Shirley Temple

Her infectious smile, little dimples and precociousness made Shirley Temple a star. More than simply being a star, she was the voice of a generation, pleasure during the depression and influential ambassador later on in life. Temple was a woman of many hats and her passing on February 11th, 2014 is a sad occasion to mourn.

Temple was born in 1928 in Santa Monica, California to working class parents Gertrude Amelia Temple and George Francis Temple. Her talent was noticed by her parents who enrolled her at the age of 3 enrolled her at Meglin's Dance School in Los Angeles. Temple married young, at the age of 17. She met her first husband, John Agar at 15. Three years later she gave birth to her first daughter Linda. Her marriage to Agar was troubled and in 1950, Temple met Charles Alden Black with whom she would remain married until his death in 2005. Temple and Black would have one son Charles and a daughter, Lori.

It was during a talent search at her dance school that Temple was noticed by movie executives. From her she appeared in several bit parts and cereal ads. By 1933 she was doing bit parts for Universal and Warner Brother Studios. In April 1934, Fox Studio’s Stand Up and Cheer! became Temple's breakthrough film. By 1934, Fox Studios had the movie Bright Eyes made specifically for Temple. From this moment forward she became a star. Temple’s charm and bright smile made her a hit during the depression era. Her films were comedies whose aims were to uplift the spirit. The years between 1935 and 1940 were the most prolific for Temple, who starred in such classics as The Little Colonel, Our Little Girl, Curly Top, Animal Crackers in My Soup, and The Little Princess. These were all made before Temple was 12 years old. By her late teen years and early adulthood, Temple’s films began losing steam and money. She eventually retired from filmmaking in 1950.

Shirley Temple’s later life, though out of the limelight, was no less exciting. Until her death Temple appeared in several television programs as an actress and host. However her real ambitions were political. She was active as a Republican in California and ran in 1967, unsuccessfully, to fill a vacant seat in California’s congressional assembly. In 1969 She was appointed Representative to the 24th United Nations General Assembly by President Richard M. Nixon. President Gerald Ford appointed her Ambassador to Ghana between 1974 and 1976. Finally, between the years of 1989 and 1992, Temple served under president George H. W. Bush as United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

Shirley Temple died of natural causes on February 10, 2014, at the age of 85 at home in Woodside, California. She leaves behind two daughters and a son. Though she may be gone, her smile will always stay with us!

To see pictures and movie clips from Shirley Temple’s career, check out the Mementos page.