s So Good)” and “Santa Baby,” repopularized decades later by Madonna. She continued to perform until recently (her website lists an appearance scheduled for Minneapolis on Dec. 12 and 13, which she had to cancel), and provided voices for animated projects including The Emperor’s New Groove and American Dad!. She also appeared in the 2003 film Holes, with Shia LaBeouf. Check back at EW.com for an appreciation of her life and work. Until then, share your memories of Eartha Kitt on the message board below.
See a clip of Eartha Kitt performing “Santa Baby”:
See a vintage clip of Eartha Kitt performing “C’est Si Bon”:
Such sad news! She was amazing!
Don’t forget her hilarious turn in Boomerang! She stole the few scenes she was in. A great talent lost and the best Catwoman, ever! Period.
I saw her perform on Broadway about seven years ago. She was amazing. We lose another legend at Christmas. Two years ago, it was James Brown.
Goodbye to a Powerhouse of a Woman!
It probably wasn’t her proudest or most classic role, but I adored her in Emperor’s New Groove. She was absolutely hilarious! I am going to watch it again in her memory.
She made growing older seem like the thing to do, with class and style. What a powerhouse of a woman. Sorry to see her go. Just thought about her a few days ago. Miss her already.
Although Eartha Kitt became one of my favorite singers and inspirations, as a child, I didn’t really care for her. I loved her purring voice but I resented her playing Catwoman on the Batman TV series. I came to love her as an adult thanx to a series of great campy disco songs. Then reading her story and how she struggled and had been blacklisted, plus the great shape she kept herself in inspired me. I remember a 60 Minutes piece on seniors and it highlighted how lithe and lumber she was. I thought she’d live to 100. I’m sad to hear that she has passed.
I’m a youngster (really, I’m only 24) so it may seem odd that I have any memories of the fabulous (and I don’t use that word often) Miss. Eartha Kitt. But I do! The first time I saw her was in the Broadway production of the Wizard of Oz (1996 I think). She played the Wicked Witch of the West and blew me away! Then she played my all-time fave bad guy/lady as Izma in The Emperor’s New Groove. Miss Kitt was sorely under-utilized in the 21st century and I for one will miss her!
I saw Ms Kitt in “Timbuktu” the night it opened in Philadelphia in the late 70′s. The show was terrible, but she got (and deserved) a standing ovation upon her entrance. It’s a theatre ememory I shall always treasure. Watching her walk down a “staircase” of muscled dancers’ backs and simply announcing “I’m here,” was the high point of the show (and stopped it dead for quite a few minutes). Her performance made an awful production worth seeing, and I’m so glad I got to see her perform live. She will be missed.
Being so young and not knowing much about her, its really tragic to see a legendary broadway and TV star pass away. All I known her form was the Disney Channel Series The Emperor’s New School and she was amazing. This is really a tragic thing to happen to such an amzing performer.
Being so young and not knowing much about her, its really tragic to see a legendary broadway and TV star pass away. All I known her form was the Disney Channel Series The Emperor’s New School and she was amazing. This is really a tragic thing to happen to such an amzing performer.
I was fortunate enough to see the great Ms. Kitt a couple of years ago in Ottawa, what a performance. She was an original and will be greatly missed.
i don’t really know who eartha kitt is but i have a song of hers on my webpage. it’s a local filipino song that she sang quite amazingly… perfect filipino accent and all, which i love! i’ll try to know more about this amazing woman and i’m sure she’ll be missed.
What a great loss of a legendary woman!
I was priviledged enough to have seen Ms. Kitt live on Broadway in “The Wild Party” and will never forget her small yet grand entrance singing “Moving Uptown”. The audience came to their feet and stayed there through her number!
I especially love the candid look we get to see of her in Isaac Mizrahi’s “Unzipped”, where she is the epitome of class and energy.
Miss Eartha Kitt, u will be missed!!
-Mahogany
Strangely, I’d thought of her recently, perhaps because “Santa Baby” gets so much air time at this time of year. I’d thought of her appearance on “60 Minutes” where she is moved to tears by an audience’s standing ovation due to the rejection she received in her early life, and of her blunt comments that sent a First Lady home crying to her husband, which are applauded even by my own Vietnam War Veteran father to this day.
You had a very difficult life, Ms. Kitt. You spoke the truth and were condemned for it. May God finally requite you!