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Linda Susan Agar is the daughter of Hollywood legends Shirley Temple and John Agar. Born in 1948, she represents the first chapter of Shirley Temple’s personal life after her iconic child-acting career.
Linda Susan grew up away from the spotlight, living a private life while her mother became one of the most celebrated figures in American entertainment history.
Quick Bio
| Details | Information |
| Full Name | Linda Susan Agar |
| Date of Birth | January 30, 1948 |
| Age (2026) | 78 years old |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Mother | Shirley Temple |
| Father | John Agar |
| Stepfather | Charles Alden Black |
| Siblings | Charles Black Jr., Lori Black |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Being Shirley Temple’s daughter |
Who Is Linda Susan Agar?
Linda Susan Agar was born on January 30, 1948, to one of Hollywood’s most famous couples of that era. Her mother, Shirley Temple, was already a global superstar by the time Linda arrived. Her father, John Agar, was a rising actor who gained significant attention partly because of his marriage to the beloved child star.
Linda Susan represents a deeply personal chapter of Shirley Temple’s life, one that included both joy and heartbreak. She grew up witnessing her parents’ difficult marriage and later experienced a stable family life after her mother remarried Charles Alden Black in 1950.
Unlike her famous mother, Linda Susan Agar chose to stay far from public life. She never pursued an acting career or any form of celebrity. This decision reflected a conscious choice to build a quiet, ordinary life away from Hollywood glamour.
Linda Susan Agar’s Parents: Shirley Temple and John Agar
Shirley Temple: The Greatest Child Star
Shirley Temple remains the most celebrated child actor in the history of American cinema. She began performing at age three, and by age six, she was a full box office sensation. Her curly hair, dimples, and natural charm captured the hearts of millions during the Great Depression era.
She received an honorary Academy Award in 1935 at just six years old, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to the film industry. Movies like Bright Eyes, Curly Top, and The Little Princess made her a household name around the world.
Shirley Temple later transitioned into a successful public service career. She served as United States Ambassador to Ghana and later to Czechoslovakia. She also served as the United States Chief of Protocol under President Gerald Ford. Her life after acting proved just as remarkable as her time in front of the camera.
John Agar: Linda’s Father
John Agar was born on January 31, 1921, in Chicago, Illinois. He served in the United States Army during World War II and later entered the film industry. His marriage to Shirley Temple opened many Hollywood doors for him.
Agar appeared in notable films, including Fort Apache, alongside John Wayne and Henry Fonda. However, his career never reached the heights many predicted for him. His personal struggles, including issues with alcohol, severely damaged his public image and professional opportunities.
His marriage to Shirley Temple ended in divorce in 1950. The split was painful and public. Agar later remarried and continued working in films and television throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
What Happened Between John Agar and Shirley Temple?
Shirley Temple and John Agar married on September 19, 1945. Shirley was just 17 years old at the time of their wedding. The marriage initially appeared to be a fairy tale union between America’s sweetheart and a handsome war veteran.
However, problems emerged quickly. John Agar struggled with alcoholism and was reportedly unfaithful during the marriage. Shirley Temple filed for divorce in 1949, and it was finalized in 1950. She cited mental cruelty as the grounds for divorce.
In 1949, John Agar was arrested for drunk driving. This incident caused significant public embarrassment and damaged his career permanently. Shirley Temple moved on from the relationship and remarried businessman Charles Alden Black in 1950, a union that proved far more successful and lasting.
Agar later expressed regret about how his behavior affected his family. He acknowledged that his personal struggles were responsible for the breakdown of his marriage to Shirley Temple.
Shirley Temple’s Two Marriages
| Feature | First Marriage (John Agar) | Second Marriage (Charles Black) |
| Duration | 1945 – 1950 (5 Years) | 1950 – 2005 (55 Years) |
| Children | Linda Susan Agar | Charles Jr. & Lori Black |
| Atmosphere | Tumultuous / Public Struggles | Stable / Private & Supportive |
| Outcome | Divorce (Mental Cruelty) | Enduring union until his passing |
Linda Susan Agar’s Life After Her Parents’ Divorce
Linda Susan Agar was just two years old when her parents divorced. She grew up primarily with her mother and stepfather, Charles Alden Black. Charles Black treated Linda Susan with great care and warmth, and the blended family reportedly functioned with genuine love and stability.
Shirley Temple and Charles Black went on to have two more children together, Charles Black Jr. and Lori Black. Linda Susan grew up alongside her half-siblings in a grounded household that deliberately avoided the excess of Hollywood culture.
Shirley Temple herself was deeply private about her children’s lives. She protected them from media attention and ensured they could grow up without the pressures she herself faced as a child performer.
Linda Susan Agar Husband and Personal Life
Linda Susan Agar married and built her own private family. She has kept details about her husband and personal life almost entirely out of public view. This level of privacy is consistent with how she was raised and reflects her own personal values.
She is believed to have children of her own, which would make them the grandchildren of Shirley Temple. However, Shirley Temple was similarly protective of information about her grandchildren, rarely discussing them in interviews or public appearances.
Linda Susan’s choice to live privately is widely respected. She never sought fame or media coverage, and she has successfully maintained that boundary throughout her adult life.
Did Shirley Temple Have Any Grandchildren?
Yes, Shirley Temple did have grandchildren. Linda Susan Agar, as well as Shirley’s two children with Charles Black, contributed to her extended family. However, Shirley Temple consistently protected the privacy of her grandchildren and avoided discussing them in public forums.
This protective stance was likely shaped by Shirley’s own complicated childhood in the spotlight. She understood firsthand the psychological pressures that public attention places on young people, and she worked hard to shield her descendants from similar experiences.
Linda Susan Agar’s Net Worth
Linda Susan Agar’s net worth is not publicly available. She has lived a private life and has never been involved in any publicly documented business ventures, entertainment work, or professional activities that would generate public financial records.
Her mother Shirley estate was valued in the millions at the time of her death in 2014. However, there is no publicly verified information about what Linda Susan may have inherited or her current financial standing.
Is Linda Susan Agar Still Alive?
As of 2026, Linda Susan Agar is believed to be alive. She was born on January 30, 1948, which makes her 78 years old. There have been no public reports or announcements regarding her passing. Given her intensely private lifestyle, confirmed details about her current health or whereabouts remain unavailable to the public.
Linda Susan Agar: Age and Birthday
Linda Susan Agar was born on January 30, 1948. In 2026, she celebrated her 78th birthday. She belongs to the Silent Generation, the demographic group born roughly between 1928 and 1945, though she sits at the very edge of the following Baby Boomer generation.
Little-Known Facts About Linda Susan Agar
She was named after her mother’s close circle. The name Linda Susan was chosen with care, reflecting the personal significance Shirley Temple attached to her firstborn daughter.
She never pursued acting. Despite being the daughter of two film industry figures, Linda Susan showed no interest in Hollywood. This stood in sharp contrast to her half-sister Lori Black, who pursued a music career.
Her father, John Agar, later rebuilt his life. After his divorce from Shirley Temple and his public struggles, Agar rebuilt his career in B-movies and television. He passed away on April 7, 2002, having made peace with his past.
Shirley Temple rarely spoke about Linda Susan publicly. In interviews, Shirley Temple discussed her children in very general terms, always protecting their identities and privacy. This suggests a deeply respectful mother-daughter relationship built on trust.
She witnessed history through her mother. Growing up with Shirley Temple as a mother meant Linda Susan had a unique vantage point on American political and cultural history, from Hollywood’s golden age to Cold War-era diplomacy.
Conclusion
Linda Susan Agar represents a quiet but meaningful thread in one of Hollywood’s most fascinating family stories. As the daughter of Shirley Temple and John Agar, she carries a remarkable legacy while having built her own identity entirely away from public life. Her story reminds us that the children of famous parents often choose paths defined by peace rather than fame, and that choice deserves full respect and admiration.
FAQs
What happened between John Agar and Shirley Temple?
Shirley Temple and John Agar married in 1945 when Shirley was 17 years old. The marriage deteriorated due to John Agar’s alcoholism and alleged infidelity. Shirley filed for divorce, citing mental cruelty, and the divorce was finalized in 1950. Agar’s 1949 drunk driving arrest further damaged his reputation.
Did Shirley Temple have any grandchildren?
Yes, Shirley Temple had grandchildren through her three children: Linda Susan Agar, Charles Black Jr., and Lori Black. Shirley Temple actively protected the privacy of her grandchildren and rarely discussed them publicly.
How old was Shirley Temple when she married John Agar?
Shirley Temple was 17 years old when she married John Agar on September 19, 1945. She had just finished her active child acting career and was transitioning into young adulthood when the marriage took place.
Did Shirley Temple have a child with Charles Black?
Yes, Shirley Temple had two children with her second husband, Charles Alden Black. They are Charles Black Jr. and Lori Black. Shirley and Charles Black married in 1950 and remained together until Charles passed away in 2005, forming one of Hollywood’s most enduring marriages.
Who is considered the greatest child actor of all time?
Shirley Temple is widely regarded as the greatest child actor of all time. She dominated box office rankings from 1935 to 1938, received an honorary Oscar at age six, and remains a defining icon of American cinema. Her influence on popular culture and her later diplomatic career cement her legacy as a uniquely extraordinary public figure.