John William McDonald was an American businessman, real estate investor, and U.S. Army veteran. He is best known as the former husband of Eartha Kitt, the famous American singer and actress.
Unlike Eartha, John did not spend his life in the entertainment world. He mostly stayed away from fame and public attention. Before becoming known through his marriage, he served in the U.S. Army and later worked in business and real estate.
John and Eartha married in 1960 and had one daughter together, Kitt McDonald, who is now known as Kitt Shapiro. Their marriage ended a few years later, but John’s connection to Eartha remains the main reason people are interested in his life today.
John William McDonald’s Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | John William McDonald |
| Also known as | Bill McDonald |
| Date of birth | April 12, 1923 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Businessman and real estate investor |
| Military service | U.S. Army |
| Known for | Former husband of Eartha Kitt |
| Former wife | Eartha Kitt |
| Daughter | Kitt Shapiro |
| Date of death | May 12, 2005 |
| Age at death | 82 years old |
Who Was John William McDonald?
John William McDonald was a businessman and real estate investor from the United States. He was also a veteran who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He was often called Bill McDonald. However, most people came to know his full name because of his marriage to Eartha Kitt. She was a successful singer, actress, dancer, and entertainer who became famous around the world.
John lived a much more private life. He was not an actor or singer and did not build his career around being famous. Because of this, there is much less public information about him than there is about Eartha.
John William McDonald’s Early Life
John was reportedly born on April 12, 1923, in Los Angeles, California. There is little reliable public information about his childhood or his parents.
Many online biographies include details about his family background and early years. However, some of these details are not supported well enough to present them as facts.
What is much clearer is that John later joined the U.S. Army. His military service became an important part of his life before he moved into business.
His Military Service and War Injuries
John served in the United States Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. His military service was very different from the quieter business life he later lived.
Published accounts report that he suffered serious injuries during his time in the military. The injuries were severe enough to affect his ability to continue serving.
Reports also say that John went through 25 surgeries because of his injuries. He eventually left the Army and returned to civilian life.
Some online stories give more detailed accounts of exactly how he was injured and how his health affected him later. Those details are not always supported by strong sources, so they should be treated carefully.
His Business and Real Estate Career
After his military service ended, John moved into the business world. He became known as a businessman and real estate investor.
His work was very different from Eartha Kitt’s career. While she appeared on stage and screen and performed for large audiences, John worked mainly outside the entertainment industry.
There is not much reliable public information about the companies or real estate projects he worked on. His personal finances are also not well documented. For this reason, claims about his exact net worth should not be treated as fact.
How Did John William McDonald Meet Eartha Kitt?
John reportedly met Eartha Kitt in Las Vegas in 1957. According to published accounts, a mutual friend named Bob Dix introduced them.
By that time, Eartha was already building a successful entertainment career. She had become known for her unique voice, performances, and acting work.
John lived a much less public life, but the two developed a relationship after meeting. Their relationship continued for several years before they decided to marry.
Their different lifestyles later became an interesting part of their public story. Eartha’s career kept her in front of audiences, while John remained mostly outside the spotlight.
John William McDonald and Eartha Kitt’s Marriage
John and Eartha married on July 6, 1960. Their marriage attracted attention because Eartha was already a well known entertainer.
Eartha had built a career in music, acting, and live performance. John, on the other hand, was connected to business and real estate. He did not seek the same kind of public attention.
Their marriage lasted only a few years, but it became an important part of both of their personal histories. John is still often introduced as Eartha Kitt’s former husband when his name appears in biographies.
The couple also became parents during their marriage. Their daughter later built her own public career and played an important role in protecting her mother’s legacy.
Their Daughter, Kitt Shapiro
John and Eartha welcomed their daughter on November 26, 1961. She was named Kitt McDonald and later became widely known as Kitt Shapiro.
She was the only child John and Eartha had together. Published accounts also report that she was baptized at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
As an adult, Kitt Shapiro became an author and businesswoman. She was also closely involved in her mother’s life and career, especially during Eartha’s later years.
Kitt later wrote Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter’s Love Story in Black and White. The book focuses on her relationship with her mother and gives readers a more personal look at their family story.
Why Did Eartha Kitt and John William McDonald Divorce?
John and Eartha’s marriage eventually came to an end. Their divorce was finalized in 1964, about four years after they married.
Reports about the legal case say that Eartha cited mental cruelty as the reason for seeking the divorce. It is important not to add guesses about what happened privately between them beyond what was reported in the legal proceedings.
Eartha received custody of their young daughter. Published reports also state that John was required to pay $100 each month in child support.
Their marriage was short compared with Eartha’s long entertainment career, but it remains an important part of her personal history. It was also through their marriage that they welcomed their only child together.
What Happened to John After the Divorce?
After his divorce from Eartha, John became even less visible to the public. He did not have the same level of media attention as his former wife.
Reliable information about his later personal life is limited. Some websites make claims about later marriages and children, but these details are not supported clearly enough across the available sources.
For that reason, it is better to focus on what is known. John continued to be remembered as a businessman, real estate investor, Army veteran, and the father of Kitt Shapiro.
Eartha continued her successful entertainment career after their marriage ended. She remained active in music, acting, and live performance for many years.
John William McDonald’s Death
John William McDonald died on May 12, 2005, in Los Angeles, California. Based on his reported birth date, he was 82 years old.
There is no need to guess about his cause of death because the available information does not clearly establish it. He had lived mostly outside the public eye for many years before his death.
Eartha Kitt lived for another three years. She died on December 25, 2008, after suffering from colon cancer.
Although John and Eartha had separated decades earlier, their names remain connected because of their marriage and their daughter.
John William McDonald’s Connection to Kitt Shapiro
Kitt Shapiro is an important part of John and Eartha’s family story. She went on to build a life and career of her own while also helping to keep her mother’s work and memory alive.
She became an author and businesswoman and has spoken publicly about her famous mother. Her book about her relationship with Eartha gives readers a personal view of life as the daughter of a major entertainer.
John did not leave behind the same large public record as Eartha. His connection to Kitt is therefore one of the clearest parts of his family history that remains publicly known.
Today, people researching John often discover him through two relationships. He was Eartha Kitt’s former husband and Kitt Shapiro’s father.
Final Thoughts
John William McDonald lived a much more private life than Eartha Kitt. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, suffered serious injuries, and later worked as a businessman and real estate investor.
He married Eartha in 1960, and they welcomed their daughter, Kitt, the following year. Their marriage ended in 1964, after which John largely stayed away from public attention.
John died in 2005 at the age of 82. Although much of his private life remains outside the public record, the known parts of his story include military service, business, fatherhood, and his short marriage to one of America’s best known entertainers.
(FAQs)
Who was John William McDonald?
John William McDonald was an American businessman, real estate investor, and U.S. Army veteran. He is best known as the former husband of singer and actress Eartha Kitt.
When did John William McDonald marry Eartha Kitt?
John and Eartha Kitt married on July 6, 1960. Their divorce was finalized in 1964.
Did John William McDonald and Eartha Kitt have children?
Yes. They had one daughter together, Kitt McDonald, who is now known as Kitt Shapiro. She was born on November 26, 1961.
Was John William McDonald in the military?
Yes. John served in the U.S. Army and was a Korean War veteran. Reports say he suffered serious injuries during his military service and underwent many surgeries.
When did John William McDonald die?
John died on May 12, 2005, in Los Angeles, California. He was 82 years old based on his reported birth date of April 12, 1923.
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