Linda Susan Agar, also known as Susan Black, is an American celebrity daughter born on January 30, 1948. She is the only child of the marriage of Hollywood actors Shirley Temple and John Agar.
Linda Susan Agar became widely known because of her famous parents, especially her mother, Shirley Temple. Temple was a legendary child actress who later built a respected career in American diplomacy and public service.
This biography explores Linda Susan Agar’s early life, parents, siblings, family background, name change, and private lifestyle. It also covers her relationship with Shirley Temple and what is known about her life today.
Quick Facts
| Personal Detail |
Information |
| Full Name |
Linda Susan Agar |
| Also Known As |
Susan Black |
| Date of Birth |
January 30, 1948 |
| Age |
78 years old (as of 2026) |
| Place of Birth |
Santa Monica, California, United States |
| Current Residence |
United States |
| Nationality |
American |
| Ethnicity |
White |
| Mother |
Shirley Temple |
| Father |
John Agar |
| Stepfather |
Charles Alden Black |
| Half-Siblings |
Charles Alden Black Jr. and Lori Black |
| Marital Status |
Married |
| Known For |
Daughter of Shirley Temple and John Agar |
Who Is Linda Susan Agar?
Linda Susan Agar is best known as the daughter of actress Shirley Temple and actor John Agar. She was born into one of Hollywood’s recognizable families during an important period in American cinema. Her parents were already connected with the entertainment industry when she was young.
However, Linda Susan did not build the same type of public career as her parents. She eventually became known as Susan Black after taking her stepfather’s surname. Throughout her adult years, she preferred a quieter lifestyle and largely remained outside the entertainment spotlight surrounding her family.
Linda Susan Agar’s Early Life
Linda Susan Agar was born on January 30, 1948, in Santa Monica, California. She arrived several years after Shirley Temple and John Agar married in 1945. Temple was only 17 when she married Agar, making their relationship a subject of considerable public interest.
Linda Susan experienced major family changes while she was still very young. Her parents’ marriage developed difficulties, and they eventually divorced in 1950. Shirley Temple received custody of Susan after the separation. This meant that Linda Susan spent most of her childhood under her mother’s care as the family entered a new chapter.
Linda Susan Agar’s Parents
Linda Susan Agar was born to Shirley Temple and John Agar, two recognizable names from classic American entertainment. Their marriage connected a celebrated former child star with an actor who later became known through Western, war, and science-fiction productions.
The couple married in 1945 and welcomed Linda Susan approximately three years later. Their relationship did not remain permanent, however, and they divorced in 1950. Linda Susan was their only child together. Although their marriage ended when she was very young, both parents remained important parts of the family story associated with her name.
Her Mother Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple was one of the most celebrated child actresses in Hollywood history. She became enormously popular during the 1930s and appeared in successful films such as Bright Eyes and Curly Top. Her performances made her a major entertainment figure at a remarkably young age.
Temple later moved away from her childhood acting identity and entered public service. She developed a respected diplomatic career and represented the United States internationally. Away from these professional achievements, family remained an important part of her life. Linda Susan was Temple’s first child and her only daughter with John Agar.
Her Father John Agar
John Agar was an American actor whose career included several memorable Hollywood productions. Among the movies associated with his career were Fort Apache and Sands of Iwo Jima. Before establishing himself as an actor, Agar also served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
His marriage to Shirley Temple brought considerable public attention because Temple had already achieved extraordinary fame. Together, Agar and Temple welcomed their daughter Linda Susan in 1948. Their marriage ended approximately two years after Susan’s birth. Linda Susan remained their only child together following the divorce.
Shirley Temple and John Agar’s Divorce
Shirley Temple and John Agar’s marriage ended in 1950 after approximately five years. Temple cited mental cruelty as the reason behind their separation, while Agar’s alcohol use and extramarital relationships were also associated with difficulties within their marriage.
Linda Susan was only a small child when her parents separated. Shirley Temple gained full custody of her daughter following the divorce. The separation therefore changed Linda Susan’s immediate family environment at an early age. Her life soon changed again when her mother remarried, creating the family setting in which Susan would spend much of her childhood.
Why Linda Susan Agar Became Susan Black
Following her divorce from John Agar, Shirley Temple married businessman Charles Alden Black in 1950. Linda Susan subsequently adopted her stepfather’s surname and became widely known as Susan Black. This name remained closely associated with her as she grew older.
Charles Black became an important member of the household in which Susan was raised. Her mother’s second marriage also brought two younger children into the family. Although Linda Susan was biologically John Agar’s daughter, the Black surname reflected the family environment created after Temple remarried. Both Linda Susan Agar and Susan Black are therefore used when discussing her life.
Linda Susan Agar’s Stepfather Charles Alden Black
Charles Alden Black was an American business executive and naval officer. His professional life also included work connected with marine research, oceanography, business administration, and management. He married Shirley Temple in 1950, the same year her divorce from John Agar was completed.
Through this marriage, Charles became Linda Susan’s stepfather. Susan subsequently used his surname and became known as Susan Black. Charles and Shirley built a long-lasting marriage and expanded their family with two additional children. This household became an important part of Linda Susan’s upbringing after the breakup of her biological parents’ marriage.
Linda Susan Agar’s Siblings
Linda Susan Agar is the oldest of Shirley Temple’s three children. She has two younger half-siblings from her mother’s marriage to Charles Alden Black. They are Charles Alden Black Jr. and Lori Black. All three children share Shirley Temple as their mother.
Their family circumstances were unusual because they grew up with a mother whose childhood fame had reached an extraordinary level. Nevertheless, the children generally maintained much quieter lives. Charles Jr. became associated with business, while Lori developed interests in music and photography. Linda Susan similarly maintained significant distance from constant celebrity attention.
Growing Up as Shirley Temple’s Daughter
Growing up as Shirley Temple’s daughter placed Linda Susan close to an extraordinary Hollywood legacy. Temple had achieved worldwide recognition while still a child, making her one of the most recognizable entertainment personalities of her generation. Susan therefore belonged to a family already surrounded by considerable public interest.
At home, however, Shirley Temple placed strong importance on family life. Linda Susan later remembered her mother as devoted and generous while also being strict when necessary. Temple enjoyed cooking and entertaining guests at home. Her family particularly remembered her lamb dishes and mashed potatoes, showing a more personal side beyond her public achievements.
Linda Susan Agar’s Relationship With Her Mother
Linda Susan Agar shared memories that presented Shirley Temple as a committed mother rather than simply a famous actress and diplomat. She described Temple as generous and deeply devoted to her household. At the same time, her mother could become stern when her children misbehaved.
Family occupied a central place in Temple’s life. Linda Susan remembered that her mother enjoyed bringing people together and preparing meals for visitors. Temple was particularly proud of her cooking and regularly welcomed guests into her home. These memories reveal the domestic relationship Susan experienced with her mother away from cameras and professional responsibilities.
The Death of Linda Susan Agar’s Parents
Linda Susan Agar experienced the deaths of both of her biological parents as well as her stepfather. John Agar died on April 7, 2002, at the age of 81. His death was linked to emphysema after a long life that included military service and acting.
Charles Alden Black died on August 4, 2005, at age 86 from myelodysplastic syndrome. Shirley Temple lived for several more years before dying on February 10, 2014. She was 85, and her death was linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Their deaths marked the end of an important generation within Susan’s family.
Linda Susan Agar’s Private Lifestyle
Despite being born to two Hollywood actors, Linda Susan Agar did not pursue the highly visible celebrity lifestyle commonly associated with famous families. She instead remained largely outside the entertainment spotlight and made relatively few public appearances throughout her adult years.
This private approach distinguishes her from Shirley Temple’s remarkable public career. Temple moved from Hollywood stardom into diplomacy and remained a recognizable public personality for decades. Susan followed a very different path. Rather than building her identity through entertainment or regular media appearances, she maintained a low-profile lifestyle and kept most areas of her personal life away from public attention.
Is Linda Susan Agar Married?
Linda Susan Agar’s marital status is listed as married, although her personal relationships have remained largely outside the public spotlight. This fits the broader pattern of privacy that has characterized much of her adult life. She has not built her public identity around her relationships.
Her approach differs considerably from the fame surrounding her parents’ marriage. Shirley Temple and John Agar attracted substantial attention because both were associated with Hollywood. Susan instead maintained separation between her family background and her personal life. As a result, she is primarily discussed in connection with her parents rather than her own marriage.
Why Linda Susan Agar Stayed Away From Hollywood
Linda Susan Agar was surrounded by entertainment history from birth, yet she did not follow the highly public career path of either biological parent. Her mother had experienced fame from childhood, while her father developed a lengthy acting career. Susan instead chose a considerably quieter existence.
Remaining outside Hollywood also allowed her to establish a life without constant entertainment coverage. Her limited appearances and interviews helped keep many personal details outside the public conversation. Consequently, most interest in Linda Susan today comes from people researching Shirley Temple’s children, John Agar’s family, and the descendants of classic Hollywood personalities.
Where Is Linda Susan Agar Now?
Linda Susan Agar continues to be associated with a quiet life in the United States. Unlike her famous mother, she has generally avoided regular media attention and has not maintained a highly visible celebrity profile. Her public appearances and interviews have remained relatively uncommon.
Interest in Susan nevertheless continues because of Shirley Temple’s lasting cultural influence. People exploring Temple’s personal life naturally become interested in her children and family. Linda Susan occupies a particularly important place in that story because she was Temple’s first child and the only child born during her marriage to actor John Agar.
Linda Susan Agar’s Place in Shirley Temple’s Legacy
Linda Susan Agar represents an important personal chapter in Shirley Temple’s life beyond movies and diplomacy. She was Temple’s first experience of motherhood and remained part of the family as Temple transitioned through major changes in marriage, career, and public service.
Susan’s memories also help show Shirley Temple from a family perspective. Behind the famous childhood performances and diplomatic achievements was a mother who valued her husband, children, home, cooking, and family gatherings. Linda Susan’s story therefore adds a personal dimension to Temple’s legacy. It shows how one of Hollywood’s biggest stars balanced fame with motherhood.
Final Thoughts
Linda Susan Agar is best known as the daughter of Shirley Temple and John Agar, but her life followed a much quieter direction than those of her famous parents. Born in 1948, she experienced her parents’ divorce and later became Susan Black after her mother married Charles Alden Black.
She grew up alongside half-siblings Charles Alden Black Jr. and Lori Black while maintaining strong family connections. Rather than seeking Hollywood fame, Susan chose privacy and remained mostly outside public attention. Her story continues to attract interest because it provides another perspective on Shirley Temple’s family life and lasting legacy.
FAQs About Linda Susan Agar
Who is Linda Susan Agar?
Linda Susan Agar is the daughter of legendary actress and diplomat Shirley Temple and actor John Agar. She was born in California in 1948 and later became known as Susan Black after her mother remarried.
How old is Linda Susan Agar?
Linda Susan Agar was born on January 30, 1948, in Santa Monica, California. She is 78 years old as of 2026. Despite coming from a famous Hollywood family, she has mostly lived privately.
Who are Linda Susan Agar’s parents?
Linda Susan Agar’s parents were Shirley Temple and John Agar. Her mother became a legendary Hollywood child actress and later a diplomat, while her father was an American actor known for several classic films.
Why is Linda Susan Agar called Susan Black?
Linda Susan Agar became known as Susan Black after her mother married Charles Alden Black in 1950. She adopted her stepfather’s surname and grew up as part of the family Shirley Temple built with Charles.
Does Linda Susan Agar have any siblings?
Linda Susan Agar has two younger half-siblings, Charles Alden Black Jr. and Lori Black. They are Shirley Temple’s children from her second marriage to Charles Alden Black, while Susan was Temple’s daughter with John Agar.
Is Linda Susan Agar married?
Yes, Linda Susan Agar’s marital status is listed as married. However, she has kept her marriage and personal relationships away from regular media attention, following the private lifestyle she has maintained throughout adulthood.
Where is Linda Susan Agar now?
Linda Susan Agar lives a quiet life in the United States and generally stays away from Hollywood attention. She rarely makes public appearances and remains best known through her connection with Shirley Temple and John Agar.
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