HomeShirley Temple, the child star to end all child stars, died Monday evening at her home in Woodside. She was 85.
Temple was 4 when firstly stepped into the entertainment industry as the most popular Hollywood child star in the 1930s. Her bight eyes, curly hair and the sweet appearance radiated sheer joy and hope, which raised the spirits of her fellow citizens as they struggles together through the Great Depression. Her vibrant and wholesome persona revealed through starring roles in over forty major motion pictures has had an undeniably positive impact worldwide on the well-being and value systems of generations. She also saved the 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy.
Unfortunately, like most other child stars, Temple failed to made the transition to a successful actress as an adult. The truth is she gradually left the film industry since late 1930s. However, she finally made the achievement as an outstanding diplomat as well as an actress.
Let us follow this timeline below to see how Temple did through her whole life.
Hollywood child star
On April 23 1928, Shirley Temple was born in Santa Monica, California, United States; she's the third child the only girl in her family.
In 1932, Temple's mother sent her to dance school. At the same year, she caught the eye of a scouting agent Charles Lamont. Before long, she starred a series of short films named Burlesks.
In 1934, Temple starred 8 films in total, including the most famous ones like "Bright Eyes", "Now and Forever".
In 1935, Temple finally took wing and eclipsed many Hollywood stars like Clark Gable, Mae West, Joan Crawford. Her classics in this year include "Curly Top", "The Little Colonel", "The Littlest Rebel", etc. Her song "Good Ship Lollipop" touched people all over the America, which became one of the themes in her movies. In February, Temple became the first child star to be honored with a miniature Juvenile Oscar for her 1934 film accomplishment. Naturally, her weekly wage was raised to $1500 which is 3 times than her mother's. This figure quadrupled two years later.
The years of frustration
In 1940, the 12-year-old Temple had met her first setback; "The Bluebird" is her first loss in box office. Another film "Young People" she starred this year still didn't do the trick. Thereafter, Temple's parents paid $300,000 to buyout her contract with 20th Century Fox, sent her back to Westlake School for Girls.
In 1941, MGM magnate Louis B. Mayer planned to invite Temple to play the role of Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz", but he replaced her with Judy Garland later. Finally Temple aligned in film "Kathleen" with $2500 weekly wage, which did not sell as the same.
In 1945, Temple get married with the 22-year-old soldier John Agar. Agar also wanted to become a Hollywood star; so both of them starred in Fort Apache by Director John Ford. However, most of her films in this year were not successful. Temple and Agar gave birth to a girl named Linda Susan during this period.
In 1949, Temple and Agar divorced.
In 1950, Temple married to a businessman Charles Alden Black. This marriage lasted until the death of Charles in 2005.
In 1958, Temple hosted a TV show of NBC - "The Shirley Temple Storybook", this show stopped broadcasting a year later.
In 1960, she tried the TV industry again and hosted "The Shirley Temple Show", which was not successful as the same. She also appeared in several TV plays as a guest.
Achievements in political
In 1967, Temple tried to run in election of America's lawmakers but eventually unsuccessful.
In 1972, Temple was appointed as representatives of the International Law Commission of the environment by President Nixon. In that year, she developed breast cancer and had a mastectomy.
People at that time mostly avoided talking about this, but she openly discussed this and helped lots of patients.
In 1974, she was appointed as ambassador to Ghana by President Ford.
In 1976, Temple's term ended and she rotated to be the Chief of Protocol of the United States. She's also the first female who took this office.
In 1988, Temple was appointed as ambassador to Czechoslovakia by President Bush.
In 1998, she received the Kennedy Center Honors Award.
In 2005, Temple became the recipient of Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
