Eartha Kitt studied at Metropolitan Vocational High School (Later: High School of Performing Arts). *According to her daughter, Eartha Kitt went to her grave at 81 without knowing the identity of her white father; due to officials in the American Deep South keeping it a secret from her. Shapiro, who now lives in Connecticut, said: “In 1927, to be a light- skinned black person in the South was just as horrible as being a black person in the white South. During the speech someone asked her about her background and parents since she was from the area. Jul 14, 2019 - Eartha Kitt's daughter talks about the challenges of looking different than her mother. She was visibly nervous about what she was going to see. Kitt Shapiro, Only Child Of Eartha Kitt, Honors Legendary Mother With Lifestyle Collection Of Home, Gift Items. In an August 2013 biography, British journalist John Williams claimed that Kitt's father was a white man, a local doctor named Daniel Sturkie. Copyright © 2021 Interactive One, LLC. Education. My mother remembered being brought to her mother who was dying and a baby was passed over her mother's body. Her mother was Annie Keith – of Cherokee and African descent. ", Singer's search to discover more about her origins was frustrated by official secrecy, Eartha Kitt in a TV series in 1975 during her stay in Britain. Perhaps best known for her highly distinctive singing style, Eartha Kitt’s 1953 recording of "Santa Baby" is still a favorite today. She had always put 26 January 1926 on her passport, but actually she was born on 17 January 1927.”, “To some extent, I think my arrival completed her because it gave her a family that she never had.”, SIGN UP FOR THE WZAK CLEVELAND NEWSLETTER. She was horribly abused in the South. Eartha Kitt's daughter has revealed that the singer died without knowing the identity of her white father, after being denied the truth by officials in the American Deep South. Family. “My mother never really felt comfortable in her own skin because she never really knew who she was until then. We flew down to see the records but were allowed just 15 minutes … She was very nervous and outside the judge's chambers she went quiet. She did not even know how old she was. According to her daughter, Kitt died at her home in Weston, Connecticut, her residence since 2002. In 2008 Kitt died on Christmas Day at her US home after being diagnosed with colon cancer. Soon after her mother's death, Kitt was sent to live with another relative in New York, where she would later win a place with America's first black modern dance company, run by Katherine Dunham. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed ), memorial page for Dr Daniel Richard Sturkie (12 Jul 1875–19 Jul 1958), Find a Grave Memorial no. In a 2013 biography, British journalist John Williams claimed that Kitt's father was a white man, a local doctor named Daniel Sturkie. The world-famous singer came from a dirt-poor background and only found out her date of birth when she was 71. During the speech someone asked her about her background and parents since she was from the area. Born in the tiny hamlet of St Matthew's, South Carolina, Kitt's mother, Annie Mae Keitt, abandoned her daughter at an early age when she found a new man with little time for the light-skinned Eartha. Shapiro said in an interview with the Observer: "My mother was 71 at the time and it was approaching the 21st century, and yet they were still protecting the name of the father even though he was clearly dead. Sam Sylk Welcomes The D.L. Kitt’s mother, Annie Mae Keitt, abandoned her daughter at an early age when she found a new man with little time for the light-skinned Eartha. Eartha Kitt was taken in by a relative called Aunt Rosa, but far from finding sanctuary fell victim to her abusive relative and from a young age was obliged to earn her keep by picking cotton. It meant someone who thought they were better than everyone else even though my mother was just a child at the time. "She said if anyone can find it, then she would be most grateful. But Shapiro said: "I do remember the name because we were told they were one of the local white families, but I cannot recall whether it was suggested he was the father. The father’s name was blacked out. There were a lot of names." The legendary actress and singer Eartha Kitt had quite the difficult upbringing. Eartha Mae Kitt (January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American actress, singer, cabaret star, dancer, stand-up comedienne, activist and voice artist, known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of “C'est Si Bon” and the enduring Christmas novelty smash “Santa Baby”, which were both US Top 10 hits. Eartha Kitt passed away on Christmas Day 2008, never knowing her father’s name. There were a lot of names.”, Kitt’s daughter worked for her for over 20 years and believes that her inability to figure out her origin has a lot to do with her issues with the South and her own identity. Her former lover Charles Revson, the billionaire founder of Revlon cosmetics, even created a lipstick for her, calling it Fire and Ice. My mother said that she had tried to find her birth certificate during the 1950s but was unsuccessful. Singer, Actress, Dancer, Activist, Comedian, Author, Songwriter, Voiceover Artist. Shapiro said: "It was like much of my mother's life: it was just a case of a door opening. Born in 1927 South Carolina, Eartha Kitt became popular in Paris as a nightclub singer, then returned to the U.S. to appear in films and on Broadway. Shapiro said: "We lived in Knightsbridge and later Fulham. Eartha Kitt and daughter, Kitt Shapiro. Her daughter, Kitt Shapiro, in an interview with The Guardian, says her mother was denied access to her birth certificate up until then and had to even go through legal procedures to try to gain access. There is an actor named Daniel Sturkie that was born in Lexington SC which is in the county next to one Eartha was born in. I knew the signs because before she went on stage she was always terrified. In a 2013 biography, British journalist John Williams claimed that Kitt's father was a white man, a local doctor named Daniel Sturkie. Nor did Eartha know her mother - … Much of Kitt’s background remained shrouded in mystery, with the performer convinced that her date of birth was 26 January 1926. "She never found out her father's name, but always assumed he was white. But the horror did not end there because she witnessed the death of her mother when she was around seven years old. He was married to Suzanne Emilie Abeille Sturkie. (Original Caption) Singer Eartha Kitt and her husband, real estate man William McDonald are all smiles as they debut their 4 day old baby girl as they left Cedars of Lebanon hospital. Eartha’s maternal grandmother was named Fanny Riley. My mother shed a few tears and then the 15 minutes was up. Eartha Kitt (born Eartha Mae Keith; January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer, actress, dancer, voice actress, comedienne, activist, author, and songwriter known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby", both of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. ", Williams claims that Kitt's father was Daniel Sturkie, a local white doctor. ", Kitt became a leading light in the civil rights movement in the 1960s but when she condemned the Vietnam war on a visit to the White House her career in the US ended and the CIA branded her "a sadistic nymphomaniac". Daniel had 3 siblings: Audrey E Sturkie and 2 other siblings . Eartha Kitt's life was scarred by her failure to learn the identity of her white father, says daughter. The courts still held it as legal to withhold the documentation. ... Williams claims that Kitt's father was Daniel Sturkie, a local white doctor. Possibly one of the Keitt family, 'the former slave owners,' or, far more likely, a recently bereaved local doctor called Daniel Sturkie. "Singer And Actress Eartha Kitt Dies". ", She added: "We had to get a lawyer and petition the court to get the records opened and this took about six to seven months. Daniel … Possibly one of the Kitt family, ‘the former slave owners,’ or a recently bereaved local doctor called Daniel Sturkie. Also did a quick check to see if Strom Thurmond was anywhere near St. Matthews. We flew down to see the records but were allowed just 15 minutes … She was very nervous and outside the judge’s chambers she went quiet. NPR. “She said if anyone can find it, then she would be most grateful. I went to school in London and spent many a year in England. 1985: Eartha Kitt, Doc Cheatham, Bill Coleman, with George Duvivier & Co. (FR; SW8410) [note: album features four previously unreleased tracks from a Paris recording session in 1950; the original, unreleased 1950 performing credit was "Eartha Kitt with Doc Cheatham & His Trio"] Ariola Records releases 1989 to 1990. Kitt's extraordinary life and elusive past has come under the spotlight five years after her death, with publication of a biography called America's Mistress: Eartha Kitt, Her Life and Times by British journalist John Williams. So the kids found some information that eventually led us going back down to the South.”, She added: “We had to get a lawyer and petition the court to get the records opened and this took about six to seven months. She was invited to speak at this college and I went down with her. Eartha Kitt. 14 Σεπτεμβρίου 1979. She was visibly nervous about what she was going to see. The possibility that I want you to entertain is that Eartha Kitt once had a threesome with Paul Newman and James Dean. However, Kitt's daughter Kitt Shapiro has questioned the accuracy of the claim. All Rights Reserved. It was spiritual.". Kitt's daughter… In the 1960s she made the role of Catwoman her own when she became the first black woman to achieve mainstream TV success in America with Batman, even breaking racial taboos by flirting on screen with Adam West in the lead role. Father: Daniel Sturkie (white sharecropper) Mother: Annie Mae Keitt Sister: Pearl (half sister) Husband: John William McDonald ("Bill", m. 6-Jun-1960, div. My mother was not accepted by the black community. Eartha Kitt passed away on Christmas Day 2008, never knowing her father's name At that time, being a light-skinned black person in the black South was 'just as … Dan Sturkie, Actor: Lo chiamavano Trinità.... Dan Sturkie was born on January 5, 1924 in Lexington, South Carolina, USA as Jr. Daniel Belton Sturkie. Shapiro, who now lives in Connecticut, said: "In 1927, to be a light- skinned black person in the South was just as horrible as being a black person in the white South. "My mother never really felt comfortable in her own skin because she never really knew who she was until then. My mother assumed it was their dirty little secret.". Ertha’s biological father may have been Daniel Richard Sturkie. Once called the "most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles, Kitt became a singer and dancer whose suggestive and sensuous performances captured the public imagination in the 1950s. Eartha Mae Kitt (January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer, actress, dancer, activist and comedian, known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the enduring Christmas novelty smash "Santa Baby", which were both US Top 10 hits. According to Williams, Kitt's father was a white doctor named Daniel Sturkie, though some people have questioned the legitimacy of that claim. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. My mother was referred to as a 'yellow gal', which was not a compliment. 25 Δεκεμβρίου 2008. Worse, the abuse didn’t stop when she left home. Same Day Xpress. Much of Kitt's background remained shrouded in mystery, with the performer convinced that her date of birth was 26 January 1926. But it was only when Kitt was invited to give a speech at Benedict College in Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, in 1997 that the singer managed to come to terms with her original home. ", Shapiro, who worked for her mother for more than 20 years, believes that this failure to find out her mother's origins explains her tortured relationship with the South and her own identity. She was invited to speak at this college and I went down with her. 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She was beaten, mistreated, emotionally and physically.”. “It was like much of my mother’s life, it was just a case of a door opening. The amazing press I have received since launching Simply Eartha is a true testament to the way my mother lived her life and the impact she had on this earth. Eartha Kitt (born Eartha Mae Keith; January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer, actress, dancer, voice actress, comedienne, activist, author, and songwriter known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby", both of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. We were amazed. SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE. WGBH-TV. [8] Kitt was raised by Anna Mae Riley, a black woman whom the girl believed to … Kitt's daughter, Kitt Shapiro, has questioned the accuracy of the claim. 1965) Daughter: Kitt Shapiro (b. The father's name was blacked out. Eartha Kitt στο TV Guide; 32398636 Έρθα Κιτ στο Find a Grave (Αγγλικά) Video / audio footage "An Evening with Eartha Kitt". All Things Considered. She was horribly abused in the South. My mother shed a few tears and then the 15 minutes was up.”, According to Williams, Kitt’s father was a local white doctor name Daniel Sturkie, but Shapiro said: “I do remember the name because we were told they were one of the local white families, but I cannot recall whether it was suggested he was the father. My mother was not accepted by the black community.”, She added: “She never found out her father’s name, but always assumed he was white. In an August 2013 biography, British journalist John Williams claimed that Eartha's father was a white man, a local doctor named Daniel Sturkie. Say Brother. 26-Nov-1961) Boyfriend: Orson Welles (she denied this) He is known for his work on They Call Me Trinity (1970), Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) and Cruising (1980). Across the street or across town, no job is too big or too small My mother said that she had tried to find her birth certificate during the 1950s but was unsuccessful,” Shapiro shared. So much of her life was a complete mystery as she only found her true date of birth when she was 71. But according to her daughter, Kitt Shapiro, who chose not to co-operate with the biography, when Eartha launched a legal fight to gain access to the birth certificate she fell victim to a cover-up by officials. My mother was referred to as a ‘yellow gal’, which was not a compliment. Eartha’s parentage was uncertain. Shapiro, especially, was not sure that it was true or if it even mattered that his identity was revealed at this point. See full bio ». During the company's tour to Paris and London, Kitt broke away to make a solo career and Britain would become a second home for Kitt and her daughter. She said: "She carried the scar of her rejection with her all her life. My parents told me that when I was born, people came to the nursery in the hospital and would get into arguments when they saw that Eartha Kitts baby was a pudgy, white, girl. She did not even know how old she was. Eartha Kitt (born Eartha Mae Keith; January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer, actress, dancer, comedian, activist, author, and songwriter known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby", both of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The singer, who died in 2008, wept when she set eyes on the certificate in 1998, only to find that her father's name had been blacked out, said Shapiro, her only child, who had accompanied her mother. She never found out the identity of her father, although it was reported that Daniel Sturkie, a local white doctor, was her biological dad. My mother regarded England as a second home.". "To some extent, I think my arrival completed her because it gave her a family that she never had. Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world". Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world." Singer, Actress, Dancer, Activist, Comedian, Author, Songwriter, Voiceover Artist. Occupation. She was beaten, mistreated, emotionally and physically.". He is named as such in the book America’s Mistress: The Life and Times of Miss Eartha Kitt, 2013, by John L. Williams. Williams claims that Kitt's father was Daniel Sturkie, a local white doctor. In the 1960s, Kitt had a recurring role as Catwoman on TV's Batman, but her career waned after she criticized the Vietnam War during a luncheon with Lady Bird Johnson. Newspaper obituaries state that her white father was "a poor cotton farmer".In an August 2013 biography, British journalist John Williams claimed that Kitt's father was a white man, a local doctor named Daniel Sturkie. He was born in 1924. So the kids found some information that eventually led us going back down to the South. Occupation. Black history month post: Eartha Kitt Eartha Kitt in 1960, performing on British television in “Sunday Night at the Palladium.” (From this reference.) My mother's interpretation was that this was because the death was not natural: it was voodoo. But Shapiro said: "I do remember the name because we were told they were one of the local white families, but I cannot recall whether it was suggested he was the father. He died on May 10, 1992 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. In MEMORY of EARTHA KITT on her BIRTHDAY - Career years: 1942 - 2008 Born Eartha Mae Keith, American singer, actress, dancer, voice actress, comedienne, activist, author, and songwriter known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby", both of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. I knew the signs because before she went on stage she was always terrified. Father – Daniel Richard Sturkie (Reportedly) Mother – Annie Mae Keith Daniel B Sturkie, Jr was born circa 1924, at birth place, Georgia, to Daniel B Sturkie and Mary R Sturkie. Eartha Kitt studied at Metropolitan Vocational High School (Later: High School of Performing Arts).. There were a lot of names.” Now her daughter has set up a business called Simply Eartha in her mother's memory, as well as managing her estate. An out-of-wedlock child, Eartha Kitt was born in the cotton fields of South Carolina. Family. Photograph: ITV/REX, America's Mistress: Eartha Kitt, Her Life and Times. There were a lot of names. It was a female judge who stepped aside while we read the records on her desk. 1989: I'm Still Here 30788035, citing Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Swansea, Calhoun County, South Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Lesley Hughes (contributor 46620397) . She was rejected for the colour of her skin ironically by both black and white. It meant someone who thought they were better than everyone else even though my mother was just a child at the time. According to Williams, Kitt’s father was a local white doctor name Daniel Sturkie, but Shapiro said: “I do remember the name because we were told they were one of the local white families, but I cannot recall whether it was suggested he was the father. However, Eartha's daughter, Kitt Shapiro, has questioned the authenticity of this claim. About Daniel Sturkie From The Guardian's Obituary Her official birth details were established only in 1997, when she challenged a group of students to find the certificate that records her as having been born Eartha Mae Keith in the town of North, South Carolina.
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