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TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF NATIVE SOUTH CAROLINIAN AND INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINER EARTHA KITT, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened to learn of the death of South Carolina native and internationally famed entertainer Eartha Kitt on December 25, 2008, at the venerable age of eighty-one; and
Whereas, born in South Carolina to a father of Dutch-German descent and an African American mother, Ms. Kitt capitalized on her mixed heritage to cultivate an exotic image, performing through the 1950s and 1960s on stage and television, in films and nightclubs; and
Whereas, she made her Broadway debut in 1945 in Carib Song, but her star first rose in Paris, where she was discovered by Orson Welles, who called her "the most exciting woman in the world"; and
Whereas, of her TV performances, she is best known as Catwoman on the 1960s series Batman. Her distinctive purr was later featured in the animated film The Emperor's New Groove and the Disney Channel series The Emperor's New School, for which she won Emmy Awards in 2007 and 2008; and
Whereas, the witty song stylist added signature tunes throughout her career, including "Let's Do It", "Love for Sale", and "Santa Baby"; and
Whereas, the envy of women half her age, she maintained her beauty even as she grew older retaining her siren persona; and
Whereas, though her winking irony could border on camp, she was never reduced to self-parody, and "what Ms. Kitt could do with a raised eyebrow and seven seconds of silence spoke volumes," as one admirer said of her; and
Whereas, as her most enduring legacy, in 1965 Ms. Kitt established Kittsville Youth Foundation. At no cost to its students, young people ages five to twenty, the organization provides exposure to the arts by utilizing and building relationships with professionals in the performing and cultural arts while encouraging and cultivating the skills to develop self-esteem, pride, respect, and creativity. Throughout her life, Ms. Kitt oversaw the direction of Kittsville by teaching, mentoring, and sponsoring field trips to professional productions, studio screenings, and museums; and
Whereas, Eartha Kitt leaves a daughter, Kitt Shapiro, and a host of other family members and friends. She will be missed. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of native South Carolinian and international entertainer Eartha Kitt, and extend the deepest sympathy to her family and many friends.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Kitt Shapiro for the family.
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