When the world thinks of Shirley Temple, they picture bright eyes, perfect curls, and a little girl who danced her way into the hearts of millions during the Great Depression. She was the biggest star on the planet. But behind the scenes, Shirley Temple was also a mother. Her first child, a daughter, was born into this world of intense fame. That daughter is Linda Susan Agar. Unlike her mother, she chose a life completely out of the spotlight. This is her story.
Quick Bio of Linda Susan Agar
| Feature | Detail |
| Full Birth Name | Linda Susan Agar |
| Known As | Susan Black / Susan Black Falaschi |
| Birthdate | January 30, 1948 |
| Mother | Shirley Temple |
| Biological Father | John Agar |
| Adoptive Father | Charles Alden Black |
| Half-Siblings | Charles Alden Black Jr., Lori Black |
| Public Career | None (Private citizen) |
| Education | Stanford University (Reported) |
| Spouse | Roberto Falaschi |
| Children | Teresa Falaschi |
| Key Fact | Intentionally avoided the public spotlight. |
Who is Linda Susan Agar?
Linda Susan Agar was born on January 30, 1948, in Santa Monica, California. Her mother was, of course, Shirley Temple, and her father was Shirley’s first husband, John Agar. Her birth was big news. She was the first child of “America’s Sweetheart,” and the public was desperate to know everything about her.
From the very beginning, however, her life was different. While her mother had been working in movies since she was three, Shirley Temple was determined to give her daughter a normal childhood. The story of Linda Susan Agar is not one of Hollywood, but one of a quiet life purposefully built away from the cameras.
A Hollywood Family: The Short Marriage of Shirley Temple and John Agar
Shirley Temple married John Agar in 1945. She was just 17 years old. He was a 24-year-old Army sergeant. On the surface, it looked like a fairytale wedding. John Agar was handsome, and Shirley was beloved by the world. He soon started an acting career, and they even starred in two movies together: Fort Apache and Adventure in Baltimore.
But the marriage was not happy. John Agar struggled with the pressure of being “Mr. Shirley Temple” and also had a problem with alcohol. Their life was difficult. It was into this troubled home that Linda Susan Agar was born in 1948. Just one year later, in 1949, Shirley Temple filed for divorce, which was finalized in 1950.
A New Beginning: From Linda Susan Agar to Susan Black
Shirley Temple’s life, and her daughter’s, changed for the better very quickly. In 1950, shortly after her divorce, Shirley met a successful businessman named Charles Alden Black. He was a war hero and had no interest in Hollywood. He had famously never even seen one of her movies.
They fell in love and married that same year. Charles Black was a loving father. He officially adopted Linda Susan Agar, who was just two years old. From that moment on, she was no longer known by her birth name. She became, and still is, Susan Black. This name change was a symbol of her new, private life.
Growing Up Outside the Spotlight
The new family settled in Woodside, a quiet town in Northern California, far from the movie studios of Los Angeles. This is where Susan grew up. Her mother, Shirley, retired from movies to raise her children and be a wife. This was a gift she herself never had.
Soon, Susan had two new siblings. Her mother and Charles Black had two children together: Charles Alden Black Jr. and Lori Black. The three children were raised as a normal, close-knit family. They went to regular schools and had chores. This upbringing was the exact opposite of her mother’s famous childhood. This new life allowed Linda Susan Agar to grow up as just “Susan.”
Why We Know Her as Linda Susan Agar
If she has been “Susan Black” since she was a child, why do people still search for Linda Susan Agar? The name is linked to her famous birth. When she was born, she was the daughter of Shirley Temple and John Agar. The press and public records from that time all use her birth name.
As she grew up and her mother became a diplomat, Shirley Temple Black, the public slowly forgot about her first daughter. The name Linda Susan Agar belongs to the baby born in Hollywood, while “Susan Black” is the woman who grew up in private.
What Did Linda Susan Agar Do for a Career?
One of the biggest questions people have is whether she followed in her parents’ footsteps. The answer is a clear no. Having seen the pressures of fame, Linda Susan Agar chose a completely different path. She never tried to become an actress.
Instead, she focused on her education. It is reported that she attended Stanford University, graduating in 1971. She valued intelligence and privacy over fame and public life. This choice defines who Linda Susan Agar is: a person who saw fame up close and wanted no part of it.
The Private Adult Life of Susan Black Falaschi
Susan continued to build her private life as an adult. In October 1975, she married a man named Roberto Falaschi. At the time, he was reported to be an Italian diplomat. This match shows her comfort with the world of diplomacy, which her mother was also joining at the time.
After her marriage, she became known as Susan Black Falaschi. She and her husband lived a quiet life, supporting her mother’s political career and raising their own family. This privacy is so complete that there are almost no public photos of her as an adult.
Does Linda Susan Agar Have Children?
Yes, she does. Susan and her husband, Roberto, have a daughter. Their daughter’s name is Teresa Falaschi. Just like her mother, Teresa has been raised completely out of the public eye.
In fact, the obituaries for her stepfather, Charles Alden Black, confirmed Susan’s family. When he passed away in 2005, the obituary listed his survivors as his wife, Shirley Temple Black; his son, Charles Jr.; his daughter, Lori; and his stepdaughter, Susan Falaschi, and her daughter, Teresa.
Understanding Her Father, John Agar
While Charles Black was the man who raised her, her biological father was John Agar. After the divorce, his life continued in Hollywood, but his A-list status was gone. He became a star of B-movies, acting in many science-fiction and horror films in the 1950s and ’60s, like Tarantula and The Mole People.
John Agar remarried in 1951 to Loretta Barnett Combs, and they stayed together for almost 50 years until her death. They had two sons. When John Agar died in 2002, his obituary listed his survivors, including his daughter from his first marriage: Linda Susan Agar.
Her Relationship with Shirley Temple Black
By all accounts, Linda Susan Agar had a wonderful and loving relationship with her mother. She and her siblings were very proud of their mother’s “second act” as a U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. They were a tight-knit family.
When Shirley Temple Black died in 2014, Susan and her brother Charles Jr. helped manage her estate. They shared some of their mother’s personal items at an auction. In a rare interview, Susan spoke lovingly about her mom, not as a star, but as a mother. She called her “a wonderful cook” and a “devoted and generous” mom who was “all about her children and her husband.”
Where is Linda Susan Agar Today?
Today, Linda Susan Agar (or Susan Black Falaschi) is in her 70s. She continues to live her life in the same way she always has: with quiet dignity and privacy. She is believed to still live in Northern California, likely in or near Menlo Park, where she has lived for many years.
She does not give interviews, make public appearances, or have any social media. The public remains fascinated by Linda Susan Agar because she is a true mystery. In a world where everyone wants to be famous, the daughter of the most famous child star in history chose to be normal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Who is Linda Susan Agar?
She is the first and only daughter of the famous child star Shirley Temple and her first husband, actor John Agar. - Is Linda Susan Agar an actress?
No, she intentionally chose a private life away from Hollywood and did not pursue an acting career. - Why is she also called Susan Black?
When she was two, her mother divorced John Agar and married Charles Alden Black, who adopted her. She has been known as Susan Black (or Susan Black Falaschi) ever since. - Who did Linda Susan Agar marry?
She married Roberto Falaschi, who was reported to be an Italian diplomat. - Does Linda Susan Agar have children?
Yes, she has one daughter named Teresa Falaschi.
Conclusion
In the end, the story of Linda Susan Agar is defined by its quietness. She is a fascinating figure not because of scandals or movie roles, but because she had none. Born as the first daughter of the most famous child star in history, she was in a unique position, one that could have easily led to a difficult life in the public eye.
Instead, her life is a testament to her mother’s desire to provide a normal childhood and her own commitment to privacy. The journey from Linda Susan Agar, the celebrity baby, to Susan Black Falaschi, the private wife, mother, and Stanford graduate, is a story of choice. She successfully and gracefully avoided the shadow of her mother’s fame, building a legacy based on family, education, and dignity. While the world will always be curious about Linda Susan Agar, her greatest achievement is that the world knows so little about her.
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