Julie Newmar

About Julie Newmar

Born Julia Chalene Newmeyer on August 16, 1933, Julie Newmar carved out a multifaceted career as an actress, dancer, and singer. Beyond her performing arts endeavors, she also established herself as a writer, an inventor of lingerie, and a successful real estate investor. Newmar garnered a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, earning it for her portrayal of Katrin Sveg in the 1958 Broadway presentation of The Marriage-Go-Round, a role she later revisited in the 1961 cinematic adaptation. During the 1960s, she captivated audiences for two seasons as Catwoman in the iconic television series Batman, airing from 1966 to 1967.

Her extensive stage background includes an appearance in the 1956 Ziegfeld Follies, and she also took on the roles of Lola in a 1961 regional production of Damn Yankees! and Irma in a 1965 staging of Irma la Douce. Newmar also made a memorable appearance in the music video for George Michael's 1992 single "Too Funky," and graced the screen with a cameo as herself in the 1995 film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. Her voice acting contributions include lending her talents to the animated features Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders in 2016 and Batman vs. Two-Face in 2017, where she reprised her celebrated role as Catwoman, five decades after her initial television stint. Her performances as Catwoman were limited to two seasons of the Batman TV show, a fact noted with regret, especially given her enduring friendship with Adam West, which greatly enhanced their on-screen chemistry. Widely regarded as the definitive live-action Catwoman, she infused the character with a seductive grace and delightful playfulness that has been notably absent in subsequent interpretations. She also contributed a distinctive 1960s flair to the character, such as her inventive suggestion to add a belt with a gold buckle, a design choice that strategically drew the viewer's eye.