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.
10 Hairstyles That Can Ruin Even a Flawless Look
Even the most elaborate look can be spoiled by a bad hairstyle which can easily make you look 10 years older, distort your facial features or even your body. We’ve put together 10 hairstyles that are worth avoiding.
Contrasting coloring
Contrast coloring is considered outdated. Nowadays, more natural and soft transitions are in vogue. Smooth and barely noticeable accents on individual strands look much more refined and sophisticated, adding freshness to your look and volume to your hair.
Blunt bob with baby bangs
Recently, some celebrities returned to a controversial trend from the 1990s and got very short bangs. However, stylists believe that women after 40 should avoid baby bangs because these can make them look older.
Straight bangs that reach eyebrows
Many people believe that these bangs help you visually correct the height of the forehead and make the face more symmetrical. But it can play a bad joke on your appearance — it can visually age a person and steal hair volume.
Complicated braids
We are used to seeing Rosamund Pike with short, straight hair. But recently, the actress appeared in public with a slightly longer hairstyle. But it doesn’t always look up-to-date, like these braids, for example.
Currently, complicated braids are giving way to simpler hairstyles. The more natural and careless hairstyle with braids is better.
Unnatural hair coloring
Hilary Duff decided to make drastic changes in her looks after the divorce from her first husband, and we can understand that. But bright, unnatural colors, like blue, green, or pink, are becoming less and less popular. More muted shades that emphasize individuality without being too extravagant are in fashion now.
Middle-parted, chin-length bobm
Hair stylists believe that this bob often emphasizes fine lines, wrinkles and signs of thinning hair on mature women. It’s best to opt for a bob with a side parting or a pixie cut.
Bob with blunt bangs
Experts believe that this haircut can visually add age. The length of the bangs is key here. If it covers the eyebrows, it highlights signs of aging. In addition, the jaw seems more massive than it really is.
Shaved sides
Haircuts with shaved sides were at the peak of popularity 15 years ago, but now they are losing their positions. Many people believe that this type of haircut distorts the appearance.
But Tilda Swinton just loves short haircuts and has stayed loyal to them for many years. Let’s look at the photos above: in the left photo, the actress’s sides look too short, while in the right photo, the hair softly frames her face.Thick side-swept bangs
Thick side-swept bangs
These bangs tend to distort facial features because they can easily cover one eye. In addition, they draw attention to skin imperfections.
Mallet
The mallet hairstyle can be roughly described as «shorter in the front, longer in the back.» Modern fashion trends tend to favor more harmonious and versatile haircuts that can be easily adapted to different looks.
And here are hairstyle tips that can help you enhance your facial features.
Preview photo credit Invision/Invision/East News, zz/Pluto/STAR MAX/IPx/Associated Press/East News, Vianney Le Caer/Invision/East News
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