EMMY AWARDS - US SINGER AND ACTRESS EARTHA KITT DIES

US SINGER AND ACTRESS EARTHA KITT DIES

US singer and actress Eartha Kitt has died at the age of 81, her publicist has confirmed.

The Santa Baby star was receiving treatment for colon cancer at a New York hospital and died on Thursday night.

Her representative Andrew Freeman said: "She was certainly a legendary performer and while I think there may have been many imitations, she was an original. She was one of the few artists nominated for Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards."

In a glittering career, Kitt became famous on the television, stage and in the music industry. Besides playing the role of Catwoman in the hit 1960's show Batman, she also starred in Broadway shows and recorded hit songs such as "I Want To Be Evil".

The African-American entertainer, who cultivated a saucy image throughout her career, was investigated after publicly criticising the US war in Vietnam and lived in exile for ten years.

She made a triumphant return to the US broadway scene in 1974. Kitt was married once and gave birth to one child.