Shirley Temple Black, born Shirley Jane Temple on April 23, 1928, was an American actress, singer, dancer, and diplomat who rose to fame as a child actress in Hollywood from 1934 to 1938.
She began her film career at the tender age of three in 1931 and two years later achieved international recognition in the feature film Bright Eyes, a production tailored to her exceptional talents. In February 1935, she received a special Juvenile Academy Award for her outstanding contributions as a juvenile performer in motion pictures during 1934.
Throughout the mid-to-late 1930s, Temple starred in numerous film hits, including Curly Top and Heidi, and capitalized on her wholesome image by licensing merchandise such as dolls, dishes, and clothing. Her box-office popularity eventually waned as she entered adolescence.
Temple appeared in a total of 29 films between the ages of three and ten, but only 14 films between the ages of 14 and 21. She retired from film in 1950 at the age of 22.
In 1958, Temple made a comeback to show business with a two-season television anthology series of fairy tale adaptations. She also made guest appearances on television shows in the early 1960s and filmed a sitcom pilot that was never released.
Temple went on to serve on the boards of various corporations and organizations, including the Walt Disney Company, Del Monte Foods, and the National Wildlife Federation.
Her diplomatic career began in 1969 when she was appointed to represent the United States at a session of the United Nations General Assembly, working under Ambassador Charles W. Yost at the U.S. Mission.
In 1988, Temple published her autobiography, Child Star, and received numerous awards and honors, including the Kennedy Center Honors and a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. She is also listed as the 18th greatest female American screen legend of classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute.
