American actress, singer, and cabaret star Eartha Mae Kitt died on Thursday in Connecticut of colon cancer. The 81-year-old actress was being treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York according to a family spokes person.

Kitt, described by Orson Welles as the most exciting woman in the world, became a trademark star in the 1960s for her role as Catwoman on the 1960s “Batman” television series. She replaced Julie Newmar, who was unavailable for the third and final season of the series. Her first major role was in the Orson Welles-directed play “Dr. Faustus” in 1950. Eight years later she debuted in “The Mark of the Hawk” alongside Sidney Poitier. Kitt also had roles in "Shinbone Alley" and "The Owl and the Pussycat."

Eartha Kitt was also an accomplished singer. She gained fame with her 1953 hit song called “Santa Baby.” However, her road to success was a tough one because she went through a difficult and unhappy childhood.

The name Kitt became the subject of numerous headlines in the 1960s when the actress and singer denounced the Vietnam War during a visit to the White House.

Her exciting and successful life had to be written down so Kitt, who spent most of her life single, first launched the book "Rejuvenate," a guide to staying physically fit, in 2001, and the way she looked on that cover was stupendous. She also wrote three biographies.

In 1996 she was nominated for the first time for a Grammy award in the category of traditional pop vocal performance for her album "Back in Business."

"Generally the whole entertainment business now is bland," said the plain spoken actress in a 1996 Associated Press interview. "It depends so much on gadgetry and flash now. You don't have to have talent to be in the business today.

"I think we had to have something to offer, if you wanted to be recognized as worth paying for."