Child actress Shirley Temple Black, born April 23, 1928, rose to fame in the 1930s thanks in part to her ringlet curls, dimpled smile and tap dancing. After her career as Hollywood's biggest little star, she became a U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia, as well as Chief of Protocol of the United States. On Feb. 10, 2014, Shirley Temple Black died at the age of 85. Take a look back at the celebrated life and career of child actress-turned-diplomat Shirley Temple Black.
Shirley Temple’s big screen breakout occurred when she was just two years old, appearing in 1932’s “Red Haired Alibi.” The actress became a fan favorite during the Great Depression, appearing in almost 40 films during the 1930s. Here, she appears in a photo for the film “Little Miss Marker” in 1933.
Her bright eyes and infectious smile made Shirley Temple a household name. Here, the young actress poses for a shot at home, taken when she was five years old.
The young star curtseys in the film “Stand Up and Cheer” in 1934. Temple was multitalented, singing and dancing in films such as “Bright Eyes” and “Curly Top.”
Dressed in festive fur, a young Shirley Temple holds on to a stuffed bear almost as tall as she is in a holiday snap, circa 1935.
Shirley Temple appears in costume in a photograph from the film, “Poor Little Rich Girl,” in 1936.
Shirley Temple stars with actor Robert Young in the 1936 Hollywood film, “Stowaway.”
The former child star’s impish grin helped to cement her as one of the most iconic figures in Hollywood history.
Sporting her signature curls, Shirley Temple arrives at the Hollywood premiere for the film “Wee Willie Winkie” in 1937.
The young actress was consistently one of the top movie stars during the ’30s, appearing in more than 20 films between 1934 and 1938 alone.
Accompanied by her parents and her dolls, Shirley Temple boards a ship en route to Bermuda in 1938 during the height of her fame.
Shirley Temple poses with Cary Grant on the set of “The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer” in 1947. Temple’s acting career waned as she became a teenager.
Shirley Temple married her first husband, Sgt. John Agar Jr., on Sept. 19, 1945, in Hollywood. The couple was married for only four years and had one child together. The actress then married Charles Alden Black in 1950. The couple had two children and remained married until his 2005 death.
Shirley Temple and Sgt. John Agar Jr. cut their wedding cake at the Temple estate on Sept. 19, 1945.
Actor John Agar embraces Shirley Temple in the 1948 movie, “Fort Apache.”
Shirley Temple and her first husband John Agar pose for a family portrait together with their three-month-old daughter, Linda Susan, in 1948.
This photo, taken in May 1957, shows the actress relaxing at home in Atherton, Calif., with her young son, Charles.
Shirley Temple enjoyed some story time with a doll made in her likeness while at the Savoy Plaza Hotel in New York in 1958.
Shirley Temple: Story book queen! The child star was all grown up when she rode atop a float fit for a princess in the 1959 Macy’s Parade.
Shirley Temple is sworn in as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations on Sept. 15, 1969. She served as delegate in Ghana, and later Czechoslovakia.
Shirley Temple speaks at a press conference at the United Nations on Sept. 16, 1969.
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger greets Shirley Temple after she is sworn in as the new U.S. Ambassador to Ghana during a ceremony in Washington on Sept. 20, 1974.
Shirley Temple speaks at the Fetu Festival in Cape Coast, Ghana, on Sept. 24, 1975.
President Bill Clinton greets Shirley Temple in 1998. The former child star was praised for her work as a U.S. ambassador. “It’s certainly two different career tracks, both completely different but both very rewarding, personally,” Temple said during a 1996 interview.
Shirley Temple Black waves to the crowd after accepting the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award on Jan. 29, 2006.
