Child Actress Shirley Temple Dead At 85

Shirley Temple, the child actress who saved 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy and became one of the most popular movie stars of the 1930s, has died at the age of 85.

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, CA, near San Francisco.

Born in 1928 in Santa Monica, Calif., Temple jumped into show business by performing in a series of one-reel feature film spoofs called “Baby Burlesks” for $10 per day.

In 1934, 20th Century Fox signed Temple to a 7-year contract that paid her $150 per week. Shirley Temple would go on to famously star in films like “Stand Up and Cheer,” “Baby Take A Bow,” and “Bright Eyes.” By the end of the year, Temple’s pay had been upped to more than $1,250 per week.

Between 1935 and 1938, Temple was America’s top box-office draw.