 |
| Shirley Temple |
The actress and diplomat Shirley Temple has died at the age of 85. Shooting to stardom at the age of just three, she enjoyed massive celebrity in the Thirties and Forties, retiring in the Fifties to dedicate herself to politics and standing as a Congressional candidate for the Republican Party. Known for her golden curls, she was the iconic screen Heidi and also starred in films like Curly Top and Bright Eyes. For four years she was America's biggest box office draw and she has been celebrated as a screen legend by the American Film Institute.
Singing in several of her films, Temple also enjoyed a musical career of sorts, selling large quantities of sheet music. She also appeared on television and in numerous adverts, and even had a cocktail named after her. Although she quit acting in her teens, she always remained connected to the industry, and in later life she served on the board of directors at Disney.
Temple died at home in Woodside, California. "We salute her for a life of remarkable achievements as an actor, as a diplomat, and most importantly as our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and adored wife for 55 years of the late and much missed Charles Alden Black," said her family in a statement.
