Eartha Kitt
Eartha Mae Kitt, born on January 17, 1927, in North, South Carolina, was an iconic American singer, actress, dancer, and activist. Known for her distinctive voice and captivating stage presence, Kitt's career spanned over six decades, from 1942 until her death on December 25, 2008, in Weston, Connecticut.
Kitt's early life was marked by hardship; she was born to a Cherokee and African American mother and a white father she never knew. Raised by relatives in Harlem, New York, she faced racial discrimination and abuse. Despite these challenges, Kitt's talent shone through. At 16, she joined Katherine Dunham's dance troupe, touring internationally before making a name for herself as a nightclub singer in Paris.
Her breakthrough came with the Broadway revue "New Faces of 1952," which led to her recording hits like "C'est Si Bon" and the holiday classic "Santa Baby." Orson Welles, who cast her as Helen of Troy in his adaptation of Faust, famously described her as "the most exciting woman in the world."
Kitt's career faced a setback in 1968 after she made anti-Vietnam War remarks at a White House luncheon, leading to a decline in her U.S. popularity. However, she made a triumphant return to Broadway in 1978 with "Timbuktu!" and continued to perform in various media, including voice roles in "The Emperor's New Groove," which earned her multiple Daytime Emmy Awards.
Eartha Kitt's legacy is celebrated through her recordings, stage performances, and her autobiographies: "Thursday’s Child," "Alone with Me," and "I’m Still Here: Confessions of a Sex Kitten." Her influence endures as a testament to her resilience and extraordinary talent.
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