Eartha Mae Keith was born on January 17, 1927, in North, South Carolina. She was an American singer and actress known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby".
Kitt began her career in 1942 and appeared in the 1945 original Broadway theatre production of the musical Carib Song. In the early 1950s, she had six U.S.A. Top 30 entries, including "Uska Dara" and "I Want to Be Evil". Her other recordings include the U.K. Top 10 song "Under the Bridges of Paris" (1954), "Just an Old-Fashioned Girl" (1956) and "Where Is My Man" (1983). Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world". She starred as Catwoman in the third and final season of the television series ‘Batman’ in 1967.
In 1968, her career in the U.S. deteriorated after she made anti-Vietnam War statements at a White House luncheon. Ten years later, Kitt made a successful return to Broadway in the 1978 original production of the musical Timbuktu!, for which she received the first of her two Tony Award nominations. Her second was for the 2000 original production of the musical The Wild Party. Kitt wrote three autobiographies.
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). She reprised the role as Yzma in the direct-to-video sequel “Kronk's New Groove” (2005), as well as the animated series ‘The Emperor's New School’ (2006–2008). Her work on the latter earned her two Daytime Emmy Awards. She posthumously won a third Emmy in 2010 for her guest performance on ‘Wonder Pets!’
Kitt was married to John W. McDonald from 1960-1964 and died in Weston, Connecticut on December 25, 2008.
KITT, Eartha (Eartha Mae Keith) [1/17/1927, North, South Carolina,
U.S.A. – 12/25/2008, Weston, Connecticut, U.S.A.] – actress, singer, married to
real estate investor John
William McDonald (1960–1964) mother of actress Kitt McDonald [1961- ].
Cassy – 1975 [sings
“Old Man River”]
