The first Motor City Comic Con guest that I will be highlighting is none other than the fabulous international octogenarian sex-symbol, Julie Newmar.

Apart from being the focal point of one of my favorite movies of all time, To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, this former Catwoman has had a long and varied career.

From Wikipedia:

Before she changed her name, she was a “dancer-assassin” in Slaves of Babylon (1953) and the “gilded girl” in Serpent of the Nile (1953) in which she was clad only in gold paint. She danced in several films including The Band Wagon and Demetrius and the Gladiators and was a ballerina with the Los Angeles Opera. She also worked as a choreographer and dancer for Universal Studios.

Her first major role, for which she was billed as “Julie Newmeyer”, was as one of the brides in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). Her 3 minute Broadway appearance as the leggy “Stupefyin’ Jones” in the musical Li’l Abner in 1956 led to a reprise in the 1959 film version.

Julie’s legs were insured for $1 million by Lloyds of London.

Newmar also appeared on Broadway in her first play in 1961, The Marriage-Go-Round, which starred Charles Boyer and Claudette Colbert. She re-developed the role of the Swedish vixen and won a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress. Later she appeared on stage with Joel Grey in the national tour of Stop the World – I Want to Get Off and as “Lola” in Damn Yankees! and “Irma” in Irma La Douce.

Much of Newmar’s fame stems from her television career, especially her roles in certain well-remembered television series. Newmar starred as “Rhoda the Robot” in the short-lived TV series My Living Doll (1964-1965). She is best known for her 12-episode recurring role in the 1966-67 TV series Batman as the “purrfect” villainess, Catwoman (portrayed in the related 1966 feature film by Lee Meriwether and in the series’ final season by Eartha Kitt).

In 1962, Newmar appeared twice as motorcycle-riding, free-spirited heiress Vicki Russell in the TV series Route 66, filming on location in Tucson, Arizona (“How Much a Pound is Albatross”) and in Tennessee (“Give the Old Cat a Tender Mouse”). She also guest-starred on iconic TV shows The Twilight Zone, F-Troop, The Beverly Hillbillies and Get Smart. In 1967, she guest-starred as April Conquest in the most popular episode of The Monkees and as a pregnant princess in the Star Trek episode “Friday’s Child”. She had guest roles in 1970s series Columbo and The Bionic Woman

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Newmar appeared in several low-budget films. She also guest-starred on TV shows including The Love Boat, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Hart to Hart, CHiPs and Fantasy Island. She was seen in George Michael’s video clip Too Funky in 1992 as well as appearing as herself in a 1996 episode of Melrose Place.

The 1995 film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar pays homage to the actress; Newmar herself makes a cameo appearance near the film’s end. Fashion designer Thierry Mugler, selected her as his model-muse for the catwalk of his 20 year couture celebration in Paris.

If this Villaintechnician is lucky, she just might get to meet one of the sexiest women to ever suit up in latex and fight a masked hero.