Eartha Kitt was an American singer, actress, and activist whose career spanned over six decades, defined by a singularly sultry voice, a commanding stage presence, and an unapologetic individuality. Born Eartha Mae Keith on a cotton plantation in South Carolina, her early life was marked by hardship and uncertainty regarding her parentage. She moved to New York City as a teenager, where her talents in dance and performance were soon discovered. Her big break came in 1945 when she joined the Katherine Dunham Company, a pioneering African-American dance troupe, which led to her Broadway debut in the musical Carib Song.

The 1950s catapulted Kitt to international stardom as a recording artist. She developed a unique, purring vocal style that was both sophisticated and playful. Her 1953 recordings, including the French-language "C'est si bon" and the enduring Christmas classic "Santa Baby," became her signature hits. She captivated audiences in Europe and America, with filmmaker Orson Welles famously dubbing her "the most exciting woman in the world." Kitt also established herself as a formidable actress on stage and screen, earning a Tony Award nomination for her work in the 1954 Broadway production of Mrs. Patterson.

Kitt's career took a dramatic and controversial turn in 1968. During a White House luncheon hosted by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, she passionately criticized the Vietnam War, stating it was causing American youth to rebel. The incident led to professional blacklisting in the United States, with Kitt's work opportunities drying up almost overnight. She spent much of the next decade performing abroad, rebuilding her reputation in Europe and Asia. She made a triumphant return to Broadway in 1978, earning another Tony nomination for her starring role in the all-black revival of Kismet, titled Timbuktu!.

Never one to be confined to a single era, Kitt continually reinvented herself. She experienced a career resurgence in the late 1960s as the slinky, villainous Catwoman on the Batman television series, replacing Julie Newmar. Decades later, she introduced herself to a new generation through voice acting, most memorably as the delightfully wicked Yzma in Disney's The Emperor's New Groove and its subsequent television series, a role that earned her two Daytime Emmy Awards. She received a third posthumous Emmy in 2010 for her work on Wonder Pets!. Kitt remained a vibrant performer into her later years, earning a third Tony nomination in 2000 for The Wild Party and continuing to record and perform live. Eartha Kitt, a true original whose artistry was matched by her fearless activism, passed away on December 25, 2008.