Shirley Temple - Hollywood Success Story

Movie Star

We all know the grim statistics regarding the prospects for child actors.  Few of them make it as adults and many if the ones that do flame out in big ways.  (I'm thinkin' about you Lindsey.)

Easily the most popular child star of all time, Shirley Temple died a couple of days ago at age 85.  Her heyday was a little before my time but most people across the globe have seen at least one "Little Shirley Temple" movie.  She was a huge star at age four - and remained a huge star for several years.

And then she wasn't.  Shirley acted a bit as a teen and young adult but she was never again a big movie star.

By the way, I love the movie "The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer" with Cary Grant as the bachelor and Shirley as the bobby soxer.  Find it on Netflix.  You'll love it too. 

So, what did Shirley do for the next 70 or so years?  Plow through a bunch of lovers?  Deal drugs out of her palatial home?  Get fat and go to therapy?

No!

Diplomat

She turned her talents and energy to other things.  She did volunteer work, mostly for the Republican party.  That led to unsuccessfully running for office, but that led to:

• Appointment to the 24th Assembly of the United Nations General Assembly by President Nixon.
• Diplomatic appointment as ambassador to Ghana by President Ford.
• Appointment as Chief of Protocol - she was in charge of the inauguration of President Carter
• Appointment as ambassador to Czechoslovakia by President Bush (H.W.)

For 55 years, Shirley Temple was married to Charles Black, a successful oceanographer with an MBA from Stanford.  When she died she was surrounded by her family.

Shirley Temple's life, to me, from beginning to end, is truly a Hollywood success story.


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