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US singer Eartha Kitt dies at 81 | US singer Eartha Kitt dies at 81 |
(about 3 hours later) | |
American singer, dancer and actress Eartha Kitt has died at the age 81, her friend and publicist has said. | American singer, dancer and actress Eartha Kitt has died at the age 81, her friend and publicist has said. |
Kitt died of colon cancer on Thursday, Andrew Freedman said. | 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 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 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. | She also had a number of hit songs, including Old Fashioned Girl, C'est Si Bon and Santa Baby. |
Eartha Kitt singing Santa Baby | Eartha Kitt singing Santa Baby |
Kitt was blacklisted in the US in the late 1960s after speaking out against the Vietnam War at a White House function. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Big break | Big break |
Kitt rose to the top of the entertainment world from humble origins. | Kitt rose to the top of the entertainment world from humble origins. |
Her mother worked on a cotton plantation in South Carolina and was just 14 when she gave birth. | Her mother worked on a cotton plantation in South Carolina and was just 14 when she gave birth. |
HAVE YOUR SAYAn actress, a temptress, a dancer and a songbirdJoy Pattinson, SwitzerlandSend us your comments | |
Kitt was then given away at the age of eight and sent to live with an aunt in New York. | Kitt was then given away at the age of eight and sent to live with an aunt in New York. |
Her break came at 16 when she got a job as a dancer with a professional troupe touring Europe. She later sang in Paris nightclubs and appeared in several films in the 1950s. | Her break came at 16 when she got a job as a dancer with a professional troupe touring Europe. She later sang in Paris nightclubs and appeared in several films in the 1950s. |
Kitt, who had one daughter from a brief marriage in the 1960s, lived in the US state of Connecticut. | Kitt, who had one daughter from a brief marriage in the 1960s, lived in the US state of Connecticut. |
Eartha Kitt: Your tributes | Eartha Kitt: Your tributes |