Shirley Temple

Date of Birth: April 23, 1928

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: February 10, 2014

Biography

Shirley Temple was an American actress, singer, dancer, and diplomat who captivated the world as a child star in the 1930s. Born in Santa Monica, California, she began her film career at the age of three. By the mid-1930s, she was one of Hollywood’s greatest box-office attractions. Temple’s ability to sing, dance, and act, coupled with her dimples and curly hair, made her a beloved figure during the Great Depression. Some of her most famous films include “Bright Eyes,” “Curly Top,” and “Heidi.” As she grew older, Temple transitioned from acting to public service, serving as the U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia, and as the Chief of Protocol of the United States. Her career in diplomacy was as distinguished as her career in entertainment, earning her respect and admiration worldwide.

5 Interesting Facts about Shirley Temple

1. Shirley Temple was awarded a special Juvenile Academy Award in 1935 for her outstanding contribution as a child star.

2. She was the first child star to hold a major contract with a film studio, 20th Century Fox, which was specifically built around her.

3. Shirley Temple’s films saved 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy during the Great Depression.

4. She was the youngest person ever to host a television series, “Shirley Temple’s Storybook,” which aired in the late 1950s.

5. Shirley Temple’s iconic curls were famous; she reportedly had exactly 56 curls in her hair for each film.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Shirley Temple

1. “I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph.”

2. “When I was 14, I was the oldest I ever was. I’ve been getting younger ever since.”

3. “The U.S. needed someone to entertain and lift the spirits of people during the Great Depression. I was happy to do my part.”

4. “Time is money. Wasted time means wasted money means trouble.”

5. “One famous movie executive who shall remain nameless, exposed himself to me in his office. ‘Mr. X,’ I said, ‘I thought you were a producer, not an exhibitor.’”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of her career, Shirley Temple’s net worth was estimated to be around $30 million (adjusted for inflation).

Children

Shirley Temple had three children: Linda Susan Agar (b. 1948) with her first husband John Agar, and Charles Alden Black Jr. (b. 1952) and Lori Black (b. 1954) with her second husband, Charles Alden Black.