Eartha Kitt

Actor

1927 - 2008
Photograph of Eartha Kitt

Profession

ActorDancerSinger

Hometown

North, SC

Overview

A genuine triple threat, Eartha Kitt started her career as a Katherine Dunham dancer, topped 1950s music charts with songs like “C’est si Bon” and “Santa Baby,” and embodied iconic characters from Anna Lucasta (1958) to Catwoman. Though her breathy purr of a voice made her famous, the entertainment industry would punish her for actually speaking her mind. Her career nearly ended when she expressed opposition to the Vietnam War at what was meant to be an anodyne  White House luncheon in 1968.

Select Filmography

Year
Name
Credits
Genre
1958
Anna Lucasta
Actor
Drama
NameAnna Lucasta
Year1958CreditsActorGenreDrama

About the Filmography

The selected filmography for the years 1897–1971 includes works featured in the exhibition and others that are considered historically, socially, or politically relevant. Hollywood productions are generally excluded; the focus is instead on independent films, particularly the work of Black filmmakers. Black Academy Award nominees and winners are noted. This filmography was compiled using the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and various filmographies, including those by Klotman, Richards, and Hyatt. Primary production materials and contemporaneous film reviews were also consulted. Complete credits for many of the films are unavailable. All films are US productions unless otherwise noted, and distribution credits refer to the original distributors.

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