Delta Burke had once been in the center of the spotlight with project after project lining up for her, but after leaving “Designing Women,” her fame and work also started to fizzle out.
After having almost not-so-successful projects, the actress decided to stay out of the spotlight and live life like a regular citizen.
Despite her many changes, her husband of more than three decades declared he would still love her no matter what. Here’s a look into Delta Burke’s life.
Delta Burke came into the limelight when she won the Miss Florida title in 1974. She went on to the Miss America Pageant, won a talent scholarship, and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
Burke got into film in 1979 when she starred in “The Seekers” and “The Chisholms.” However, she is best known as Suzanne Sugarbaker in the 1986 series “Designing Women.”
She started a production company that produced “Delta” and “Women of the House,” and Burke starred in both projects. Later, she started her clothing design company called Delta Burke Design.
Burke took the role of Suzanne Sugarbaker in “Designing Women” for five out of the seven seasons the show ran for because the show’s producers fired her.
After firing her, she said the executive producers, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and Harry Thomason, psychologically abused her.
However, the executive producers and the show’s stars said Burke made things difficult for everybody, so they fired her. Burke said,
“Basically, it became unbearable into the second season for me. By the end of the fourth season, I just couldn’t live like that anymore.”
Burke described the work environment as bizarre, and people didn’t believe her. She then went to ask for help from people who had power, and they didn’t help her.
Even though she missed her character after a few months, she said she had no regrets about being off the show. After over a year, she said she had gotten used to her weight but wanted to lose some pounds.
But after leaving “Designing Women,” she changed her looks and was reportedly looking heavier than before in the next series she starred in titled “Dayo.”
In 2012, while shooting her show “Counter Culture,” Burke fell. The fall led to the cancellation of the show. After that, Burke stayed out of the spotlight for some years.
Later, when she was spotted going out for lunch, she looked entirely different. In place of her signature bouffant hair was a brunette bob, and she ditched the vivid lipstick for a relatively makeup-free face.
The actress who suffered very public weight battles had also lost some weight. Besides weight problems, she had battled with depression, hoarding problems, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
In 2008, she sought treatment at a psychiatric hospital, and even though she wasn’t looking forward to any work, she felt more than happy with life.
Burke, who is healthier and happier, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However, she said her husband, Gerald McRaney, always reminds her what to eat and what not to eat.
Despite everything she and her husband have gone through, her husband will always love her no matter what. She said,
“Mac loves me no matter what. He loved me when I got as big as a house. He loved me when I was a blonde.”
She said her husband didn’t tell her he hated her blonde hair until she returned to brunette. He always loved her through any situation and still thinks her body looks great even though she feels it does not.
Burke and McRaney met in 1987 when she was a guest star on his detective show “Simon & Simon.” He knew he had competition, but McRaney was not ready to let her go.
McRaney asked her to marry him on their second date even though his friends were against it. They never wanted him to marry an actress, but McRaney knew only an actress would understand his work hours.
In 1989, they got married, and their marriage was McRaney’s third marriage but Burke’s first.
McRaney started acting in junior high school after injuring his knees during a football session. He was a guest star on “Gunsmoke: Hard Labor” before making his big break on “Simon & Simon” in 1981.
Burke and the “This Is Us” actor never had children together, but she became the proud stepmom to his kids from his previous marriages.
The couple worked together on different projects, and McRaney revealed that, unlike other couples, they do better when they are together 24/7.
My Husband Gifted Me Money for Breast Implants and a Nasty Note for My Birthday—I Taught Him a Harsh Lesson
Nikkie thought she had the perfect marriage until her husband, Jack, gave her a cruel birthday gift that shattered her self-esteem. Jack’s obsession with perfection pushed Nikkie to devise a clever plan to reclaim her worth and teach him an unforgettable lesson.
I’ve been married to Jack for over a year, but we’ve been together for six. Initially, it felt like a fairy tale. Jack was my best friend, my confidant, and the love of my life. Our relationship was filled with laughter, late-night talks, and a bond that felt unbreakable.
If someone had told me a year ago that my prince charming would turn into a superficial stranger, I would have laughed it off. But here I am, on the brink of unraveling a story that broke me to pieces.
It began six months ago when Jack’s innocent trip to the gym spiraled into an obsession that shattered my self-esteem and brought our once-perfect world crashing down.
It started subtly. Jack would scroll through Instagram, showing me pictures of fitness models with the “perfect” 90-60-90 figures. “Look at her, Nikkie,” he’d say. “Isn’t she stunning? Imagine if you had a body like that.”
I laughed it off at first, thinking it was just harmless admiration. But the comments kept coming. “You’d look amazing with a little more up top,” Jack said one evening. “Have you ever thought about getting breast implants?”
Each remark felt like a tiny dagger. I started to see myself through Jack’s eyes, and it wasn’t pretty. My confidence dwindled to nothing.
But the last straw came on my birthday a month ago. The day started with excitement. Jack woke me up with a bouquet of flowers and handed me an envelope. Expecting a heartfelt letter or a romantic gesture, I tore it open, only to find a stack of cash and a note: “Time to upgrade those mosquito bites.”
My jaw dropped. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, my stomach churning with disbelief and fury. Jack was beaming, expecting gratitude.
“Do you like it?” he asked, eager and oblivious.
“You want me to get… breast implants?” I managed to ask.
He nodded, missing the storm brewing inside me. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. You’d look amazing with a little enhancement.”
I swallowed hard, forcing down the bile. “Thank you, Jack,” I said, my voice steady. “This is… unexpected.”
Over the next few days, I played the part of the grateful wife perfectly. “I called the clinic today,” I’d tell him casually over dinner. Jack’s eyes would light up every time, not noticing the underlying steel in my voice.
Meanwhile, I was formulating my plan. Instead of booking a plastic surgeon, I used the money for a complete medical check-up. I deserved to know I was healthy, inside and out, regardless of Jack’s superficial standards.
With the rest of the money, I invested in myself. I joined a gym to feel strong and confident again. I didn’t tell Jack about my newfound routine. I woke up early, hit the gym, and returned home before he noticed.
One evening, as I was getting ready for bed, Jack caught me off guard. “You seem different lately,” he remarked. “I can’t wait to see the final result.”
“You’ll see soon enough,” I replied, smiling to myself.
On the morning of my supposed surgery, I left the house with a bright smile. “Wish me luck,” I said, giving Jack a kiss. He hugged me tightly, whispering, “You’re going to look incredible. This is going to change everything.”
“You’re right,” I said, a steely edge to my voice.
Instead of heading to a clinic, I pampered myself at a luxurious spa. Meanwhile, I had arranged for a locksmith to change the locks on our house.
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