Shirley Temple
Academy Award-winning actress and author from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
via Wikipedia: Shirley MacLaine · see source
Shirley Jane Temple Black was born on April 23, 1928, in Santa Monica, California, to a homemaker mother and a bank employee father. She had two older brothers, and the family lived in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. Her mother encouraged her talents in singing, dancing, and acting, and began styling her hair in distinctive ringlets. While at dance school, a casting director for Educational Pictures spotted her and signed her to a contract in 1932. She first appeared in the studio's "Baby Burlesks," short comedies that satirized recent films using preschool children. In 1933, she parodied Mae West in *Glad Rags to Riches* and appeared in other shorts like *Kid 'in' Africa* and *Runt Page*. She became the breakout star of the series and was promoted to longer comedies in the *Frolics of Youth* series. Temple and her child co-stars also modeled for breakfast cereals to help fund production costs. She was loaned to other studios for small roles, including an uncredited part in *To the Last Man*.
Her big break came when Fox Film songwriter Jay Gorney saw her dancing in a theater lobby and arranged a screen test for *Stand Up and Cheer!* (1934). She won the part and was signed to a $150-per-week contract. Her performance, especially a song-and-dance number with James Dunn, impressed Fox executives. Her contract was soon extended, and her mother was hired as her hairdresser and coach. After the success of her first three films, her parents hired a lawyer to negotiate a better contract and to control the unauthorized use of her image on commercial products. Her salary was raised to $1,000 per week. Temple became Hollywood's top box-office draw from 1934 to 1938, winning a special Juvenile Academy Award in 1935. President Franklin D. Roosevelt praised her for helping Americans forget their troubles. Her later films were less popular as she aged, and she made her last film, *A Kiss for Corliss*, in 1949. She later entered public service, joining the Junior League in 1959. Her diplomatic career began in 1969 at the United Nations General Assembly, and she later served as U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Chief of Protocol, and Ambassador to Czechoslovakia. She published her autobiography, *Child Star*, in 1988 and received numerous honors, including the Kennedy Center Honors and a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
- born
- April 24, 1934
- field
- Actress and author
- nationality
- American
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Ambassador From
- United States
- Country
- Czechoslovakia
- President
- George H. W. Bush
- Term Start
- August 23, 1989
- Term End
- July 12, 1992
- Predecessor
- Julian Niemczyk
- Successor
- Adrian A. Basora
- Office2
- Chief of Protocol of the United States
- President2
- Gerald Ford / Jimmy Carter
- Term Start2
- July 1, 1976
- Term End2
- January 21, 1977
- Predecessor2
- Henry E. Catto Jr.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Born in Richmond, Virginia, MacLaine made her acting debut as a teenager with minor roles in the Broadway musicals Me and Juliet and The Pajama Game. Her film debut came in Alfred Hitchcock's black comedy The Trouble with Harry (1955), winning the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. She rose to prominence with starring roles in Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Some Came Running (1958), Ask Any Girl (1959), The Apartment (1960), The Children's Hour (1961), Irma la Douce (1963), and Sweet Charity (1969). A six-time Academy Award nominee, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the comedy-drama Terms of Endearment (1983). Her other prominent films include The Turning Point (1977), Being There (1979), Madame Sousatzka (1988), Steel Magnolias (1989), Postcards from the Edge (1990), In Her Shoes (2005), Bernie (2011), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), Elsa & Fred (2014), and Noelle (2019). MacLaine starred in the sitcom Shirley's World (1971–1972) and played the eponymous fashion designer in the biopic television film Coco Chanel (2008), receiving nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award for the latter. She also made appearances in several television series, including Downton Abbey (2012–2013), Glee (2014), and Only Murders in the Building (2022). MacLaine has written many books regarding the subjects of metaphysics, spirituality, and reincarnation, as well as a best-selling memoir, Out on a Limb (1983).
Reader's Guide
MacLaine's early life shaped her career. Named after child actress Shirley Temple, she was born on April 24, 1934, in Richmond, Virginia. Her father, Ira Owens Beaty, was a professor of psychology, a public school administrator, and a real estate agent. Her Canadian mother, Kathlyn Corinne (née MacLean), was a drama teacher from Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Her younger brother is filmmaker Warren Beatty. As a toddler, she had weak ankles and fell over with the slightest misstep, so her mother enrolled her in ballet class at the Washington School of Ballet at age three. She eventually decided against a career in professional ballet because she had grown too tall and felt unable to perfect her technique. She played baseball on a boys' team and held the record for the most home runs, earning the nickname 'Powerhouse.' She attended Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia, where she was on the cheerleading squad and acted in school theatrical productions. The summer before her senior year, she went to New York City to try acting and had minor success in the chorus of a production of Oklahoma! that toured the subway circuit. After graduation, she made her Broadway debut dancing in the ensemble of Me and Juliet (1953–1954). She became an understudy to actress Carol Haney in The Pajama Game. In May 1954, Haney injured her ankle during a Wednesday matinee, and MacLaine performed in her place. Jerry Lewis saw a matinee and urged film producer Hal B. Wallis to attend the evening performance, hoping to cast her in Artists and Models. Wallis signed her to work for Paramount Pictures. Her film debut in The Trouble with Harry (1955) won her the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. She starred in Billy Wilder's The Apartment (1960), earning a second Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. In 1970, she published a memoir titled Don't Fall off the Mountain, the first of her numerous books.
Did You Know?
- MacLaine was named after child actress Shirley Temple, who was six years old at the time of MacLaine's birth.
- As a toddler, she had weak ankles and fell over with the slightest misstep, so her mother enrolled her in ballet class at the Washington School of Ballet at age three.
- She played baseball on a boys' team and held the record for the most home runs, earning the nickname 'Powerhouse.'
- In May 1954, while understudying Carol Haney in The Pajama Game, Haney injured her ankle during a Wednesday matinee, and MacLaine performed in her place, leading to her film career.
- In 1963, she marched into the Los Angeles office of The Hollywood Reporter and punched columnist Mike Connolly in the mouth over comments about her contractual dispute with producer Hal Wallis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shirley Temple?
Shirley Temple was an American child actress, singer, and dancer who became Hollywood's top box-office star between 1934 and 1938. She later transitioned into public service, serving as a U.S. diplomat and ambassador.
What was Shirley Temple's main role in Hollywood?
She was the biggest box-office draw in the film industry during the mid-1930s, starring in musical comedies that showcased her singing, dancing, and charming screen presence. Her films helped lift public morale during the Great Depression.
What did Shirley Temple do after her acting career?
She moved into politics and diplomacy, serving as U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and to Czechoslovakia, as well as holding the role of Chief of Protocol for the United States. This made her one of the few Hollywood stars to transition into high-level government service.
When was Shirley Temple born and when did she pass away?
She was born on April 23, 1928, and died on February 10, 2014. She lived to be 85 years old.
Why is Shirley Temple considered important in Hollywood history?
She dominated the American box office for four consecutive years in the 1930s, a feat that made her the most commercially successful actor of that era. Her legacy spans both entertainment and public service, making her a uniquely multi-faceted American icon.
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