Eartha Kitt

A multifaceted singer, dancer and actress whose sultry purr of a voice helped cement her reputation as a glamorous sex kitten, Eartha Kitt was born on a cotton plantation just outside of Columbia, S.C., on Jan. 17, 1927. After moving to Harlem, N.Y., to live with an aunt, she joined the famed Katherine Dunham Company as a teenager and danced her way into leading roles on Broadway, eventually transitioning to movies and television.

Kitt's résumé includes multiple Tony, Grammy and Emmy nominations, but she is best known for her iconic rendition of the 1953 Christmas classic "Santa Baby" and her portrayal of Catwoman on the 1960s television series "Batman" (she stepped into the role to replace actress Julie Newmar for the show's third and final season). She also won two Daytime Emmys for her work on the Disney animated series "The Emperor's New School."

Kitt died on Dec. 25, 2008, at the age of 81.

Filmography