Eartha Kitt dies aged 81

American singer, dancer and actress Eartha Kitt has died at the age 81, her friend and publicist has said. The singer of "Santa Baby" died on Christmas Day!

Kitt died of colon cancer on Thursday, Andrew Freedman said.

She was one of the few artists to be nominated in the Tony, Grammy and Emmy award categories and was a stalwart of the Manhattan cabaret scene.

She famously played Catwoman in the Batman television series in the 1960s and was known for her distinctive, feline drawl.

She also had a number of hit songs, including Old Fashioned Girl, C'est Si Bon and Santa Baby.

Kitt was blacklisted in the US in the late 1960s after speaking out against the Vietnam War at a White House function.

She also caused controversy when she toured apartheid South Africa in 1974, arguing that she had helped wean the regime by raising awareness of racism.

However, she returned triumphantly to New York's Broadway in a 1978 production, Timbuktu!, and continued to perform regularly in theatre shows and concert halls.

From the 1980s onwards she appeared in numerous films, and her 1984 hit Where Is My Man found her another generation of night club fans.

Category:

Entertainment

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• Eartha
• Kitt
• dies
• Santa
• Baby

[VJTOMYAZ]

WOW I get to be first to comment. This was a great bio of her life. THANKS for posting it and including the Ladybird Johnson clip i have played 1:14 over and over.

[media1512]

You're welcome!

[bastardfingers]

I'm not sure it sucks that she died on christmas day. That day is even better because of a song of hers so she died on a lovely day. Well that's my take on it. Top bird and I love her.

[TheMusicman12ize]

r.ip to 1 of the best legends that ever was a truly fantastic talented lady who i loved very very much your earthas music is liveing on in my heart

[jbond5150]

beautiful woman.

[irishsetterarchie]

R.I.P. A remarkable woman.

[Ilovethesimpsons22]

She died on Christmas that sucks!! January 17th,1927- Decmeber 25th,2008 She would've been 82 on January 17th.

[dearmalika]

We'll never forget you!RIP!