In June 1952, legendary photographer Gordon Parks captured a series of intimate and stylish portraits of Eartha Kitt for LIFE magazine. This photo essay was shot while Kitt was performing at the Blue Angel nightclub in New York City, just as her career was exploding into superstardom.
Years after these photos were taken, she would go on to play the most iconic feline role of her career as Catwoman in the 1960s Batman television series, becoming the first Black woman to take on the role. Orson Welles once called her the “most exciting woman in the world,” and the media frequently described her as “cat-like” due to her elegance, independence, and sharp wit.
Gordon Parks, the first Black staff photographer for LIFE, was known for his ability to capture both the grit of social issues and the glamour of high fashion. Beyond the kittens, he photographed Kitt riding her bicycle through the streets of New York, rehearsing at the Blue Angel, and in quiet, reflective moments at home.
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