The two-time Emmy nominee found solace in the steadfast support of her devoted husband as she faced public scrutiny over her weight. In moments of despair, when she contemplated suicide, he was the one she called.
A seasoned actress who gained fame on “Designing Women” in the 1980s, she endured relentless tabloid ridicule over her weight. After leaving her career behind, she battled depression and fought to reclaim her peace.
Despite her success, the actress felt intense pressure to conform to Hollywood’s beauty standards. In a desperate attempt to fit in, she resorted to drastic measures to lose weight.
Unaware that the weight-loss pills prescribed to her in London were illegal in the United States, she unknowingly became involved with illicit drugs. “They were like medicine to me: take them in the morning so you won’t eat. It wasn’t a recreational thing,” the star admitted in an interview.
When the pills stopped working, a dealer who had once supplied them introduced her to crystal meth and instructed her to snort it. Uncomfortable with that method, she mixed it into her cranberry juice instead.
At the time, the ideal Hollywood look mimicked Diane Keaton in “Annie Hall” — a style that didn’t accommodate her naturally curvy figure. The former Miss America contestant recalled the industry’s harshness, saying they treated serial killers “kinder than if you put on some weight.”
The scrutiny escalated during her time on “Designing Women,” (1986-1993) when tabloids fixated on her body, and strangers felt entitled to comment on her appearance.
Some even confronted her in public, with one person boldly flinging open her coat and saying, “Let’s see, how fat are ya?” The relentless criticism fueled her insecurities, reinforcing deep-seated self-doubt.
Years later, she realized how damaging those words had been. “I did look back at that and I realize I was beautiful, I was gorgeous, and nobody said that. All they said was what a pig I was.”
She wishes every young woman could recognize her own worth, adding, “She’s got power and she doesn’t know because they don’t want you to know it.”
The media’s constant obsession with her appearance didn’t just impact her self-image — it spilled into her career. As rumors about her weight gain circulated, tabloids spread false claims about trouble on set and issues in her marriage to a fellow actor.
Rather than avoid the topic, the actress addressed it directly in an episode of “Designing Women,” where her character, Suzanne Sugarbaker, is mocked at a high school reunion for her size.
Offscreen, the TV star admitted, “When all this started I was very hurt. I didn’t do anything to deserve this. Why are they so cruel?” To cope, she reminded herself that even legends like Elizabeth Taylor had endured similar treatment.
At 5 feet 5 inches, the celebrity refused to reveal her exact weight but dismissed exaggerated reports, “It’s nowhere near the 200 pounds they say it is.”
The mockery went past tabloids — even radio DJs ridiculed the Florida native with a parody song about her weight. As rumors spread, she felt attacked from all sides, with false claims about her suspension, ultimatums from CBS, and even accusations against her husband.
Overwhelmed, she stepped back from the spotlight, avoiding the media frenzy. Frustrated with her role, the actress worked with the show’s creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason to address her weight on the show. The emotional script moved her spouse to tears, and the studio audience responded with a standing ovation.
Realizing quick fixes wouldn’t last, she shifted her focus to long-term change. Self-defense classes helped rebuild her confidence, and she prioritized self-acceptance, believing that while perfection is impossible, growth and improvement are always within reach.
As she worked to regain control of her life, another battle emerged. Rehearsals became overwhelming, triggering episodes where her body convulsed uncontrollably. Terrified it would happen in front of a live audience, she found comfort in co-star Dixie Carter, who stayed by her side and reassured her with kindness.
While starring on the show, the actress put on over 40 pounds, straining her relationship with producers and becoming fodder for cruel tabloid stories. Seeking solace, she turned to familiar comforts. “It wasn’t about being hungry. It was about something else,” she explained in another interview.
As the pressure mounted, her depression worsened, pushing her to a breaking point. At the height of her success, she found herself alone in her car, swallowing Xanax with a gun beside her, contemplating suicide.
In that moment, she made one crucial decision — she called her husband. “I didn’t know where I was, but he found me,” the actress divulged.
The darkness she faced had become paralyzing. “The depression had gotten to her so much she could barely function,” her husband revealed in an interview, explaining that her fears of being fired and losing everything only intensified her struggles.
Desperate to regain control, his wife sought therapy, started medication, and returned for the third season. But the panic attacks began. “It scared the [expletive] out of me,” she admitted, crediting Xanax with helping her cope.
Determined to walk away, the actress pushed for an exit but was denied. Despite earning her first Emmy nomination for an episode that addressed her weight, tensions behind the scenes grew.
Backstage conflicts escalated, and by 1991, she was fired from the series. By the time she exited at the end of season five, she weighed 215 pounds.
Leaving the show reportedly due to a high-profile conflict with Bloodworth-Thomason, the actress continued acting sporadically for the next two decades.
With roles in “Drop Dead Diva,” “Counter Culture,” and “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings,” she remained in the industry but grew weary of constant tabloid attention over her weight and mental health.
Eventually, Delta Burke stepped away from Hollywood entirely. For Burke, the pressures of show business overshadowed her love of acting.
“She loved the process of acting, but it was all the stuff that went along with it” that led her to walk away, her husband Gerald McRaney explained in an interview. Unlike his wife, the veteran actor never stepped back, landing roles in “Deadwood,” “Longmire,” “This Is Us,” and “House of Cards.”
Now in “Paradise,” he acknowledged that he may be better at handling the pressures of the industry but recognized how frustrating it can be to see false stories published with no way to stop them.
Burke never found a creative outlet to replace acting and avoided public outings to escape media scrutiny. The fear of being photographed and seeing “ugly stories” online became overwhelming.
Seeking a fresh start while facing financial struggles, Burke and McRaney sold their Pasadena home in 1995 and moved to New Orleans.
She later launched a plus-size clothing line and toured in 1997 to promote her book, “Delta Style: Eve Wasn’t a Size 6 and Neither Am I.” Though she embraced her body, she still wished to be thinner.
That year brought unexpected hardships, including the loss of her grandmother and beloved dog, along with her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. Already down to 170 pounds, Burke was then diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
“I knew I had to lose some more weight,” she admitted in an interview. By 2000, she had maintained 150 pounds, the same weight she was when she met her husband.
Their love story, which began in 1987, had only grown stronger over the years. Burke met McRaney on “Simon & Simon,” and by their second date, he proposed. “I wasn’t going to let her get away,” he admitted in an interview years later. They married in May 1989.
When McRaney won his first Emmy in 2017, he credited Burke’s honesty in a joint interview, “When she says it’s good, I accept it… because she’ll tell me when I suck, too.”
Decades later, their bond remains. “At the end of a day’s work, I get to come home to her – that’s the fun,” McRaney shared. Burke added, “As nutty as we both are, we get each other.” During a vow renewal, she insisted they wouldn’t just accept each other’s quirks — they would embrace them.
Their marriage has endured serious health battles. In 2004, McRaney’s knee injury led to a doctor’s visit that revealed stage 1 lung cancer. He recalled having surgery just days later and credited his recovery to medical science, faith, and his wife’s persistence.
Meanwhile, in 2008, Burke’s depression medication failed, leaving her bedridden for two weeks. A doctor adjusted her treatment, helping her recover. While hospitalized, she also confronted her struggle with hoarding, admitting she once had 27 storage units filled with clutter but had since made progress.
Fast forward to the COVID-19 pandemic, she and McRaney left Los Angeles for Florida, seeking peace. “I knew that I just wanted to stop, so that’s what I did,” the actress revealed in an interview.
Now, she feels a sense of happiness and security she never had before, saying, “I know that I am safe and I’m loved. I didn’t feel that there.” After 35 years of marriage, Burke credits her husband’s unconditional love for changing her life. She shared that, unlike others, he never judged her appearance, saying, “He never did.”
Burke knows her husband’s love has never wavered. He stood by her through every change, from weight fluctuations to hair colors. Despite her own doubts, she said he still insists she looks great — even when she disagrees.
Today, Burke enjoys a quieter life, embracing her love for antiques and the peaceful home she shares with McRaney. They found their dream house fulfills everything she had ever envisioned. Grateful for her husband’s support, she treasures their life together, built on shared values and unwavering devotion. Public appearances are rare, but happiness has never been more present.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
