Although married briefly, John William McDonald’s name will always be linked to the multitalented beauty Eartha Kitt. Back then, she was a famous singer, dancer, actress, comedian, and activist.
Frankly, Eartha Kitt’s life is well-known to many, but what about ex-husband?
In today’s article, you’ll explore the less-talked-about story of Eartha’s ex-husband, John William McDonald. So, keep reading to know more about the person who shared a small part of Eartha Kitt’s journey.
John William McDonald: Personal Profile
John William McDonald was an American businessman born into a wealthy Irish-American family. His popularity grew wider as he married the gorgeous artist Eartha Kitt.
Here’s a brief list of what you may not know about him.
- Name: John William McDonald (AKA Bill McDonald)
- Birth Date: April 12, 1923
- Birth Place: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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- Age: 82 years old at the time he died
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Real Estate Investor and Businessman
- Spouses and Exes: Eartha Kitt (1960—1964)
- Children: One daughter (Kitt Shapiro McDonald)
John William McDonald: Early Life and Education
John William McDonald comes from an affluent family. He was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1923. There isn’t much information about his childhood and what he did growing up. However, as a young man, it’s known that he joined the army.
After fighting in the Korean War, John sustained severe injuries. As such, he was discharged from the army.
John William McDonald later studied accounting at the University of Southern California. Upon graduating, he worked at a real estate company in pursuit of an associate role.
John William McDonald: Marriage Life
John William McDonald met his ex-wife, Eartha Kitt, through a friend, Bob Dix. The couple first looked at each other in 1957 when Bob introduced them in Las Vegas.
John was still a student and had a girlfriend named Sandy. Yet, Eartha was already an established, well-known entertainer.
From this moment onward, John and Eartha became good friends, forming a solid trio, along with Bob. Such a relationship ended up with Eartha falling in love with Bob. However, the latter wasn’t ready to commit, which broke Eartha’s heart.
Not only was Bob recently divorced, but he was also in pursuit of an acting gig to kick-start his career. Once Bob landed a job, he cleared the deck for John to spend more time with Eartha and connect over a shared story (the heartbreak from leaving a loved one).
Not long after, the couple’s friendship turned into romance. Such an interracial relationship was controversial at the time. Even John’s family wasn’t the happiest. Yet, John and Eartha didn’t mind people talking and decided to get married.
At that point, John had already graduated and worked for a real estate company.
During her concert at the El Rancho in Las Vegas, Eartha announced her engagement to John. At that time, she stated, “I’m happy. Now, I’ll have something I never had – a family.”
Afterward, the happy couple planned a small wedding with no more than 20 guests. Nonetheless, their friend Bob refused to become the best man. As for the maid of honor role was played by the bride’s best friend, Marjorie Meade.
Only one year into the marriage, the couple had their firstborn at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles on November 26, 1961. After a long labor, they were blessed with a daughter named Kitt McDonald.
John William McDonald: How the Marriage With Eartha Kitt Ended
From the very first beginning, John and Eartha had some issues. Primarily, it was due to the busy life Eartha had. As a result, they spent most of their marriage time apart. Even when Eartha was home, she still had to work on recording music.
Despite that, Eartha was a great mother that took full responsibility for her daughter. She wouldn’t even hire a stay-in caregiver. Instead, she only used the services of a babysitter when she had a show to attend.
Moreover, she used to take her daughter along while touring Europe. That said, the same didn’t go for her role as a wife to John.
Besides not fulfilling her duties as a wife, John wasn’t the most incredible husband either. Allegedly, he was using drugs at the time. As claimed by close friends, John’s drug abuse may have been a result of using morphine after his war injuries.
During a later interview, Kitt admitted that her father reached a point where he became unstable. Additionally, she said, “His drug addiction had significantly escalated over the years. People often told my mother that they would go to my father’s house and find drug paraphernalia.”
Although Eartha loved her husband, life with him was no longer possible. Sadly, the couple got divorced in April of 1964. At that time, their daughter was only two years old, and her father had to pay $100 monthly for child support.
After his divorce, John got married two more times. One of his marriages resulted in a son named Chad, who’s about eight years younger than Kitt.
John passed away in 2005 in Los Angeles at the age of 82.
Raised predominantly by her mother, Bill’s daughter grew up well-acquainted with the entertainment world, often observing the intricacies of movie and theater productions from behind the scenes.
She eventually entered the industry, taking on the role of her mother’s manager and closest confidante until Eartha’s passing in 2008.
In tribute to her mother, she established the Simply Eartha brand and co-authored a memoir with her, “Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter’s Love Story in Black and White,” reflecting their bond.
Following Eartha’s death due to cancer, Kitt stepped into motivational speaking, focusing on the importance of early cancer screening. She frequently collaborates with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and similar entities, sharing her insights and experiences.
Who is Eartha Kitt?
Born in 1927 as Eartha Mae Keith, Eartha Kitt passed away from colon cancer in 2008 at the age of 81.
Celebrated by Orson Welles as “the most exciting woman in the world,” Kitt transitioned into a famed singer and dancer, her provocative and emotive acts sparking the public’s imagination in the 1950s.
Charles Revson, the billionaire behind Revlon, even dedicated a “Fire and Ice” lipstick to her.
By the 1960s, her portrayal of Catwoman in “Batman” marked her as the first African American woman to gain notable success on mainstream American TV, challenging racial norms with her flirtatious scenes alongside Adam West.
Final thoughts
During a fascinating time, John William McDonald’s life intersected with Eartha Kitt’s. Even though their marriage didn’t last long, those years made a notable part of his journey.
Of course, John faced many challenges, from war injuries to a troubled marriage and drug abuse. Yet, such a path reflects the ups and downs that people experience down the road.
Looking back, you see a person who left a story to remind others of the strength they can find within themselves.