Shirley Temple Dies: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

(Getty)

(Getty)

The incomparable Shirley Temple has passed away at the age of 85. Shirley Temple is a true legend and is considered to be the original child star. She even had a drink named after her … We’ve all ordered a Shirley Temple before, haven’t we? It’s grenadine mixed in ginger ale with a maraschino cherry on top …

Read on for the facts on Temple’s sad passing and all about the biggest child star that ever was ….


1. Shirley Temple Died With Family

The legendary Shirley Temple passed away on Monday night around 11 p.m. According to Fox News:

Publicist Cheryl Kagan told the Associated Press than Temple, known in her private life as Shirley Temple Black, died surrounded by family at her home in Woodside, Calif., near San Francisco.


2. Her Family Has Released a Statement

(Getty)

(Getty)

The Associated Press has reported that Temple’s family has released a statement upon her death:

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 fifty-five years of the late and much missed Charles Alden Black.


3. Shirley Temple Was The Most Iconic Child Star in Hollywood

In the 30’s, Shirley Temple beat out all of Hollywood as the box office’s biggest attraction. Above you can view the emotional ending to one of Temple’s most memorable movies The Little Princess.

Temple was the most successful child star to date and Fox News reports she was “credited with saving 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy.” Temple started out in show business by performing in one-reel feature film spoofs called “Baby Burlesks” for $10 per day. She soon blossomed into the “original child star.”

Many know her today from her movie The Little Princess or from singing the lyrics to “On The Good Ship Lollipop.” At least, that’s how I most remember the icon.


4. She Served As Chief of Protocol to The United States in The 70’s

Temple served as the Chief of Protocol under President Gerald Ford. According to Wikipedia, the definition of this position is:

The Chief of Protocol is an officer of the United States Department of State responsible for advising the President of the United States, the Vice President, and the Secretary of State on matters of national and international diplomatic protocol. The Chief of Protocol holds the rank of Ambassador and Assistant Secretary of State.

As President Ford swore Temple in for the position, he stated:

Shirley, it’s a great honor for me to have the opportunity of asking the Ambassador to swear you in to this very important post. It’s a great reward for the outstanding service that you have given, first as a Representative at the United Nations and, more recently, in Ghana, in Africa.


5. Years Ago She Changed Her Name

(Getty)

(Getty)

In her private life, she was known as Shirley Temple Black as she took the name of her late husband Charles Black. The couple were married for over 50 years.