Most people know Shirley Temple as one of the most famous child stars in Hollywood history. But not many people know much about her daughter, Linda Susan Agar. While her mother lived a very public life, Linda chose to stay away from the cameras and live a simple, private life. Her story is interesting, touching, and full of lessons about family, identity, and personal choice.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Linda Susan Agar |
| Also Known As | Susan Black |
| Date of Birth | January 30, 1948 |
| Place of Birth | Santa Monica, California, USA |
| Mother | Shirley Temple (actress and diplomat) |
| Father | John Agar (actor) |
| Stepfather | Charles Alden Black |
| Godmother | Linda Darnell (actress) |
| Siblings | Charles Alden Black Jr., Lori Black (half-siblings) |
| Spouse | Burton James Tidwell |
| Children | Teresa Caltabiano (daughter) |
| Passed Away | Year 2000 |
| Nationality | American |
Who Was Linda Susan Agar?
Linda Susan Agar was the only child born to Shirley Temple and her first husband, actor John Agar. She came into the world on January 30, 1948, in Santa Monica, California. Her birth was a big event in the media because her parents were both well-known Hollywood stars at the time.
From the very beginning, Linda’s life was connected to fame. Her mother, Shirley Temple, had been a huge star since the 1930s. Her father, John Agar, was also an actor who appeared in movies alongside big names like John Wayne. But even with all of this around her, Linda grew up to be someone who did not want to be in the spotlight.
Her Parents: Shirley Temple and John Agar
To understand Linda’s life, it helps to know a little about her parents.
Shirley Temple became famous when she was just a little girl in the 1930s. She appeared in movies like “Bright Eyes” and “Curly Top” and became one of the most popular stars in America. Later in life, she moved away from acting and became a diplomat. She served as the United States Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia and was also the United States Chief of Protocol. She had three wonderful careers: acting, motherhood, and public service.
John Agar was a handsome actor who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He and Shirley Temple met in 1943, when she was only 15 years old. They got married on September 19, 1945, in a church ceremony in Los Angeles. Shirley was just 17 at the time. John went on to appear in films like “Fort Apache” and “Sands of Iwo Jima.”
Sadly, the marriage did not last. John Agar struggled with alcohol problems, and Shirley Temple filed for divorce in 1949, saying he was unkind to her. The divorce was finalized on December 5, 1949. Shirley was given full custody of their daughter, Linda Susan.
Growing Up After the Divorce
After the divorce, little Linda Susan was around two years old. Her mother, now a single parent, soon met a man named Charles Alden Black. He had served as a Navy intelligence officer during World War II and received the Silver Star for his bravery. He was a solid, dependable man, very different from John Agar.
Shirley and Charles got married in 1950, when Linda was about three years old. This gave Linda a stable home life. She gained two younger half-siblings from this marriage: Charles Alden Black Jr., born in 1952, and Lori Black, born in 1954. Lori would later become a famous musician, playing bass in the rock band the Melvins.
Linda also had step-siblings from her father’s later marriage to Loretta Barnett Combs. So she grew up surrounded by a big family, even though her early childhood was shaped by her parents’ divorce.
Whether or not Linda was officially adopted by her stepfather Charles Alden Black is not completely clear. But many people referred to her as “Susan Black” during her life, which suggests that she took his name and was treated as his own daughter.
Her Famous Godmother
One interesting detail about Linda Susan Agar is her godmother. She was named in part after Linda Darnell, a well-known actress from the 1940s who was her godmother. This shows how deeply connected Linda’s family was to the world of Hollywood, even if she herself chose not to be a part of it.
A Short Time in Acting
When she was young, Linda Susan did try her hand at acting. She appeared on her mother’s television show, “The Shirley Temple Storybook,” where she played two different characters. This was a brief appearance, and Linda did not continue in the entertainment industry after that.
Unlike many children of famous parents who try hard to follow in their parents’ footsteps, Linda decided that acting was not for her. She quietly stepped away from the cameras and chose a very different kind of life.
Her Personal Life
Linda Susan Agar married a man named Burton James Tidwell. Not much is publicly known about him or their relationship, because Linda worked hard to keep her life private. Together, they had a daughter named Teresa Caltabiano.
Linda’s mother, Shirley Temple, was very close to Teresa, her granddaughter. This shows that even though Linda chose to stay out of the public eye, her family bonds remained very strong.
In a 2015 interview with a magazine called Closer Weekly, Linda’s sister shared memories of their mother, Shirley Temple, as a parent. She was described as devoted, generous, and very family-focused. Shirley was known for her cooking, especially her leg of lamb and mashed potatoes. These small, warm details paint a picture of a close family that valued spending time together at home.
Why Did She Choose a Private Life?
This is something many people wonder about. Linda Susan Agar was born into one of the most famous families in Hollywood. Her mother was known around the world. Her father was a movie actor. Her godmother was a celebrity. Why did she choose to stay out of all that?
The answer seems to be very simple: she just did not want that kind of life. Growing up around fame, Linda likely saw both the good and the difficult sides of being in the public eye. She saw her parents’ marriage fall apart partly because of the pressures of Hollywood. She watched her mother build a life in politics and public service, always in front of cameras and reporters.
Linda chose something different. She wanted a quiet home, a loving family, and a normal life. And that is exactly what she built for herself.
This choice deserves respect. It takes a lot of strength to walk away from something that the whole world expects you to want. Linda Susan Agar showed that you do not have to follow your parents’ path to live a meaningful and happy life.
Her Passing
According to information from public records, Linda Susan Agar passed away in the year 2000. The details of her death were kept private, just like the rest of her life. She was survived by her daughter, Teresa Caltabiano, and grandchildren.
Her passing was quiet, much like the life she had chosen to live. There were no big news stories or long articles in the newspapers. She slipped away from the world as gently as she had lived in it.
Her Legacy
Even though Linda Susan Agar never became a famous actress or a public figure, her life still has meaning and value. She showed the world that it is okay to choose privacy over fame. She was a loving daughter to Shirley Temple, a caring mother to Teresa, and a devoted grandmother.
Her legacy lives on through her daughter and grandchildren, who carry the family name forward. And of course, she will always be remembered as part of one of Hollywood’s most interesting family stories.
Final Thoughts
Linda Susan Agar lived a life that was very different from the one most people might have expected for her. Born to two Hollywood stars, she grew up in the world of fame and glamour. But she chose to step away from all of that and build something smaller, warmer, and more personal.
Her story reminds us that a quiet life is not a small life. It can be full of love, meaning, and purpose. Linda Susan Agar found all of that, and she did it on her own terms.
She may not be a household name like her mother, Shirley Temple. But in her own way, she left behind something just as important: a story of a person who knew who she was and was brave enough to live that way.Share
10 Frequently Asked Questions About Linda Susan Agar
1. Who was Linda Susan Agar? Linda Susan Agar was the daughter of famous Hollywood actress Shirley Temple and actor John Agar. She was born on January 30, 1948, in Santa Monica, California.
2. Who were her parents? Her mother was Shirley Temple, one of the most famous child stars in Hollywood history who later became a diplomat. Her father was John Agar, an actor known for films like “Fort Apache.”
3. Did Linda Susan Agar become an actress? She appeared briefly on her mother’s TV show, “The Shirley Temple Storybook,” but she did not pursue acting as a career. She chose to live a private life instead.
4. Why was she also called Susan Black? After her mother remarried Charles Alden Black in 1950, Linda began using the name Susan Black. It is believed that her stepfather may have adopted her, though this has never been fully confirmed.
5. Did Linda Susan Agar have any siblings? Yes. She had two younger half-siblings from her mother’s second marriage: Charles Alden Black Jr. and Lori Black. Lori Black became known as a musician and played bass in the rock band the Melvins.
6. Who was Linda Susan Agar’s godmother? Her godmother was Linda Darnell, a well-known actress from the 1940s. Linda Susan was named partly in her honor.
7. Did Linda Susan Agar get married? Yes. She married a man named Burton James Tidwell. The couple had a daughter named Teresa Caltabiano.
8. Was Linda Susan Agar close to her mother, Shirley Temple? Yes, they had a very close relationship. Shirley Temple was also close to her granddaughter, Teresa. In a magazine interview, Shirley was described as a devoted and loving mother who put her family first.
9. When did Linda Susan Agar pass away? Linda Susan Agar passed away in the year 2000. The details of her death were kept private, in keeping with the way she had always lived her life.
10. What is Linda Susan Agar’s legacy? Her legacy is one of quiet strength and personal choice. She showed that even when born into great fame, a person can choose their own path. She is remembered as a caring daughter, mother, and grandmother.
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