In an era when manufactured "celebrities" are as common as drab backyard sparrows, Eartha Kitt, who died on Christmas day of colon cancer at age 81, was the kind of strange, wondrous, exotic bird you lay eyes on once and never forget. I first discovered Kitt when I was a young boy watching after-school reruns of Batman; she was touted in the credits as an "Extra Special Guest Villainess" for her role as "The Catwoman," and while everything about the show was pure ridiculousness — nothing more so than the way Kitt gleefully rolled her r’s on words like "prrrrrrrhaps" and "terrrrrrrrific" — it was an exercise in futility to try to take my eyes off the giddy woman in the black bodysuit who seemed to turn her every scene into a wild one-woman show.
I could pretty much say the same of Kitt’s performance in the 2000 Broadway production of The Wild Party. I remember exiting the theater and marveling how with just two solo numbers (including the show-stopping "When It Ends," a defiant ode to man’s mortality), the then 73-year-old Kitt managed to steal the show from her terrific costars Toni Collette and Mandy Patinkin.
This past summer, however, I got to see Kitt in a cabaret setting, the forum where it was said she felt most at home. Sitting maybe 20 feet away from the stage at Café Carlyle in New York City, and watching Kitt vamp and shamelessly flirt with male audience members, I was struck by how few octogenarians would still attempt to play the sex kitten, let alone pull it off (and doing two shows a night, no less). Perhaps even more impressive, though, was Kitt’s understanding that to be seductive, you don’t always have to be so bloody serious. Indeed, she broke out into her trademark cackle several times during old chestnuts like "Too Young to Be Meant for Me" and "Champagne Taste" (a clip of the latter is embedded below). Still, my favorite moment of the show — Kitt’s rendition of "La Vie en Rose" — didn’t feature any hip-gyrating or leg-flashing at all; her voice vibrating with each word like a plucked string, Kitt was so beautifully somber that the clanking of cutlery and the rumble of ice against glasses in the intimate dinner theater ceased entirely.
Speaking of ice in glasses, here’s a virtual toast to the fabulous Ms. Kitt. Check out some more fascinating footage after the jump, then share your own memories of the legendary entertainer in the comments section below.
More on celebs we lost in 2008:
Legacies ‘08: Stars Pay Tribute to the Legends Who Left Us (Extended Versions)
Which celebrity death affected you most in 2008?
Remembering Heath Ledger
Remembering Bernie Mac
Remembering Paul Newman
Remembering Estelle Getty
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She will always be the one true catwoman!!!
My nieces know her as Yzema from “Emperor’s New Groove.” She was so perfect in that role. I just learned this year that she was the voice behind the classic “Santa Baby.” Your voice and your presence will be missed.
I’m only 23, so I’ve never had the pleasure of knowing who she really was until more recently. However, when I finally learned of her greatness, it was such a pleasure watching her performances throughout the years on Youtube and elsewhere. I’ve always wanted to meet Madam Eartha. I’m so disappointed that I won’t get the opportunity, but I will never forget her beauty, her talent, her elegance, her grace. She will be sorely missed for the star that she was and the legend that she is, she was just perrrrrfect!!!
Eartha Kitt. Thank you, beautiful lady.
We appreciate your having come this way, if for a time.
Orson Welles described her as ”the
most exciting woman in the world”
how true he was, she was a beautiful
lady who will be sadly missed by
everyone.
Why can’t I find mention anywhere of her hilarious voice work for the cartoon “Emporer’s New Groove”? I love this woman’s singing, and yes she was very sexy but also very funny.
She sang in several languages,was willing subject of a classic study in abuse victim creating a second protective personality.Look up her bio.
I remember Eartha Kitt was on the Conan O’Brien Show when he first started. It was like his third day on the job and he was a bit nervous. And she was incredibly rude to him on the air. It was terribly classless, and unfortunately that’s what I’ll always remember about her.
Cafe Carlyle – 98. I asked Tony if he would let you know that my guest absolutely loved you. You entered from another door so that you could put your arms around my friend and growl in his ear on your way to the stage. Then you changed your lineup and sang a song in his language first. You made his night, perhaps his life. Thank you for your kindness Eartha. Saw you fifty times at the Cafe and on the big stages. I’ll never forget you. Sending you so much love.
A very special flower graced my garden…she is sorely missed but will remain in my heart as she taught me to love true art and to love others.
Your uniqueness and ability to keep ones attention was greatly appreciated!! You will be missed love!
I, too, first got to know Eartha Kitt as Yzma in the Emperor’s New Groove…then after I’d seen it a few times I realized that she was Catwoman on the Batman series, which I used to watch religiously whenever I was out of school. It was several years after that I realized she was the singer of the only version of “Santa Baby” I could not only tolerate but actually liked. RIP Ms. Kitt. You were a class act.
I first met her in the late ’70’s when she was performing at a caberet in D.C. She was fabulous,funny, sexy, elegant, expressive, entertaining and strong. She cocked one of those arched eyebrows at me after the show when I gave her my parent’s well worn copy of her first album to sign. It came out just after she was in New Faces of 1952, a few years before I was born. I have memories of other shows, at Blues Alley one winter’s night, when my father and I were at the first show, in the front row. The snow had started as we drove into D.C. and was so deep that little of the second audience showed up. The management invited those of us who wished to stay for the second show to do so at no additional charge and almost everyone did. When she opened her next set with “I’m still here”, she did a double take as she recognized us all and then laughed and said “And you are, too!” and gave another, different show. She was a hero in so many ways, we will not see her like again. Bon Voyage!
Just an incredible performer.You will be missed.
There will never be another Catwomen like you, I remember the first time I saw you. I was truly fascinated. You will never be forgotten.
I remember going to the movie theatre and watching Ms.Kitt and Sammy Davis,Jr. in the remake of Anna Lucasta (All Black version) I now own the DVD version . Watching this movie made me a fan of Eartha Kitt. And I was only seven years old. Later, in 1998 I took over one hundred of my elementary students to the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan to watch Ms. Kitt perform in The Wizard of Oz (She played the Evil Witch of the East). What an awesone event for everyone. Thank you Ms. Kitt from a fan of over fifty years.
Eartha Kitt was in Ernest Scared Stupid – this is the touch that my boys will remember of her – they will never see her earlier works unless they are presented in retrospectives.
I got to work with her when I was an extra on an episode of CBS’ “Welcome to New York” in 2000. A typical sitcom filmed with a live audience – Ms. Kitt chose not to eat in her dressing room, but to come to the holding area where craft services served dinner to the extras and crew. She was the epitome of graciousness and a delight to be around. When I wound up with the last cup of coffee, she “flirted” me out of it it in one of my favorite on-set moments. Not long after I saw her on Broadway in “The Wild Party”. Her entrance alone demonstrated the true meaning of “show stopper”. She was one of a kind and she will be sorely missed.
Such was and will FOREVER be such an inspirational, beautiful and strong woman never to be forgotten. Once you hear her sing you will never forget her distinctive and honey like voice! She will be missed
i saw miss kitt in july at jazz Alley in Seattle Washington. She was Purrrrfect as always. She will be greatly miss. What a talent.
Eartha Kitt was a terrific talent, I remember her from the 50’s. she played the role of Salema and danced the dance of the seven vails on the Sunday TV series “You Were There”. Hosted by Walter Cronkit. As a youth I was smitten. Through the years, I have loved her singing. Her voice was truly one of a kind. She will be missed!
DS
You and I were probably at the same performances.
My parents were BIG fans of Ms. Kitt and as a 12 yr.old I saw her sing many times and was hooked for life.
The announcement of her passing brought tears to my eyes.
I AM getting old and what a loss to the world of music and real jazz and blues. My mother tried to teach me how to do the Kitt growl, but could never master it. I was brought up in the world of classical, swing and Jazz Music. Early Rock & Roll soon followed with Fats Domino performances. we attened many old south “clubs” of my parents favorites
I didn’t know who they were, They were black, but have recognized their styles over the years.
ALL are long gone, but the music has stayed with me. now I sadly must add another to my memories.
Take Care,
Scooter C.
I never saw Eartha Kitt in person, but she was the one person I always hoped to see, above anybody else. Ever since I was a little boy watching Batman, I remember being fascinated by her, and she has always been my favorite musician. I talk about her all the time. I’m going to miss her.
After she had her famous confrontation with Lady Bird Johnson in 1968, she became a darling of anti-war activists. I was part of a student group attending a conference in Finland that summer, and we asked her to meet with us in Stockholm where she was performing at the time. She was gracious, astute, articulate and vital. I’ll never forget her.
I’m a huge Batman fan, so I, like many, primarily know Eartha Kitt as Catwoman. I did see her about nine years ago in the traveling production of The Wizard of Oz as the Wicked Witch. Afterward, she came out to sign autographs with the green makeup still on. To this day I remember someone asking her how she looked so great at her age. She said, “Exercise. Don’t YOU exercise?” But she was very gracious, and I still have that signed program.
I loved Eartha Kitt, what a beautiful woman right down to the last drop, it did not matter the age, she was sexy to the end. And was a pioneer in one of the first African American syx symbols of our time. I will miss her!
Sheila
I saw miss Kitt in July of 2008 at jazz alley in seattle. She was purrfect as always. She will be greatly missed. What a talent.
SHE WAS A VERY WONDERUL WOMAN . WHEN EVER SHE SANG EVERYONE STOPPED AND LISTENED TO HER . HER SONG WHERE IS MY MAN WAS AND STILL VERY POPULAR AMONG THE GAY SOCIETY. AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE . THIS WOMAN WAS A TRUE INSPIRation to me and others around the world. she didn’t know what fear was and if told us all if we want something bad enough then we will get it. EARTHA DARLIN NWE WILL MISS YOU , AND YOUR MEMORIES WILL BE WITH US TILL OUR DYING DAYS.
It was the 12th of February 2007. Sitting in my upstairs home office my partner Daniel told me one of my idols was going to be on BBC Radio 5 Live. After reeling off a whole list of people he told me it was Miss Kitt. I could not believe it and called the radio immediately. They told me they would not be able to let me speak to her but said if they could they would call me back. Just after the show began I received a phone call off the producer telling me Miss Kitt was on the phone. My heart pounded, my head went blank. What do you say to your idol on the phone? Words could not come to me. I managed to get through a small chat with her. After a little while she asked if I was going to see her at the Shaw Theatre in London that week? I told her I did not know at that moment. After the chat my partner came up and saw me crying. he said not to cry, he had heard the interview on the radio and promptly called the Shaw Theatre and bought me a ticket for on Valentines Day.
The show was fantastic. I’ll never see another show quite so astounding. She sang with such power, she was superb. After the show she came out to sign autographs. She signed my CD and my programme. She also remembered speaking with me on the radio and kindly let me take a pic of me and her together. The photo went into the Evening Telegraph in Peterborough. GOD BLESS YOU EARTHA KITT. I will never forget you and your music will play in my house for many many years.