Theatre News

Shirley Temple, the 'original child star', dies aged 85

Temple remains the youngest ever person to have won an Academy Award

Temple won an Oscar for Bright Eyes (1934)
Temple won an Oscar for Bright Eyes (1934)

Shirley Temple, often called 'the original child star', has died at the age of 85, according to her family.

With her trademark ringlets, she started performing at the age of three and went on to star in a string of hit movies, including Bright Eyes, for which she received an Academy Award at the age of just six. She remains the youngest ever person to have won an Oscar.

After retiring from acting, she went on to have a political career including spells as US ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia.

Temple, whose married name was Shirley Temple Black, died on Monday from natural causes at her home in California.

"She was surrounded by her family and caregivers," a statement from her family said.