Eartha Kitt's Real Name: Eartha Mae Keith

Quick answer: The singer and actor was known professionally as Eartha Kitt. Encyclopaedia Britannica lists her as also known as Eartha Mae Kitt, born January 17, 1927, in North, South Carolina, and records her death on December 25, 2008, in Weston, Connecticut. A Guardian obituary independently identifies her as Eartha Mae Kitt, also giving the birth name Eartha Mae Keith, and records the same birth date and town, and her death on 25 December 2008, at age 81.

Real name and early life

Britannica lists her as also known as Eartha Mae Kitt, born January 17, 1927, in North, South Carolina. The Guardian independently says her official birth details were established in 1997, when a birth certificate was found declaring her to have been born Eartha Mae Keith in the town of North, South Carolina, and its closing line identifies her as Eartha Mae Kitt (Keith), born 17 January 1927. Britannica says that from the age of eight she grew up with relatives in Harlem, New York City, and that at 16 she joined Katherine Dunham's dance troupe, later remaining in Paris as a nightclub singer when the company went home. The Guardian also discusses her South Carolina childhood.

Career highlights

Britannica says she made her acting debut as Helen of Troy in Time Runs, an Orson Welles adaptation of Faust, in 1950, and became a star with New Faces of 1952 and early 1950s recordings such as "C'est Si Bon," "Santa Baby," and "I Want to Be Evil." The Guardian independently names Time Runs, New Faces of 1952, and recordings including "Santa Baby" and "I Want to Be Evil." Both discuss her later role as Catwoman in the television series Batman and a 1968 White House luncheon at which she publicly criticized the Vietnam War. Britannica says her career later recovered and that she returned to Broadway in Timbuktu! (1978); the Guardian also names Timbuktu (1978). Britannica further names later Broadway work including The Wild Party (2000) and Nine (2003), two Daytime Emmy Awards (2007 and 2008) for voice work on The Emperor's New School, and the autobiography Thursday's Child.

Death

Britannica records her death on December 25, 2008, in Weston, Connecticut. The Guardian independently says she died aged 81 of colon cancer on 25 December 2008; its closing line does not name a town. Britannica's biographical opening does not state a cause.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Eartha Kitt, Eartha Mae Kitt, or Eartha Mae Keith are looking for the same person.