Delta Burke
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Biography
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, 2000-01).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1978
TV-movie debut, the NBC teen comedy, "Zuma Beach"
1979
Essayed first leading role in a TV-movie, NBC's "Charleston" as determined Southern belle Stella Farrell
1980
Had featured role of Bonnie Sue Chisholm in the short-lived CBS series, "The Chisholms"
1982
Cast as Kathleen Beck in the CBS sitcom, "Filthy Rich"; also featured Dixie Carter in the cast
1984
Cast as Diane Barrow, divorcee owner of a ramshackle football team, in HBO's comedy program, "First and Ten"
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
1988
Acted with husband, Gerald McRaney in the CBS TV-movie, "Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?"
1990
Served as a judge for the Miss America Pageant
1991
Debut as executive producer with the TV-movie "Love and Curses"
1992
Formed own production company, Perseverance Inc.
1992
Starred (also co-executive produced) in the short-lived ABC series, "Delta" as an aspiring country singer
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
1998
Published the non-fiction <i>Delta Style: Eve Wasn't a Size 6 and Neither am I</i>
1999
Played recurring role as a teen's mother on "Popular" (WB)
2000
Returned to regular series work co-starring with David Alan Grier in the NBC sitcom "DAG"
2001
Headlined the Lifetime movie "Dangerous Child"
2005
Appeared on Broadway in the play "Steel Magnolias"
2006
Had a recurring role on ABC's "Boston Legal" as a former flame of William Shatner's character
Family
Companions
