Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Charles Alden Black Jr. |
| Also Known As | Charles Black Jr. |
| Born | April 1952; reported as April 24 or April 28 |
| Birthplace | Bethesda/Washington, D.C. area |
| Parents | Shirley Temple Black (1928–2014), Charles Alden Black (d. 2005) |
| Siblings | Lori Black (sister), Linda Susan “Susan” Agar (half-sister) |
| Occupation | Real estate professional (San Francisco Bay Area) |
| Notable Appearance | Child appearance on Shirley Temple’s Storybook (1958) |
| Primary Residence/Roots | San Francisco Peninsula (Atherton/Woodside/Palo Alto area) |
| Education (reported) | Political Science studies, Santa Clara University (degree not publicly confirmed) |
| Public Footprint | Family photos, interviews, and listings tied to parent obituaries and retrospectives |
| Controversies | None widely reported |
Early Life and Family Roots
Charles Alden Black Jr. entered the world in April 1952, during a period when his father had been recalled to active Naval duty on the East Coast. The exact day—April 24 or April 28—appears inconsistently across public records, a small but telling reminder that this is a life lived mostly outside the limelight. After the Korean War era, the family returned west, settling into the San Francisco Peninsula. The household—anchored by a world-famous mother and a quietly accomplished father—blended celebrity with everyday rhythms.
His mother, Shirley Temple Black, was a global phenomenon as a child actress before turning to diplomacy and public service. His father, Charles Alden Black, was a Navy intelligence officer and businessman deeply involved in oceanography and aquaculture. Together, they cultivated a family culture that made room for both ceremony and simplicity. His sister, Lori, would carve out her own identity in music during the 1980s and 1990s. His half-sister, Susan, Shirley’s daughter from her first marriage, grew up within the same family orbit on the Peninsula.
Growing Up on the Peninsula
The Peninsula—Atherton, Woodside, and Palo Alto—was the backdrop to Charles Jr.’s childhood and adulthood alike. In a region defined by redwood shadows and the hum of innovation, he experienced both quiet neighborhood life and the occasional flash of public attention. Family snapshots and event photos across decades show him alongside his parents and sisters, the camera catching him in those fleeting, formal moments that punctuate private lives.
He was, by birthright, adjacent to legend. Yet his family was known to prize normalcy. Community, school, and home shaped his daily experience more than premieres or press junkets. The Bay Area’s cadence—a mix of understated affluence and intellectual curiosity—suited him.
A Name in the Credits, Not the Spotlight
In 1958, Charles Jr. was credited with a childhood appearance on Shirley Temple’s Storybook, a gentle nod to the family’s television orbit. It was a footnote, not a launchpad. Unlike the child stardom that defined his mother’s early years, his trajectory led back to the Peninsula and toward a career built in the everyday marketplace of homes and neighborhoods.
He would surface in photographs and occasional interviews connected to his parents’ public milestones, but he chose a quieter life. When asked about his mother, he has reflected on her warmth and her insistence on normal routines—an extraordinary figure who valued ordinary virtues.
Work and Community in the Bay Area
As an adult, Charles Jr. built his professional identity in real estate, a field rooted in relationships, local knowledge, and trust. He has been listed with prominent Bay Area brokerages, including firms like Alain Pinel (later absorbed into Compass), and appears in regional directories and agent profiles tied to Silicon Valley and Peninsula communities. Real estate is a wide‑ranging profession—part counselor, part strategist, part neighbor—and his long presence in the area meshes naturally with that role.
Publicly, there is no reliable figure attached to his personal net worth. Unlike the glossy speculation often attached to celebrity families, available information around his finances remains appropriately modest and private.
Education: What’s Known and What’s Reported
Several secondary profiles have circulated the note that he studied political science at Santa Clara University in the 1970s. It’s plausible, given geography and family ties to Bay Area institutions, but not publicly confirmed by an official alumni record easily accessible today. In his case, as in many, the absence of definitive, primary confirmation has allowed repetition to masquerade as certainty. The most responsible approach is simple: mark it as reported, and leave room for the unknown.
Media Glimpses and a Shielded Private Life
Occasional interviews, family press moments, and archival photographs keep Charles Jr. in the public eye just enough for people to place a face with the name. Yet his public presence remains more echo than broadcast—a life lived with the volume turned down. This has preserved room for his own choices, away from the turbulence that sometimes accompanies famous surnames.
When his father passed in 2005 and his mother in 2014, he appeared among family members honoring their lives. These moments, solemn and communal, underscored a family story that is as much about loyalty and service as it is about fame.
Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1952 | Born in the Bethesda/Washington, D.C. area (reported as April 24 or April 28). |
| 1954 | Sister Lori Black is born. |
| 1958 | Child appearance credited on Shirley Temple’s Storybook. |
| 1960s–1970s | Grows up on the San Francisco Peninsula; reported studies in political science (degree not publicly confirmed). |
| 2005 | Father, Charles Alden Black, passes away. |
| 2014 | Mother, Shirley Temple Black, passes away at age 85. |
| 2010s–2020s | Public listings continue to associate him with Bay Area real estate. |
The Family Table
| Family Member | Relationship | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| Shirley Temple Black | Mother | Iconic child actress; later diplomat and public servant; 1928–2014. |
| Charles Alden Black (Sr.) | Father | Navy intelligence officer; businessman; oceanography/aquaculture; died 2005. |
| Lori Black | Sister | Musician; bassist known for work with Clown Alley and the Melvins. |
| Linda Susan “Susan” Agar | Half-sister | Daughter from Shirley Temple’s first marriage; part of the blended family raised on the Peninsula. |
What’s Clear—and What Isn’t
Some lives read like a ledger: dates, roles, and revenues lined up in crisp columns. Others, like Charles Alden Black Jr.’s, are more like a watercolor—edges softening with time, a few details left to the viewer’s imagination. It’s clear that he is the son of two accomplished parents, a Peninsula fixture, a real estate professional, and an occasional figure in family retrospectives. It’s less clear, at least in public records, exactly which April day he was born or whether he completed a particular degree at a particular time.
In an era that often tries to quantify everything, his story resists conversion into numbers. Perhaps that’s the point. Not every legacy needs to be tallied to be real.
FAQ
Was Charles Alden Black Jr. born on April 24 or April 28, 1952?
Both dates appear in public records; the precise day is inconsistently reported.
Where was he born?
He was born in the Bethesda/Washington, D.C. area while his father was on active Naval duty.
What is his profession?
He is a real estate professional associated with the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly the Peninsula.
Did he act like his mother?
He has a childhood credit on Shirley Temple’s Storybook (1958), but he did not pursue an acting career.
Who are his siblings?
His sister is Lori Black, a musician, and his half-sister is Linda Susan “Susan” Agar.
Did he attend Santa Clara University?
It is reported that he studied political science there, but a publicly confirmed degree record is not readily available.
Is there a verified net worth for him?
No reliable public estimate exists; his financial details remain private.
Has he been involved in public controversies?
There are no widely reported controversies tied to him.
Where did he grow up?
He was raised on the San Francisco Peninsula, in communities such as Atherton, Woodside, and Palo Alto.
How does he engage with his family’s legacy?
He appears in family photos and occasional interviews tied to his parents’ lives, offering measured, personal reflections while maintaining a low public profile.
