Kay Thompson

Sleek, effervescent, gregarious and indefatigable only begins to describe the indescribable Kay Thompson -- a one-of-a-kind author, pianist, actress, comedienne, singer, composer, coach, dancer, choreographer, clothing designer, and arguably one of entertainment's most unique and charismatic personalities of the 20th century. Born in Missouri with the uncharismatic name of Catherine L. Fink, she would reinvent herself as Kay Thompson and become a real-life representation of Auntie Mame, living life to the hilt while sharing with that character an unabashed joie de vivre and "never say die" mantra. The St. Louis born-and-bred celebrity was the second of four born to Austrian immigrant Leo George Thompson, a jeweler, and Hattie Thompson. Nicknamed Kitty by the time she attended Soldan International Studies High School in St. Louis, and (later) Washington University, she began playing the piano at age 4. Deemed a prodigy, she was performing with the St. Louis Symphony by the time she was