"Santa Baby" Eartha Kitt Dies on Christmas Day

Eartha Kitt, the sultry diva known best for her turn as the third Catwoman on the campy Batman TV series of the 60s, died Christmas Day from colon cancer. Memorable performances on stage, screen and in the recording studio peppered her 60-some year career.

Career and personal highlights included:

• Recording the first and sexiest version of the gold digger anthem “Santa Baby” in 1953. The huge hit has been covered by countless gay icons including Madonna, Kylie Minogue and yes, even RuPaul and Miss Piggy.
• A steamy and rocky (and alleged) affair with Orson Wells. Her first significant role as Helen of Troy was courtesy of Wells and he would later refer to Kitt as “the most exciting woman in the world”.
• A film debut opposite Sidney Poitier. Kitt starred (and sang) in the 1957 film, The Mark of the Hawk, a tale of African independence.
• Being essentially blacklisted for anti-war statements. Her comments against the Vietnam War at a White House luncheon led to her being blackballed and unable to find work in the states. Her exile to Europe would last close to ten years.
• A legacy of Broadway successes. Kitt would win two Tony nominations during her career, one for her performance in 1978’s Timbuktu! and one for her featured role in The Wild Party in 2000.
• Her stint as a true disco diva. Kitt’s 1984 song “Where’s My Man” was the first Gold record of her career and introduced her to subsequent generations of gay fans. She would go on to give frequent performances supporting HIV/AIDS charities.

Her contributions will be remembered and she will be greatly missed by her fans.