Eartha Kitt, a sultry singer, dancer and actress who rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality, has died, a family spokesman said. She was 81.

Andrew Freedman said Kitt, who was recently treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, died Thursday in Connecticut of colon cancer.

Kitt, a self-proclaimed “sex kitten” famous for her catlike purr, was one of America’s most versatile performers, winning two Emmys and nabbing a third nomination. She also was nominated for several Tonys and two Grammys.

Her career spanned six decades, from her start as a dancer with the famed Katherine Dunham troupe to cabarets and acting and singing on stage, in movies and on television. She persevered through an unhappy childhood as a mixed-race daughter of the South and made headlines in the 1960s for denouncing the Vietnam War during a visit to the White House.

Through the years, Kitt remained a picture of vitality and attracted fans less than half her age even as she neared 80.

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Authentic soul music and superstar musical performances are the consistent theme and backdrop for Soul Men, the comedic film directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film was released nationwide on November 7th and the soundtrack, which showcases the aforementioned music, is in stores now.

The film stars entertainment icons Bernie Mac, who passed away on August 9th, award-winning actor Samuel L. Jackson, and includes a cameo appearance by Isaac Hayes who died the day after Mac in unrelated circumstances.

In his last movie performance, popular comedian Mac, Jackson and Grammy winner John Legend (who makes a special appearance in the movie) play members of a fictitious group, The Real Deal.

More than providing the musical narrative for the movie, the soundtrack for Soul Men stands alone as a solid album that faithfully recreates the legendary sound and flavor associated with Stax Records at the height of its popularity in the late 60s through the mid-70s.

With a slate of top contemporary artists including Grammy winner John Legend, neo-soul stars Anthony Hamilton, Leela James and Ryan Shaw, cult favorites Sharon Jones with her band The Dap Kings and Me’Shell Ndegeocello among others, the Soul Men soundtrack focuses on some of the greatest music classics from the Stax catalog.

For more information on the film and a sampling of the soundtrack you can visit the official website, soulmen-movie.com.