Shirley Temple passes at 85
“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.”
The most adored and popular child star in Hollywood history, Shirley Temple, has passed away at the age of 85.
Temple was America’s top box-office draw from 1935 to 1938, an astonishing feat for a child actor and one that will likely never be equaled. She is singled out as the primary reason that film giant 20th Century Fox was saved from bankruptcy as she brought in fans by the droves for hit films including The Littlest Rebel and Curly Top.
When Temple was honored in 2006 by the Screen Actors Guild she quipped, “I have one piece of advice for those of you who want to receive the lifetime achievement award. Start early.” She added that evening that she felt her most important roles were that of wife, mother and grandmother. “There’s nothing like real love. Nothing,” she said.
Temple was married for over 50 years to Charles Black. She was also active in politics – having been the Ambassador to Czechoslovakia during the historic fall of the iron curtain in 1989.
In 1972 Shirley was diagnosed with breast cancer and after successful removal of a tumor she spoke out about her battle becoming one of the first prominent women to speak openly about the disease.
Shirley Temple is the archetype for every child star that has come since. She once said of fame, “Any star can be devoured by human adoration, sparkle by sparkle.” Her stardom, and the grace in which she lived her life after her film popularity faded, are a model for those that have followed.
