33 Facts About Julia Child

Julia Carolyn Child was an American chef, author, and television personality.

Julia Child is recognized for having brought French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was The French Chef, which premiered in 1963.

Julia Child attended Polytechnic School and Westridge School from 4th grade to 9th grade in Pasadena, California.

In high school, Julia Child was sent to the Katherine Branson School in Ross, California, which was at the time a boarding school.

Julia Child played sports while attending Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, from which she graduated in 1934 with a major in history.

Julia Child began her OSS career as a typist at its headquarters in Washington, DC, but, because of her education and experience, soon was given a position as a top-secret researcher working directly for the head of OSS, General William J Donovan.

When Julia Child was asked to solve the problem of too many OSS underwater explosives being set off by curious sharks, "Julia Child's solution was to experiment with cooking various concoctions as a shark repellent," which were sprinkled in the water near the explosives and repelled sharks.

Julia Child was later posted to Kunming, China, where she received the Emblem of Meritorious Civilian Service as head of the Registry of the OSS Secretariat.

Julia Child joined the United States Foreign Service, and, in 1948, the couple moved to Paris after the State Department assigned Paul there as an exhibits officer with the United States Information Agency.

Julia Child repeatedly recalled her first meal at La Couronne in Rouen as a culinary revelation.

Julia Child joined the women's cooking club Le Cercle des Gourmettes, through which she met Simone Beck, who was writing a French cookbook for Americans with her friend Louisette Bertholle.

Julia Child translated the French into English, making the recipes detailed, interesting, and practical.

Julia Child would go on to publish nearly twenty titles under her name and with others.

Julia Child attracted the broadest audience with her cheery enthusiasm, distinctively warbly voice, and unpatronizing, unaffected manner.

Julia Child's second book, The French Chef Cookbook, was a collection of the recipes she had demonstrated on the show.

Child's fourth book, From Julia Child's Kitchen, was illustrated with her husband's photographs and documented the color series of The French Chef, as well as provided an extensive library of kitchen notes compiled by Child during the course of the show.

Julia Child had a large impact on American households and housewives.

In 1980, Julia Child started appearing regularly on ABC's Good Morning America.

Julia Child collaborated with Jacques Pepin many times for television programs and cookbooks.

Julia Child addressed these criticisms throughout her career, predicting that a "fanatical fear of food" would take over the country's dining habits, and that focusing too much on nutrition takes the pleasure from enjoying food.

Julia Child's kitchen, designed by her husband, was the setting for three of her television shows.

Julia Child turned the keys over to Jean Fischbacher's sister, just as she and Paul had promised nearly 30 years earlier.

That year, Julia Child spent five days in Sicily at the invitation of Regaleali Winery.

Paul Julia Child, who was ten years older than his wife, died in 1994 after living in a nursing home for five years following a series of strokes in 1989.

In 2001, Julia Child moved to a retirement community, donating her house and office to Smith College, which later sold the house.

Julia Child donated her kitchen, which her husband had designed with high counters to accommodate her height, and which served as the set for three of her television series, to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, where it is on display.

Julia Child died of kidney failure in Montecito, California, on August 13,2004, two days before her 92nd birthday.

Julia Child was opposed to endorsements, and the Foundation follows a similar policy regarding the use of her name and image for commercial purposes.

On November 19,2000, Julia Child was presented with a Knight of France's Legion of Honor.

Julia Child was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2000.

In 2007, Julia Child was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Julia Child was a favorite of audiences from the moment of her television debut on public television in 1963, and she was a familiar part of American culture and the subject of numerous references, including numerous parodies in television and radio programs and skits.

In 1996, Julia Child was ranked No 46 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.