Shirley Temple, the child actress icon-turned-US diplomat who was best known for her song “On the Good Shop Lollipop,” has died on Feb. 11, 2014. She was 85.
Temple was born on April 23, 1928 in Santa Monica, Calif, a seaside suburb straddling Los Angeles. Temple began her film career at the age of 3. Her first major break came in 1934 with family comedy drama Bright Eyes, in which she played Shirley Blake.
Her signature song “On the Good Ship Lollipop” quickly became popular, as her singing talents were recognized.
The following year, she received a special Juvenile Academy Award “In grateful recognition of her outstanding contribution to screen entertainment during the year 1934.”
She then went on to star in more than 40 films, most before she was a teenager, such as Curly Top, Heidi and The Little Princess throughout the late 1930’s. But as with most child stars, her career waned when she exited pubescence and entered adulthood.
Temple became a diplomat during the era of the Vietnam War, but she lost the congressional race in California in the 1960s. In 1969, President Richard M. Nixon appointed her to the United Nations. At age 44, she revealed she had breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy. She had remained out of the limelight since the 1990s.
Whoopi Goldberg has added her condolences to Temple’s family.
The actress has tweeted saying: “The Good Ship Lollypop has sailed today with Shirley Temple aboard a true 1 of a kind. If you don’t know her… google or YouTube her. R.I.P.”
American pop and country music duo The Bellamy Brothers added: “Rest in peace Shirley Temple”
The Good Ship Lollypop has sailed today with Shirley Temple aboard a true 1 of a kind. If you don’t know her.. google or YouTube her. R.I.P.
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) February 11, 2014
Olivia Munn has paid tribute to the brilliant Shirley Temple.
The actress, who has starred in Magic Mike and Iron Man 2, tweeted: “Rest in peace Shirley Temple.
— “The world is so much brighter because you were in it… ”
She made her screen debut at 4. She made more than 40 films, most before she was a teenager.
