Kitty Summerall was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and spent her formative years attending school in the South and later pursuing higher education in New York and Europe, a journey that would lay the foundation for her future as a world-traveler.
As a young woman, Kitty modeled in New York City, Paris, France, London, England, and Denmark, as well as Germany, and has always maintained a deep passion for music, having it as her first love. She has recorded music with various musicians and has continued to pursue her musical endeavors throughout her life.
In New York City, Kitty was approached by numerous film directors to act in their projects, but she declined most offers, citing music as her primary focus. However, when Richard Hell, with whom Kitty was singing backup vocals on recordings such as "Don't Die" by Richard Hell & The Voidoids as the Neon Boys, asked her to read for the part of Marcie in Susan Seidelman's Smithereens (1982),Kitty accepted, despite having already been rejected by over 250 other actresses for the role.
After being hired on the spot to play the wife of Richard Hell's character, Kitty's acting debut was met with critical acclaim, and Smithereens went on to be honored at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as numerous other world film festivals. As a result, Kitty became known as an actress, although her music has always remained her primary source of inspiration and the driving force behind her career.
Kitty's iconic appearance on the cover of High Times Magazine was issued between covers featuring Mick Jagger and Arnold Schwarzenegger, further solidifying her status as a cultural icon.
In addition to her work on Smithereens, Kitty Summerall has acted in two more films, Special Effects (1984) and Perfect Strangers (1984),as well as several independent projects, not listed here. Throughout her career, Kitty has continued to prioritize her love of travel and music, living on multiple continents and exploring various genres.
