Shirley Temple Black, nee Shirley “Jane” Temple (born April 23, 1928, Santa Monica, California, U.S.—died February 10, 2014, Woodside, California), was an American actress and public official She was an internationally popular child star of the 1930s, best known for sentimental musicals. For much of the decade, she was one of Hollywood’s greatest box-office attractions.
However, it was arguably Bright Eyes (1934) that propelled her to stardom. The musical was specifically made for Temple—who was cast as an orphan, which became a frequent role—and in it she sang one of her most popular songs,“On the Good Ship Lollipop.” Many claimed that Bright Eyes saved Fox Film Corporation from bankruptcy.
![]()
By the end of 1934 Temple was one of Hollywood’s top stars, and the following year she received a special Academy Award as “the outstanding personality of 1934.” Temple’s popularity was partly seen as a response to the Great Depression. With her spirited singing and dancing and her dimples and blond ringlets, Temple and her optimistic films provided a welcome escape from difficult times.
Temple became Hollywood’s top box-office attraction in 1935, and
![]()
she held that honour through 1938. During that time she starred in such hits as The Little Colonel (1935), the first of several musicals featuring dancer Bill Robinson; Curly Top (1935); John Ford’s Wee Willie Winkie (1937); Heidi (1937), based on the children’s book by Johanna Spyri; and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938). Her overwhelming popularity resulted in the creation of a doll made in her likeness and a non-alcoholic beverage named for her. By the end of the 1930s, however, Temple’s popularity had begun to wane, and after The Blue Bird (1940) failed to attract a large audience, her contract with 20th Century-Fox was dropped.
 |
Ronald Reagan and Shirley Temple in "That Hagen Girl" |
After her marriage to Agar ended in 1949, Temple married (1950) businessman Charles A. Black. As Shirley Temple Black, she became active in civic affairs and Republican politics. In 1967 she ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. From 1969 to 1970 she was a delegate to the UN General Assembly. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1972, Black was one of the first celebrities to go public about having the illness. She then served as U.S. ambassador to Ghana (1974–76), chief of protocol for Pres. Gerald Ford (1976–77), and member of the U.S. Delegation on African Refugee Problems in 1981. From 1989 to 1992 she served as ambassador to Czechoslovakia.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Black remained active in international affairs, serving on the board of directors of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, among other organizations.
In recognition of her acting career and public service, the Screen Actors Guild presented Black with a life achievement award in 2005. Her autobiographies include My Young Life (1945) and Child Star (1988).
Temple died at age 85 on February 10, 2014, at her home in Woodside, California. The cause of death, according to her death certificate released on March 3, 2014, was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Temple was a lifelong smoker but avoided displaying her habit in public because she did not want to set a bad example for her fans.
(Edited from Wikipedia but mainly britannica.com)