This entry is the first on our list where we can say without any hesitation that the resemblance is 100% intentional. Eartha Kitt was a musical legend, although that doesn't cover even a tenth of her talents. In all her years in showbusiness, Kitt performed as a comedian and actress too, and was even a prominent activist when she felt the need to speak her mind. If you've ever heard the original recording of the song 'Santa Baby' at Christmas, you may not even have known you were listening to Kitt sing. Kitt passed away in 2008, although her legacy lives on.
Given her performance skills, Disney thought that Kitt would be the perfect choice to play Yzma, the villain in 'The Emperor's New Groove.' They were right. Kitt made the part her own, and brought a sense of fun to the character that made her hard to hate, even though she was supposed to be evil! Disney took Kitt's appearance into account when they were designing the character, so even though she's purple, you can still see a facial resemblance.