Written by Cami Cox
A screen icon whose “bright eyes,” dimpled smile and adorable ringlets brightened the lives of millions of Americans during the Great Depression and the decades that followed, Shirley Temple Black passed away at her home in Woodside, Calif., Monday night at the age of 85.
An actress from the age of 4, Black became a child millionaire and received an honorary Oscar at age 6. She was America’s darling, starring in such films as “Little Miss Marker,” “Bright Eyes,” “Curly Top,” “Baby Take a Bow” and “The Littlest Rebel.”
Young Shirley Temple achieved an iconic fame in the 1930s that was rivaled only by cartoon giant Mickey Mouse. She was America’s most popular movie star from 1935 to 1939, the peak years of her film career, during which she appeared in more than 50 films and short films.
Shirley Temple shared the screen with the legendary Bill “Bojangles” Robinson in four different films.
Puberty took a toll on the young actress’ marketability in the 1940s as she began to lose some of her doll-like child charm, and at the age of 22 she retired from film altogether. But “Little Miss Marker” left a mark on the film world that hasn’t faded in more than eight decades.
After leaving the film world behind, Black went on to carve out a career in politics. After an unsuccessful congressional campaign in 1967, the former child star was appointed by President Nixon to the five-member United States delegation to the 24th session of the United Nations General Assembly. She went on to become an American ambassador.
