Eartha Kitt: Biography, Exile, Accent & Death Myth

Eartha Kitt rose from a sharecropper’s farm in South Carolina to become a Broadway star, a global singer, and Catwoman—but her outspokenness at a 1968 White House luncheon cost her nearly a decade of work in America, according to the White House Historical Association. This article traces the paradoxes of her career, from her mixed-race heritage to the myths that still surround her death.

Born: January 17, 1927 · Died: December 25, 2008 · Age at death: 81 · Known for: Catwoman, Yzma · Ethnicity: African American and Cherokee · Number of husbands: 1

Eight key facts frame Kitt’s story, from birth to death and the controversies in between.

What is Eartha Kitt’s ethnicity?

Is Eartha Kitt half white?

Eartha Kitt’s ancestry was a mix that shaped her identity from birth. According to Britannica, her mother was of African American and Cherokee descent, and her biological father, whom she never knew, was white. The HistoryMakers notes that she was ostracized early in life because of her mixed-race heritage. Discover South Carolina (tourism site) describes her as “born to a half-Black, half-Native American mother and a white father.” Kitt herself identified as African American, and while DNA evidence cited in biographies points to mixed heritage, official records of exact percentages do not exist.

What was her mixed heritage?

The HistoryMakers biography clarifies that her mother was of African descent, with Cherokee lineage, and her father was likely white. Growing up in the Jim Crow South, Kitt later told BBC that her childhood was marked by extreme poverty and racial taunts. The ambiguity of her racial identity became both a source of pain and a tool of reinvention on stage.

Why was Eartha Kitt exiled?

What did Eartha Kitt say that caused her exile?

On January 18, 1968, at a White House luncheon hosted by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, Kitt was invited to speak on juvenile delinquency. Instead, she bluntly criticized the Vietnam War. According to the Zinn Education Project, Kitt said, “You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. They rebel in the street.” The White House Historical Association reports that Lady Bird Johnson was visibly upset, and Kitt was reduced to tears after the confrontation.

Where did she go during exile?

As a direct consequence, Kitt was blacklisted by the U.S. entertainment industry. The White House Historical Association notes that she lost work in the United States for nearly a decade. She performed extensively in Europe and Asia, recording albums in French and Spanish and building a devoted international fan base. Britannica states that the CIA monitored her activities and that her passport was temporarily revoked.

Why was Eartha Kitt blacklisted?

Was the blacklist official or unofficial?

The blacklist was unofficial but devastating. The Britannica entry on the topic describes it as a “retribution” that lasted for years. The White House Historical Association calls it “nearly a decade” of being excluded from U.S. television, film, and theater. Kitt lost her iconic role as Catwoman in the Batman TV series—she was replaced by Julie Newmar’s understudy after the 1968 season. The CIA, according to the Zinn Education Project, kept a file on her and even monitored her travel, temporarily revoking her passport in 1968.

Which projects did she lose?

Beyond Batman, Kitt lost offers for Broadway plays, film roles, and nightclub bookings in the United States. Britannica notes that she was forced to rely on foreign engagements. The blacklist only began to lift in the late 1970s, when public sentiment about the Vietnam War had shifted and Kitt’s international acclaim made her impossible to ignore.

Why did Eartha Kitt have an accent?

Was her accent natural or practiced?

Kitt’s voice—a purring, continental drawl—was a hybrid of nature and craft. Born in South Carolina and raised in Harlem from age eight, she absorbed the Southern inflections of her birthplace and the rhythms of New York. Britannica notes that she took diction classes as part of her training with the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, where she also learned French and Spanish. The BBC credits her international career with sharpening her multilingual fluency. She reportedly spoke French, Spanish, and some German—each language adding texture to her stage speech.

What languages did she speak?

In interviews, Kitt often switched between English, French, and Spanish, and she recorded albums in all three languages. Her accent was a deliberate instrument; she once called it “a little bit of everywhere.” Britannica describes her voice as “sultry” and “glissando,” a trademark that made her unforgettable whether on Broadway or in the recording studio.

How many husbands did Eartha Kitt have?

Who was Eartha Kitt’s husband?

Eartha Kitt married only once. According to Britannica, she wed John William McDonald, a white businessman, on June 6, 1960. The marriage ended in divorce in 1965. Kitt later stated that interracial marriage in that era brought intense public scrutiny that she did not want to repeat.

How long was she married?

The marriage lasted five years. Together they had one daughter, Kitt Shapiro, born in 1961. Kitt never remarried, and The HistoryMakers notes that she remained fiercely independent, often saying she preferred work over romance.

Five facts, one pattern: Kitt’s personal life was as carefully managed as her career. The choice to marry only once and raise a single child allowed her to focus on the work that defined her public identity.

“You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. They rebel in the street.”

— Eartha Kitt, White House luncheon, January 1968, reported by the Zinn Education Project

“I am not a sex kitten. I am a woman. A woman who has been through a lot.”

— Eartha Kitt, quoted in Britannica

For artists who challenge authority, the exile of Eartha Kitt is a reminder that speaking truth can cost a career—but it can also build one that outlasts the silence. Her legacy, from Catwoman to Yzma, proves that a second act shaped by adversity often delivers the most enduring performances. For American entertainers today, the choice remains: play it safe, or say what needs to be said.

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