Personal Info
| Full Name | John William McDonald |
|---|---|
| Born | April 12, 1923 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Background | Irish-German American |
| Job | Real Estate Investor, Accountant |
| Military Service | Korean War Veteran |
| Famous For | Ex-husband of singer Eartha Kitt |
| Married | Eartha Kitt (1960-1964) |
| Children | Kitt McDonald (Shapiro), Chad |
| Died | May 12, 2005 (Age 82) |
Who Was John William McDonald?
When people hear the name John William McDonald, they often think about his famous ex-wife, Eartha Kitt. But John had his own interesting story. He was a brave soldier, a hard-working businessman, and a man who faced many challenges in his life.
John lived during a time when America was very different. He fought in a war, married one of the most famous women in the world, and dealt with problems that many people face today. His story shows us that life is not always easy, even for people who seem lucky from the outside.
Early Life and Growing Up
John William McDonald was born on April 12, 1923, in Los Angeles, California. He came from a wealthy family with Irish and German roots. His family had money, and John grew up with a comfortable life. People who knew him said he was quiet but friendly.
John went to the University of Southern California, where he studied accounting. He was a good student and learned skills that would help him later in business. His friends called him “Bill,” and this nickname stayed with him his whole life.
A Soldier’s Sacrifice
John’s life changed when he joined the U.S. Army. He went to fight in the Korean War, which happened from 1950 to 1953. This war was very dangerous, and many soldiers got hurt or died.
During the war, something terrible happened to John. A grenade exploded near him, and he got very badly injured. The explosion hurt his body so much that doctors had to do 25 different surgeries to fix him. Can you imagine going through surgery 25 times?
These injuries caused John pain for the rest of his life. The doctors gave him morphine to help with the pain. Morphine is a strong medicine, but it can be dangerous. Sadly, John became addicted to it. This addiction would cause problems for him and his family later.
Meeting Eartha Kitt
In 1957, John met a woman who would change his life. Her name was Eartha Kitt, and she was already a famous singer and actress. They met in Las Vegas through a friend named Bob Dix.
At first, Eartha liked Bob, not John. But Bob had just gotten divorced and was not ready for a new relationship. He was also busy trying to start his acting career. So Bob started working, and this gave John and Eartha time to become friends.
John and Eartha had something in common – they both had broken hearts. They talked about their feelings and became close. Soon, their friendship turned into love. It did not matter to them that John was white and Eartha was Black, even though many people had problems with mixed-race couples in those days.
Getting Married
On June 9, 1960, John and Eartha got married. They had a small, private wedding with only about 20 people. It was a Thursday afternoon, and the ceremony was simple but beautiful.
Their marriage was big news. In 1960, many Americans did not like it when white people married Black people. Some states even had laws against it. But John and Eartha loved each other and did not care what others thought.
The next year, on November 26, 1961, they had a baby girl. They named her Kitt McDonald. She was born at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles. Both parents were very happy, and they raised Kitt as a Catholic.
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When Things Got Hard
At first, John and Eartha were happy. But soon, problems started. Eartha was very busy with her singing and acting career. She traveled a lot and was away from home for weeks or months.
When Eartha was home, she spent time with their daughter Kitt. She was a good mother who took care of Kitt herself. She did not want to hire someone to help, except when she had to work. Sometimes, Eartha even took Kitt with her when she traveled to Europe.
But being a wife to John was different. They spent a lot of time apart. John felt lonely, and his drug problem was getting worse. The morphine he started taking after the war had become a serious addiction.
Eartha’s sister Mary Ellen believed that John’s addiction started because of the medicine doctors gave him after his war injuries. But whatever the reason, the drugs were now controlling his life. People who visited John’s house said they saw drug equipment there.
The pressure was too much for their marriage. Eartha found out about John’s addiction, and she did not know how to help him. They also faced criticism from people who did not like their mixed-race marriage. All these problems made their relationship fall apart.
The Divorce
On July 1, 1963, John and Eartha separated. This means they stopped living together. Eartha decided to file for divorce. In the divorce papers, she wrote that John caused her “mental cruelty.” This is a legal term that means he made her very unhappy and stressed.
The divorce became official on March 26, 1964. Eartha got full custody of Kitt, which means Kitt would live with her mother. The court also said John had to pay $100 every month to help take care of Kitt. This is called child support.
John did not come to court during the divorce. The whole process was sad for everyone, especially for their daughter Kitt.
Life After Eartha
After the divorce, John tried to build a new life. He kept working in real estate and stayed in Los Angeles. He wanted to stay away from public attention and live quietly.
John got married two more times after Eartha. His second wife was from the Philippines, and they had a son together named Chad. Chad was about eight years younger than Kitt.
John kept working and tried to be a good father to his children. He did not talk much about his time with Eartha Kitt. Most people who knew him said he preferred a simple, private life.
Final Years
John William McDonald spent his last years in Los Angeles, far from the cameras and fame. He died on May 12, 2005, at the age of 82. The exact reason for his death was not shared with the public.
Three years later, in 2008, Eartha Kitt also died. She passed away from colon cancer on Christmas Day. She was 81 years old.
Their daughter, Kitt Shapiro, is now a successful businesswoman and author. She wrote a book about her mother called “Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter’s Love Story in Black and White.” In the book, she talks about both her parents and how they influenced her life.
Remembering John William McDonald
John William McDonald’s story is about more than just being married to a famous person. It is about a man who served his country, suffered for it, and tried to live his life the best he could.
He faced many challenges – war injuries, pain, addiction, and a difficult marriage. But he also showed strength by serving in the military, working hard in business, and trying to be a good father.
Today, when people talk about Eartha Kitt, they sometimes forget about John. But his story matters too. He was a real person with real struggles, and his life reminds us that everyone has their own battles to fight.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How did John William McDonald meet Eartha Kitt?
John met Eartha Kitt in 1957 in Las Vegas. A friend named Bob Dix introduced them. At first, they were just friends, but later they fell in love and got married in 1960.
2. Why did John William McDonald and Eartha Kitt divorce?
They divorced because of several problems. Eartha was very busy with her career and traveled a lot. John struggled with drug addiction from pain medicine he took after his war injuries. The divorce happened in 1964 after about four years of marriage.
3. Did John William McDonald have any children?
Yes, John had two children. He had a daughter named Kitt McDonald (now called Kitt Shapiro) with Eartha Kitt. She was born in 1961. He also had a son named Chad from his second marriage to a woman from the Philippines.
4. What did John William McDonald do for work?
John worked as an accountant and real estate investor. He studied accounting at the University of Southern California and built a career in business after he came back from the Korean War.
5. When and how did John William McDonald die?
John William McDonald died on May 12, 2005, in Los Angeles. He was 82 years old. The exact cause of his death was not shared publicly. He died three years before his ex-wife Eartha Kitt passed away.
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