A pert, sassy American TV leading lady and comedienne, Delta Burke, a former Miss America contestant, has kept very busy on primetime during the 1980s and 90s, most memorably as flirtatious but sometimes bitchy Southern belles. Burke's wide-eyed, rapid-fire line delivery and scene-stealing comic timing enlivened just such a role in "Designing Women" (CBS, 1986-91), a successful sitcom about four high-profile but highly diverse interior decorators. Unfortunately, Burke has also made tabloid news with her weight problems, her temperament-induced spats with producers, and her marriage to TV actor Gerald McRaney ("Simon and Simon", "Major Dad"). Her subsequent attempts to find a comedy vehicle have been unsuccessful. "Delta" (ABC, 1992-93), which featured her as a bleached blonde who moved to Nashville to pursue the dream of becoming a country singing star, did not appeal to a wide audience, nor did her reprise of her most famous character, Suzanne Sugarbaker in "Women of the House" (CBS, 1995). Burke returned to sitcoms playing the First Lady in "DAG" (CBS, 2000- ).
- Also Credited As:
Delta Ramona Leah Burke
- Born:
July 30, 1956 in Orlando, Florida, USA
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Job Titles:
Actor, Producer, Clothing designer
Family
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Adoptive dad: Frederick Burke.
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Mother: Jean Burke.
Education
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London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, London, England, acting
Milestones
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1978 TV-movie debut, the NBC teen comedy, Zuma Beach
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1979 Essayed first leading role in a TV-movie, NBC s Charleston as determined Southern belle Stella Farrell
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1980 Had featured role of Bonnie Sue Chisholm in the short-lived CBS series, The Chisholms
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1982 Cast as Kathleen Beck in the CBS sitcom, Filthy Rich ; also featured Dixie Carter in the cast
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1984 Cast as Diane Barrow, divorcee owner of a ramshackle football team, in HBO s comedy program, First and Ten
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1986 Played the sometimes selfish but usually soft-hearted Suzanne Sugarbaker in the CBS sitcom, Designing Women ; earned two consecutive Best Actress Emmy nominations in 1990 and 1991; let go from her contract at the end of the 5th season due to her contentious relations with star Dixie Carter and the shows creators
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1988 Acted with husband, Gerald McRaney in the CBS TV-movie, Where the Hell s That Gold?!!?
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1990 Served as a judge for the Miss America Pageant
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1991 Debut as executive producer with the TV-movie Love and Curses
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1992 Formed own production company, Perseverance Inc.
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1992 Starred (also co-executive produced) in the short-lived ABC series, Delta as an aspiring country singer
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1995 Reprised role of Suzanne Sugarbaker in the short-lived CBS comedy Women of the House ; also served as executive producer with Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
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1998 Published the non-fiction Delta Style: Eve Wasn t a Size 6 and Neither am I
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1999 Played recurring role as a teen s mother on Popular (WB)
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2000 Returned to regular series work co-starring with David Alan Grier in the NBC sitcom DAG
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2001 Headlined the Lifetime movie Dangerous Child
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2005 Appeared on Broadway in the play Steel Magnolias
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2006 Had a recurring role on ABC s Boston Legal as a former flame of William Shatner s character
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Began competing in beauty pageants at age 16; appeared in Miss America contest as Miss Florida