Who was Shirley Temple? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Shirley Temple Black, Shirley Jane Temple

Died At Age: 85

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Charles Alden Black (1950–2005), John Agar (1945–1950)

father: George Francis Temple

mother: Gertrude Amelia Temple

siblings: George Francis Jr., John Stanley

children: Charles Alden Black Jr., Linda Susan Agar, Lori Black

Born Country: United States

Actresses Child Actresses

Height: 5'2" (157 cm), 5'2" Females

political ideology: Republican

Died on: February 10, 2014

place of death: Woodside, California, United States

Ancestry: Dutch American, German American, British American

Cause of Death: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

U.S. State: California

City: Santa Monica, California

Recommended For You

1

What movies did Shirley Temple star in?

Shirley Temple starred in popular movies such as "Bright Eyes," "Heidi," "Curly Top," "The Little Princess," and "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm."
2

What was Shirley Temple's impact on the film industry?

Shirley Temple is credited with saving 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy during the Great Depression and became one of the biggest stars of Hollywood at a young age.
3

Did Shirley Temple have a successful career after acting?

After retiring from acting, Shirley Temple went on to have a successful career in politics, serving as a diplomat and ambassador.
4

What was Shirley Temple's signature look?

Shirley Temple was known for her iconic curly hair and dimples, which became her signature look and contributed to her enduring popularity.
5

Did Shirley Temple have any significant contributions to society?

Shirley Temple was a dedicated philanthropist and worked tirelessly for various charitable causes, including raising awareness about breast cancer and multiple sclerosis.

Recommended Lists:

Women Film & Theater Personalities

Childhood & Early Life

She was born on April 23, 1928, as the youngest child of Gertrude Amelia and George Francis Temple. Her father was a bank employee while her mother stayed home to manage the house. She had two brothers.

She loved to sing and dance from an early age and her mother encouraged her daughter’s interests and had her enrolled at Meglin’s Dance School when she was just three. Her fashion loving mother styled Shirley’s hair in ringlets.

Educational Pictures noticed the pretty little girl during a talent search at the dance school and signed her in 1932.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

American Film & Theater Personalities

Career

Her initial assignments consisted of a series of one-reelers called ‘Baby Burlesks’ followed by two-reelers called ‘Frolics of Youth’ in which she played Mary Lou Rogers. She also modeled for breakfast cereals and other products during this time.

She made her feature film debut with a small role in the movie ‘Red-Haired Alibi’ in 1932.

In 1933 Educational Pictures went bankrupt and Temple signed with Fox Films in 1934. Her movie ‘Stand Up and Cheer!’ released the very same year became her breakthrough movie. The movie was a big hit and everyone loved the sweet and innocent little girl.

The year 1934 was a very busy one for the six year old. She appeared in several movies including ‘Bright Eyes’ in which she portrayed an orphaned child who is the centre of a fierce custody battle. This film was written specifically to showcase the child artist’s talents.

She played Elizabeth, a young orphan, in ‘Curly Top’ (1935). Her portrayal of a sweet but naughty and energetic child was well loved by the viewers. The movie was a big commercial hit.

The characters offered to her were often that of orphans living in miserable conditions, or a child who played a role in bringing together estranged lovers. Most of her films had a fairytale element in them depicting the triumph of good over evil.

She appeared in a number of films over the late 1930s, which included films such as ‘Dimples’ (1936), ‘Heidi’ (1937), and ‘Little Miss Broadway’ (1938).

Her 1939 movie ‘The Little Princess’ was loosely based on the novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The film was a critical as well as commercial success. Shirley was by now 11 years and this film was her last one as a child artist.

It was believed that she would continue her success as a teenage actress, but this was not to happen. She acted in two movies in 1940, both of which were flops.

Continue Reading Below

Her parents wanted Shirley to concentrate on her studies and sent her to Westlake School for Girls when she was 12. After appearing in a series of films that did not do well at the box office, she retired from films in 1950.

She made a comeback to show business during the late 1950s, and narrated an NBC television anthology series of fairy tale adaptations called ‘Shirley Temple’s Storybook’. She also acted in three of the 16 episodes of the series.

During the 1960s, she became active in politics and was appointed the United States ambassador to Ghana (1974-76) by President Gerald Ford. She also served as the United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (1989-92).

Major Works

She played a little girl, Marky, who is held as collateral by a group of gangsters in ‘Little Miss Marky’. The movie was based on a short story of the same name by Damon Runyon. The movie was very popular and has been remade several times.

In the movie ‘Bright Eyes’, she played an orphaned child, Shirley Blake. The movie focused on the relationship between Shirley, her godfather, and an elderly uncle. The film had been developed with specifically Temple in mind.

Awards & Achievements

She was awarded a special Juvenile Academy Award in 1935, for her contributions to cinema in the year 1934, especially ‘Little Miss Marker’ and ‘Bright Eyes’.

Personal Life & Legacy

She first got married when she was 17 to John Agar, an Army sergeant, in 1945. They had one daughter and divorced in 1950.

Her second marriage was to Charles Alden Black, a WWII United States Navy intelligence officer, in 1950. The couple had two children. They had a loving marriage that lasted for 54 years until Charles’s death in 2005.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1972, and had a successful recovery. After her treatment she became one of the first famous women to openly discuss about the disease through radio and television.

She breathed her last on Feb 10, 2014, at Woodside, California, due to Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Facts About Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple was known for her iconic ringlets, which were actually the result of her mother using a unique technique involving pin curls and lemon juice.

She was the youngest person to ever receive an Academy Honorary Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution as a child actress.

Shirley Temple had a talent for languages and could speak multiple languages fluently, including Spanish and French.

In addition to her acting career, Shirley Temple was also a successful diplomat, serving as a United States Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia.

She was a pioneer in the world of merchandising, with her image appearing on numerous products including dolls, clothing, and even a brand of breakfast cereal.

Shirley Temple Biography

You wanted to know

What movies did Shirley Temple star in?

What was Shirley Temple's impact on the film industry?

Did Shirley Temple have a successful career after acting?

What was Shirley Temple's signature look?

Did Shirley Temple have any significant contributions to society?