Who is Julie Newmar? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Julia Chalene Newmeyer

Age: 91 Years, 91 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: J. Holt Smith (m. 1977–1984)

father: Don

mother: Helen (Jesmer) Newmeyer

children: John Jewl Smith

Born Country: United States

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'11" (180 cm), 5'11" Females

Ancestry: French American, Swedish American

U.S. State: California

City: Los Angeles

Recommended For You

1

Did Julie Newmar have a background in dance?

Yes, Julie Newmar was a trained dancer and even won a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway musical "The Marriage-Go-Round."
2

What is Julie Newmar's connection to the LGBTQ community?

Julie Newmar has been considered an LGBTQ icon due to her portrayal of the strong and confident character of Catwoman and her advocacy for LGBTQ rights.
3

How did Julie Newmar's portrayal of Catwoman influence future iterations of the character?

Julie Newmar's portrayal of Catwoman set the standard for the character, influencing how she was depicted in comic books, TV shows, and movies for years to come.

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Childhood & Early Life

Julie Newmar was born Julia Chalene Newmeyer on August 16, 1933, in Los Angeles, California, to Donald Newmeyer and Helen Jesmer Newmeyer. She has two brothers, Peter Bruce Newmeyer and John A. Newmeyer.

She studied ballet and classical piano, and later performed for the ‘Los Angeles Opera’ as a prima ballerina. She graduated from ‘John Marshall High School’ at the age of 15 and then joined the UCLA. But she quit after six weeks and joined ‘Universal Studios’ as a choreographer and dancer.

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Career

While working at ‘Universal Studios’ Julie Newmar made uncredited appearances in the movies ‘She’s Working Her Way Through College’ (1952) and ‘Call Me Madam’ (1953).

She made her first credited appearance under the name Julie Newmeyer as ‘the gilded girl’ in the movie ‘Serpent of the Nile’ (1953). The small role of her dancing completely painted in gold wearing next to nothing turned her into a sex symbol.

She was then seen in the movie ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ (1954). Julie also made her Broadway debut as Vera in the musical ‘Silk Stockings’ (February 24, 1955 - April 14, 1956).

She made another Broadway appearance as Stupefyin’ Jones in ‘Li’L Abner’ (November 15, 1956 - July 12, 1958). Julie Newmar returned to Broadway in her award-winning role of Katrin Sveg in ‘The Marriage-Go-Round’ (October 29, 1958 - February 13, 1960).

In 1959, Newmar received her first major movie role when she reprised her Jones character in the movie adaptation of ‘Li’l Abner’. She later reprised her role of Katrin Sveg in the movie ‘The Marriage-Go-Round’ (1961).

In 1961, she made her last Broadway appearance as Sura in ‘Once There Was a Russian’ (February 18, 1961). She also earned critical acclaim for her performance in the musical ‘Stop The World I Want To Get Off’ (May 13, 1963).

Perhaps, one of Julie Newmar’s biggest breakthrough roles was as the android Rhoda Miller, in the sitcom ‘My Living Doll’ (1964–1965). The Amazonian-sensuous character won her a ‘Golden Globe’ nomination and solidified her status as a star.

Julie then landed the iconic role of the Catwoman in the ‘Batman’ TV series (1966- 1967). She reprised the role as a voice actor in ‘Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders’ (2016) and ‘Batman vs. Two-Face’ (2017).

In 1969, she appeared in the hit movie ‘Mackenna's Gold’. In the next few years, some of her notable roles were in TV series. These included ‘Bewitched’ (1971), ‘Love, American Style’ (1970 – 1972), and ‘CHiPs’ (1982), etc.

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She returned to movies with ‘Hysterical’ (1983), ‘Dance Academy’ (1988), and ‘Ghosts Can't Do It’ (1990). In 1995, she appeared as herself in the hit comedy ‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar’.

In 2003, she portrayed herself in the biographical-comedy movie ‘Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt’. In more recent years she has been featured in documentaries like ‘Beautiful Darling’ (2010), ‘Bettie Page Reveals All’ (2012), and ‘Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age’ (2013).

Major Works

Julie Newmar is revered for her ‘Tony Award’ winning performance as Katrin Sveg in the Broadway adaptation of ‘The Marriage-Go-Round’ (1958). Reprising the role later in the movie adaptation in 1961, she earned a ‘Golden Globe’ nomination.

Julie is most remembered for her iconic portrayal of Catwoman in the ‘Batman’ TV series (1966–1967). It immortalized her legacy as pop-culture sex-icon and she was featured in the May 1968 issue of ‘Playboy’.

Awards & Achievements

Julie Newmar has been an advocate for LGBT rights. Her brother John is gay. For her contributions, she was honored with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the ‘Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing’ organization in 2013.

Family & Personal Life

Julie Newmar married lawyer J. Holt Smith on August 5, 1977. They remained married until 1983. They have a son together named John Jewl Smith (born February 21 (25), 1981, who suffers from Down syndrome. Julie herself suffers from the incurable Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease.

She had a bitter legal battle with her neighbor Jim Belushi over the size of their shared fence. The battle ended happily when she guest-starred in Jim’s show ‘According to Jim’. The episode entitled ‘The Grumpy Guy’ (February 28, 2006) poked fun at the feud.

Facts About Julie Newmar

Julie Newmar is not only known for her acting skills, but also for her talent as a dancer.

She studied ballet and even performed as a dancer on Broadway.

In addition to her work in film and television, Julie Newmar is also an accomplished businesswoman.

She has successfully launched her own line of pantyhose called "Nudemar."

Julie Newmar is known for her unique sense of style, often incorporating bold and colorful outfits into her wardrobe.

She has been praised for her fashion choices and continues to inspire fans with her iconic looks.

Julie Newmar is a talented artist and has showcased her artwork in various galleries and exhibitions.

Her creative talents extend beyond the screen, demonstrating her versatility as a performer and artist.

Julie Newmar is a passionate advocate for animal rights and has been actively involved in supporting various animal welfare organizations.

She uses her platform to raise awareness about important issues affecting animals and promotes compassion towards all living creatures.

Julie Newmar Biography

You wanted to know

Did Julie Newmar have a background in dance?

What is Julie Newmar's connection to the LGBTQ community?

How did Julie Newmar's portrayal of Catwoman influence future iterations of the character?