Catwoman Julie Newmar Stuns at 89 at Home where She Cares for Deaf & Mute Son Alone

May 2024 · 5 minute read

Julie Newmar rose to fame as a sex symbol in her captivating Catwoman role in 1961's "Batman." Although she began her career in 1952, she became a household name when she donned the black spandex catsuit.

While her career was booming, Newmar faced heartache at home as she tried and failed to bring a baby into the world. Finally, after years of trying, she was blessed with her son, who she loves immensely.

Julie Newmar as Catwoman, circa 1966 | Source: Getty Images

Twenty years after becoming one of the most significant sex symbols of the 1960s, Newmar gave birth to her first and only child, a son named John Jewl Smith. John was born with Down Syndrome, and Newmar admitted that he improved her life. Talking about his diagnosis, she said:

"Parents should never feel like they have an afflicted child."

Instead, Newmar thinks her son is adorable and finds having a son with Down Syndrome helpful. He has helped Newmar gain a better outlook on life and expanded her mind beyond her wildest imagination.

Julie and John Newmar at Newmar's 51st Birthday Party on August 16, 1984 at Nirvana Club One Atop the Grt in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Newmar revealed that after John was born, she learned the true meaning of understanding and unconditional love. The octogenarian says her son is solely responsible for how great her life is now:

"John is what makes my life great."

While her journey with John has been nothing short of amazing for the former actress, it was not an easy road to getting there. Newmar suffered three miscarriages before she finally welcomed her son at 48.

John was born with severe physical disabilities. He was born deaf and mute, and Newmar says that visual things are a delight to her son. Newmar feels blessed to have her son in her life.

A portrait of Julie Newmar in Los Angeles in 1988 | Source: Getty Images

Over the years, she has dedicated her life to making her son's life beautiful. She spent thirty years tending to a previously almost-barren garden, so her son would have something beautiful to look at as he cannot communicate or hear correctly.

Newmar Built A Beautiful Home for Her and Her Son

Newmar bought herself and her son a house in Brentwood in the early 1980s. However, it was not as beautiful as she would have liked it to be. The front garden was filled with Ivy, and the back garden was unkempt.

However, when Newmar saw a clump of violets in the garden, she knew she was going to make the property her home. It didn't take long before she began her project of building a beautiful home for her and her son.

Newmar began planting a prettier garden, with more trees, flowers, and other plants than ever before. When talking about her garden, she gushed:

"It's paradise."

John is now 42, and Newmar says she can feel his bodily excitement when he sits in the garden and looks at all the beauty around him.

Newmar believes that her garden is "healing on earth." She even built a secret garden for her son and installed many sculptures that represent Newmar when she was much younger. She continues to develop her garden each day and says it feels as though it's enriching her life.

The former actress has spent at least three decades creating her oasis, which spans almost her entire property. Newmar has planted more than eighty rosebushes, which all have their own unique names.

Newmar planted all the roses with the intention of naming them after influential people. She has roses named after many people and has not neglected herself in the midst of that. She named one of her rose bushes after herself.

Newmar's Life Now with Her Son

Newmar is now 89 and is not the same woman she was when she first donned the spandex black catsuit. She now spends most of her time in her Brentwood home with her son, living a much quieter life.

Although she is no longer a ballet dancer, she maintains a dancer's posture and is still filled with movement. Whenever she talks about something that excites her, she becomes animated and clear in her communication.

She also still gushes about her son any chance she gets. Although they are both getting older, Newmar's son still lives with her, and she is proud of it.

Newmar also shared that her son is an excellent artist, with an exhibit of his art at the Washington Reid Gallery in Culver City, California. Newmar is incredibly proud of her son, and the pair make a formidable duo.

Newmar's fans, who have been loyal to her since the beginning, are impressed by the life she has built for herself and her son. They are also impressed by her expansive garden and knowledge of the plants.

A YouTube video showing Newmar's garden was met with lovely comments from adoring fans. One talked about her appearance, exclaiming:

"The timeless Goddess! So amazing!"

Another fan commented on Newmar's presence, calling her classy and elegant. One fan said that both Newmar and her garden were beautiful, while others said that Newmar's age did not reflect the woman she is today.

Julie and John Newmar in their garden in Brentwood in a YouTube video posted in 2023 | Source: youtube.com/@CBSMornings

A comment left on a YouTube video posted in 2023 of Julie Newmar | Source: youtube.com/@CBSMornings

Despite all the trials and tribulations that Newmar went through to have her son and everything she had to do, Newmar does not regret her life at all and is grateful for her son and everything he has taught her about life—an excellent mother-and-son relationship.

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