Purrrrrr.
One sound, and everyone knows who it is.
Julie Newmar, born Julia Chalene Newmeyer on August 16, 1933 in Los Angeles, is not just an actress. She is THE Catwoman.
From Broadway to Batman
Long before Gotham City, Julie was a classically trained dancer under Jack Cole, the father of theatrical jazz. She was a statuesque, sophisticated beauty who dominated Broadway.
In 1958, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for The Marriage-Go-Round as Katrin Sveg – a role she reprised in the 1961 film.
She was a staple of Hollywood musicals like Li’l Abner (1959) and TV shows like Route 66, and even played Rhonda the Robot in the cult classic My Living Doll (1964-65).
But in 1966, everything changed.
The Catsuit That Changed TV Forever
When ABC launched Batman (1966-68) starring Adam West and Burt Ward, they needed a Catwoman who was dangerous, smart, and impossibly glamorous.
Julie Newmar WAS Catwoman for Season 1 and 2. And here’s a fact most people don’t know: She designed her own form-fitting catsuit. That iconic, skin-tight black suit that every Catwoman has copied since? That was Julie’s idea.
Her seductive, slinky, witty performance made Catwoman the most popular villain on the show. Eartha Kitt and Lee Meriwether later played the role, but fans agree – Julie was the first and the definitive one.
In 2016, at age 83, she even voiced Catwoman again in the animated films Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders and Batman vs. Two-Face – 50 years after she first wore the ears.
More Than Meow – Inventor, Businesswoman, Icon
Julie Newmar is far more than an actress. She is:
- A lingerie inventor – she patented her own pantyhose and bras
- A real estate mogul in Los Angeles
- A writer and entrepreneur with over 75 acting credits
As of June 2026, at 92 years old, she is still giving rare interviews and thriving as a glamour icon. In a recent interview she said she still has the original catsuit.
Final Thought: Every Catwoman since – from Michelle Pfeiffer to Zoë Kravitz – is doing an impression of Julie Newmar. She didn’t play Catwoman. She invented her.
