Kitty Carlisle American singer, popular actress and television presenter Date of Birth: 03.09.1910 Country: USA

Biography of Kitty Carlisle

Kitty Carlisle, born Catherine Conn on September 3, 1910, in New Orleans, Louisiana, was an American singer, popular actress, television host, and outstanding orator. She was the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the National Medal of Arts. Carlisle was born into a Jewish family, with her father being a gynecologist and her mother the daughter of a prominent politician. Her father passed away when she was ten years old.

Growing up, Carlisle pursued her education in Switzerland and later in France at the Sorbonne. She also received an education at one of the economic schools in London. Despite her academic abilities and inclination towards sciences, Carlisle dreamed of an acting career. She decided to test her skills on the theatrical stage and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

In 1932, Kitty Carlisle returned to New York and began performing on Broadway, mainly in operettas and musical comedies. A few years later, she made her first appearances on screen, appearing in films such as Murder at the Vanities (1934), She Loves Me Not (1934), Here Is My Heart (1934), and A Night at the Opera (1935). Unfortunately, her film career only resumed in the 1980s when Carlisle appeared in movies like Radio Days (1987), Six Degrees of Separation (1993), and Catch Me If You Can (2002).

Carlisle was more frequently seen on television, appearing in soap operas and participating in other TV projects. A significant role in her career was her involvement with the Metropolitan Opera, where she made her debut in 1966 in "Die Fledermaus." She continued to perform at the Metropolitan Opera for ten seasons.

Aside from her creative pursuits, Kitty Carlisle actively engaged in philanthropy. She was a prominent figure in certain social circles, serving on various advisory boards and chairing the New York State Council on the Arts. Carlisle passed away on April 17, 2007, from heart failure caused by prolonged pneumonia. She peacefully passed away in her own apartment. The last person the great actress saw before her death was her beloved son, Christopher Hart.