Eartha Kitt (January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an entertainer with a voice like a sultry purr, which attracted many fans, including Orson Welles, who called her “the most exciting woman in the world.”
Kitt first gained prominence as a dancer and vocalist with Katherine Dunham’s dance troupe in 1945 before beginning an international career as a cabaret singer and actor. She became a top nightclub attraction in the mid-50s with her provocative stage persona and her recordings of “C’est si Bon” and “Santa Baby.” Kitt’s career includes work on Broadway, films, and television, where she was a hit as Catwoman on Batman (1967). She is also remembered for voicing her opposition to the Vietnam War at a White House luncheon hosted by Lady Bird Johnson in 1968. This move led to her being blocked professionally for some time.
Philippe Halsman took these fantastic photographs in 1954. He was once considered France’s best portrait photographer. Holsman was fascinated by faces: “Every face I see seems to hide – and sometimes briefly reveal – the mystery of another human being.”
