A lot of people know Eartha Kitt. She was a famous singer, actress, and dancer. But not many people know about her ex-husband, John William McDonald.
John was not a singer or an actor. He didn’t like being in the media. He lived a quiet life. But his story is still interesting. He married Eartha Kitt, became the father of her only child, and then suddenly disappeared from the public eye. That’s why many people today still wonder — what happened to him?
So, in this article, we’ll tell you everything. You’ll find out who John William McDonald was, how he met Eartha Kitt, their life together, and what happened after they separated.
Quick Facts About John William McDonald
📛 Full Name: John William McDonald
🎂 Birthday: April 12, 1923
📍 Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
💼 Career: Accountant & real estate investor
💍 Famous For: Ex-husband of Eartha Kitt
👧 Children: 2 (Kitt Shapiro & son Chad)
👰 Marriages: Married Eartha Kitt in 1960; divorced in 1964; remarried twice
🕊️ Passed Away: May 12, 2005 (age 82)
🪦 Burial Place: Unknown
📅 Years Since Passing (as of 2025): 20 years
Who Was John William McDonald?
John William McDonald was born on April 12, 1923, in Los Angeles, California. He was born into a wealthy Irish-German American family. His family was well-known, but John didn’t care about being famous. He liked to live a quiet and simple life.
He went to the University of Southern California (USC) and studied accounting. He was thoughtful and focused. After finishing school, he joined the U.S. Army and went to fight in the Korean War. During the war, John got badly hurt by a grenade. He had to go through more than 25 surgeries to heal his body. The pain was not just physical — it also affected him emotionally for many years.
Later, things in his life started to change when he met Eartha Kitt. They got married, and that’s when people began to notice him. Today, most people know John William McDonald as Eartha Kitt’s ex-husband. Now, let’s see how they first met.
How John Met Eartha Kitt
John William McDonald met Eartha Kitt in 1957 in Las Vegas. A friend named Bob Dix, who was an actor, introduced them. At that time, John had just left the army due to his injuries and had returned home. Eartha had just finished a music tour and was also going through a tough time.
At first, Eartha was more interested in Bob. But Bob didn’t want a serious relationship with her. So, Eartha and John started spending more time together. They became friends. Both of them had gone through heartbreak in their past, so they understood each other well.
Soon, the three of them — John, Eartha, and Bob — started spending a lot of time together. They were good friends. But after a while, Bob became busy with his work. That gave John and Eartha more time to be together. Their friendship slowly turned into love, and they began dating.
Their Marriage in 1960
John and Eartha got married on July 6, 1960. It was a small and private wedding with only about 20 guests. Eartha was so happy that she even announced her engagement at one of her concerts in Las Vegas. She said:
“I’m terribly happy. Now, I’ll have something I never had – a family of my own.”
Some people were surprised by their wedding — especially John’s family. At that time, interracial marriages were not very common, and families didn’t support them. But John and Eartha didn’t worry about what others thought. They loved each other and wanted to be together.
They started their married life full of love and hope. But sadly, their happiness didn’t last for very long. Keep reading to know what happened next!
Meet John William McDonald’s Daughter
On November 26, 1961, John and Eartha had a daughter. They named her Kitt McDonald. Today, she is known as Kitt Shapiro. She was born at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles.
Even though Eartha was a famous singer and actress, she was also a very loving mother. She didn’t want anyone else to raise her child. She even refused to hire a nurse. According to Legit.ng, Eartha said she wanted to give her daughter the kind of love she never got as a child.
As Kitt McDonald grew up, she often traveled with her mother. Over the years, she learned a lot about the entertainment industry. Later in life, she became her mother’s manager, business partner, and best friend.
Kitt even wrote a book called “Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter’s Love Story in Black and White.” In the book, she shared a touching line about her mom. She said:
“What my mother hadn’t received as a child, she was d*mn sure she was going to give as a parent… All of those positive things that strengthen you emotionally.”
This shows how much Eartha loved her daughter and how close they truly were.
John and Eartha Kitt’s Divorce in 1964
At first, John and Eartha’s marriage was full of love. But slowly, things started to fall apart. Eartha was always traveling for work. She was busy with music, shows, and tours. She usually took their daughter with her. But John stayed at home, and this made them feel far apart.
At the same time, John was going through personal problems. According to YEN.com.gh, he started using drugs. This may have started because of the pain medicine (morphine) he took after the war. Later, Eartha found drug items in his home and noticed that things were getting worse.
In April 1964, Eartha decided to end the marriage. She told the court it was because of mental cruelty. John didn’t even appear in court. The judge gave full custody of their daughter to Eartha. John was told to pay $100 a month to help support Kitt.
It was a sad ending to a marriage that started with so much hope and love.
John’s Life After Eartha Kitt
After the divorce, John William McDonald lived a very quiet and private life. He didn’t appear in the media. He didn’t talk about his marriage or his daughter in public.
Later, John got married again — not once, but twice. According to AmoMama, one of his wives was a Filipina. He also had another child, a son named Chad, who was born eight years after Kitt. So even though his time with Eartha ended, he still became a father again.
John William’s Career and Net Worth
Even after his divorce, John William McDonald kept working. He had studied accounting, so he used those skills in the real estate business. According to details, he worked as an associate at a real estate investment company.
As we discussed, John didn’t like being in the public eye. He didn’t give interviews or talk to the media. He lived a quiet life and stayed away from public attention. On the other hand, His daughter, Kitt McDonald, later became more well-known than he ever was.
No one knows how much money John had. His net worth was never shared with the public. But we do know that his ex-wife, Eartha Kitt, had around $4 million when she passed away, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth.
How John William McDonald Passed Away
John William McDonald passed away on May 12, 2005, in Los Angeles, California. He was 82 years old. His exact cause of death was never shared, and even his burial place is not known.
He died quietly, without media attention or public news. But his life story still matters — not just because he was Eartha Kitt’s ex-husband, but because he was a real person who went through war, love, family, and personal struggles.
Is Eartha Kitt Still Alive?
No, Eartha Kitt is no longer alive. She passed away three years after John, on December 25, 2008, in Weston, Connecticut. She died from colon cancer at the age of 81.
Her daughter, Kitt Shapiro, was by her side when she passed. We can say Eartha’s death was a big loss in the entertainment industry. But her memory is still alive. Her songs, her work, and her daughter continue to share her story with the world.
Final Thoughts
So, what happened to John William McDonald? He lived a quiet life, with many struggles and a lot of strength. He went to war, married one of the most famous women in the world, and became a father. Even when life got hard, he kept going.
John was not a celebrity. But his story reminds us that real life isn’t always perfect. Life is full of ups and downs, love and pain, and quiet moments.
Today, his daughter Kitt Shapiro still honors both her parents. She keeps their memory alive through her book and her brand, Simply Eartha. In one interview, she said something touching:
“My father was not stable… but my mother gave me love in spades.”
(FAQs)
Why is John William McDonald known?
John William McDonald is mostly known as the ex-husband of Eartha Kitt, a famous singer and actress. He was also the father of her only child, Kitt Shapiro.
Is John William McDonald still alive?
No, John William McDonald passed away on May 12, 2005. He was 82 years old.
When was John William McDonald born?
He was born on April 12, 1923, in Los Angeles, California.
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