thesongremainsthesame: James Dean and Eartha Kitt photographed by Dennis Stock, New York City, 1955.
thesongremainsthesame: James Dean and Eartha Kitt photographed by Dennis Stock, New York City, 1955.“In 1955, just five days before Jamie’s [Eartha’s nickname for James Dean] death in an automobile accident, I returned to Hollywood for a few days’ rest between engagements. I went over to see Paleface and was surprised to find Jamie opening the door for me. As was our custom, we hugged one another, and I felt a strange emptiness in Jamie. ’Jamie’ I said. ‘What’s happened to you? Something’s wrong. You’re not here.’ Jamie grinned and shook his head. “Oh, Kitt, you’re running one of your spiritual numbers on me again.” I had had the distinct impression that his spirit had already left him. I know that sounds weird, but it happened. As I said before and as I used to tell him, I felt as though he had always been with me.” - Eartha Kitt “Her relationship with James Dean was another one the press assumed was romantic, but they were just dear friends as well,” said Shapiro. “She called him Jamie, and she was very protective of him. She could sense his vulnerability and they shared a kinship. His death was something she did not really get over.”- Kitt McDonald Shapiro (Eartha Kitt’s daughter) -- source link