Julie Newmar
Julie Newmar – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes
Discover the fascinating life of Julie Newmar — from her birth in 1933, to Broadway triumphs, her iconic turn as Catwoman, her ventures as an inventor and businesswoman, and her lasting legacy. Explore her most memorable quotes, lessons, and inspiring story.
Introduction
Julie Newmar is an American actress, dancer, singer, writer, and entrepreneur whose name remains indelibly linked to one of pop culture’s most beloved figures: Catwoman. Born August 16, 1933, she has cultivated a career that spans stage, screen, television, voice acting, and even inventions. Her life and work combine glamour, wit, resilience, and reinvention — making her a figure well worth studying.
Because she moved fluidly between Broadway, Hollywood, television, and business, Newmar offers a rare example of creative longevity. Her story continues to inspire artists, fans, and those who believe in evolving one’s identity across decades.
Early Life and Family
Julie Newmar was born Julia Chalene Newmeyer on August 16, 1933, in Los Angeles, California.
Her father was head of the physical education department at Los Angeles City College and had played professional football (for the 1926 Los Angeles Buccaneers).
Julie had two younger brothers: Peter Bruce Newmeyer (who tragically died in a skiing accident) and John A. Newmeyer, who became a writer and epidemiologist. From early on, Julie was immersed in both creativity and structure: dance, performance, and intellectual discipline.
She began formal dance training at a young age and by age 15 had danced as a prima ballerina with the Los Angeles Opera. That foundation in dance would shape much of her movement, poise, and presence in her later roles.
Youth and Education
Julie’s schooling is less documented in publicly available sources than her performance work, but her formative years were clearly steeped in the arts and physical discipline. Being raised in a family that combined athleticism (through her father) and the performing arts (through her mother), she absorbed a fusion of traits: strength, stagecraft, and an eye for aesthetics.
Her dancing artistry continued into her teenage years, preparing her for early work as a dancer in films and stage shows. That early discipline not only gave her a technical advantage on stage, but shaped how she moved — whether acting, posing, or modeling.
Career and Achievements
Early Career — From Dancer to Actress
Julie Newmar’s early credits include uncredited roles as a dancer in films such as Slaves of Babylon (1953), Serpent of the Nile (1953), The Band Wagon (1953), and Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954). Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954).
She also worked as a choreographer and dancer for Universal Studios beginning in her late teens.
Broadway Success & The Marriage-Go-Round
In 1955, Newmar made her Broadway debut as Vera in Silk Stockings. Li’l Abner (1956), creating a brief but memorable cameo as “Stupefyin’ Jones.”
Her breakout theatrical achievement arrived in The Marriage-Go-Round (1958) on Broadway, in which she portrayed Katrin Sveg. That performance earned her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
She also appeared in regional productions (for example Irma la Douce) and toured with shows such as Stop the World – I Want to Get Off.
Television & the Iconic Catwoman
Julie Newmar’s name is most often linked with television, particularly her portrayal of Catwoman in the 1960s Batman TV series (1966–1967).
Her Catwoman costume (with belt placed at the hips to emphasize her curves) has since become iconic and is part of the Smithsonian’s collection.
Beyond Batman, Newmar had a variety of guest roles across classic television:
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My Living Doll (1964–65) as Rhoda the Robot
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The Twilight Zone (“Of Late I Think of Cliffordville”)
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F Troop, Bewitched, The Monkees, Star Trek (episode “Friday’s Child”), Get Smart, Columbo, The Bionic Woman, and more.
As television roles became less frequent, she made occasional guest appearances in later decades and lent her voice to reprise Catwoman in animated features such as Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016) and Batman vs. Two-Face (2017).
Inventor, Entrepreneur & Real Estate
Julie Newmar is also an inventor. In the 1970s, she obtained U.S. patents for pantyhose (with cheek-shaping designs) and a nearly invisible brassiere.
Her parents had invested in real estate in Los Angeles (particularly in the La Brea and Fairfax Avenue areas), and she took over managing and expanding many of those holdings.
Julie has often expressed pride in building a sustainable career and income outside acting — declaring, “I’m just rich. I own businesses and I love it.”
Historical Milestones & Context
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1958 – Wins Tony Award for The Marriage-Go-Round
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1966–67 – Originates Catwoman in ABC’s Batman
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1970s – Registers patents for lingerie and pantyhose designs
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2016/2017 – Returns as Catwoman voice in animated Batman films
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2020s – Continues public interest in her legacy, garden, interviews, and advocacy
Over more than seven decades of work, Newmar has evolved with shifting entertainment landscapes, from live theater to the digital age, while preserving signature roles and creative reinventions.
Legacy and Influence
Julie Newmar remains deeply admired for multiple reasons:
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Cultural icon: Her Catwoman still casts a long shadow over subsequent portrayals of the character.
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Multifaceted talent: She demonstrated versatility across stage, film, television, voice work, business, and invention.
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Trailblazer for female agency: She carved a path beyond acting into patents, real estate, and self-directed income.
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Longevity: Her career has endured and adapted over decades, defying simple retirement.
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Advocacy & personal strength: She has openly lived with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a neuromuscular disorder) and has remained active in causes like LGBT rights (her brother is gay).
Her life challenges the myth that actresses fade away; instead, she remains relevant, respected, and evolving.
Personality and Talents
Julie Newmar is often described as witty, self-assured, and creatively restless. She once quipped:
“Tell me I’m beautiful, it's nothing. Tell me I’m intellectual — I know it. Tell me I’m funny and it’s the greatest compliment in the world anyone could give me.”
Her training as a dancer deeply informed her physical presence and sense of timing — an essential asset for her roles, especially Catwoman, which required subtle movement, expression, and poise.
She faced challenges with grace. In her garden, she has expressed that she views nurturing plants as part of personal renewal. That same grounded sense of growth permeates her public persona: she cultivates beauty, patience, and reinvention.
Famous Quotes of Julie Newmar
Here are some memorable sayings that reflect her wit, philosophy, and voice:
| Quote | Insight | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Beauty is what I feel my life is about — the garden, the house, whatever. I see the world that way, yet it isn't.” | Blends inner perspective with outer aesthetics. | “When you're young and good-looking, you've got to behave. But when you're old, you can get away with murder.” | Playful confidence. | “You can’t fail. The further you fall, the greater the opportunity for growth and change.” | Embraces resilience. | “Tell me I’m beautiful, it’s nothing. Tell me I’m intellectual — I know it. Tell me I’m funny and it’s the greatest compliment in the world anyone could give me.” | Balances self-awareness and humor. | “I’m just rich. I own businesses and I love it.” | Speaks to her entrepreneurship. | “Ecstasy and beauty are eternal.” | Evokes her romantic sensibility. | “More is not necessarily better. Better is better.” | A principle of quality over quantity.
These quotes offer a window into her identity: creative, bold, elegant, and unafraid to assert her worth. Lessons from Julie Newmar
ConclusionJulie Newmar’s life is richly textured: part stage siren, part businesswoman, part inventor, and ever a storyteller. She stands as a reminder that a performer’s value need not fade with age — that identity can be redefined, passions can multiply, and legacy can be built across disciplines. Whether you’re drawn to her as Catwoman, theater royalty, or creative entrepreneur, Julie Newmar’s story encourages us to keep growing, to embrace change, and to let beauty, intellect, and humor coexist. If you'd like, I can also provide a visual timeline of her life or a deeper dive into one of her films or inventions. Articles by the author
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