London, December 26: Sultry singer and actress Eartha Kitt, well known for portraying Catwoman in the Batman television series, has passed away. She was 81.

Eartha, famous for her cat-like purr, was undergoing treatment for colon cancer.

Her former lover Charles Revson, pioneer of the Revlon cosmetic company, made a flaming red lipstick for her called Fire and Ice.

She gave many hit songs, including the 1953 Christmas song.

Washington  - Singer and actress Eartha Kitt has died, aged 81, in New York, her publicist said Thursday.

Kitt was being treated for colon cancer, her publicist Patty Freedman told broadcaster CNN. Her daughter Kitt Shapiro was with her at the time.

Kitt became famous for her portrayal of Catwoman in the television series Batman in the 1960s as well as her Christmas song Santa Baby.

She distinguished herself in film, theatre, cabaret, music and television and was nominated thrice for a Tony, and twice for Grammy and Emmy awards, according to her official website.