Life can take unexpected turns, even when everything seems perfect. Delta Burke, the beloved star of Designing Women, found herself at rock bottom during the height of her fame. While playing Suzanne Sugarbaker, she spiraled into severe depression, culminating in a harrowing moment inside her car with a gun by her side and a bottle of Xanax. In a life-changing decision, she called her husband, Gerald McRaney, who she credits with saving her life. “I didn’t know where I was, but he found me,” Delta shares with heartfelt gratitude.
Delta and Gerald's marriage, spanning an impressive 35 years, is a testament to true love and unwavering support. As they celebrate their wedding anniversary on May 28, Delta, now 67, reflects on how her life has transformed. “I love my life truly for the first time. And I love him desperately,” she says. Gerald’s unconditional love has been a lifeline for Delta, offering her something she had never experienced before. “No one had ever loved me completely for me, not even my mother or grandmother. They would judge what I looked like. He never did,” she adds, her voice filled with emotion.
Gerald, 76, first met Delta in 1987 during a guest appearance on Designing Women. Delta’s character, Suzanne Sugarbaker, mirrored her real-life experiences in pageants, but unlike her confident on-screen persona, Delta lacked self-assurance. “It took everything in me to play a character that thought she was so hot to start with,” Delta admits. “I never thought I was good enough.” This struggle with self-esteem would lead her down a dangerous path.
Read also:George Clooney Talks Broadway Family Life In Nyc And Balancing It All
Delta's Battle with Weight and Addiction
As a young woman studying acting in London, Delta began taking diet pills to maintain her figure. Over time, her body built a tolerance, rendering the pills ineffective. During her time on the TV series Filthy Rich in the early '80s, a friend introduced her to methamphetamines. “Nobody knew about crystal meth at the time,” Delta recalls. She would mix the highly addictive stimulant into her cranberry juice, using it to suppress her appetite. Despite her efforts, the pressure to stay thin never relented. “I wouldn’t eat for five days, and they were still saying, ‘Your butt’s too big,’” she says, her voice tinged with pain.
When Delta joined the cast of Designing Women, the pressures intensified. The spotlight brought both joy and immense stress. “We do Designing Women, and I’m so happy to be there. I love everything. But then things started to change — that combined with becoming famous, I simply couldn’t cope with it,” Delta recalls. The constant scrutiny and media attention took a toll on her mental health, leading to panic attacks during rehearsals. “My whole body would spasm,” she describes. “Dixie [Carter] would get in the bed and lay beside me and pet me. And they would say how they loved me. … I was terrified it would happen in front of an audience.”
Delta’s weight fluctuated significantly during her time on the show, leading to tension with producers and unkind headlines in the tabloids. “When I would be depressed in L.A., it would be, ‘Let’s just have one Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese after another,’” she says. “It wasn’t about being hungry. It was about something else.” Her attempts to leave the show were unsuccessful, and by the time she exited in 1991, she weighed 215 pounds.
Unwavering Support from Gerald
Gerald McRaney, whom Delta affectionately calls “Mac,” has been her rock through life’s storms. Their relationship blossomed quickly after meeting on the set of Designing Women. “I wasn’t going to let her get away,” Gerald says, recalling how he proposed on their second date. Delta, however, needed time. Growing up without a strong male figure in her life, she had developed a mistrust of men, stemming from past traumas. Gerald patiently waited, earning her trust through his unwavering acceptance of her, regardless of her struggles with weight and self-worth.
The couple married in 1989, and Gerald credits their enduring bond to Delta’s unique qualities. “I think the secret to a successful marriage in my case is to marry Delta Burke,” he tells Closer. “I have done [marriage] twice before, so obviously I’m no good at it, but I think the key is who I have married.” Their journey hasn’t been without challenges, but they’ve faced them together. In 2004, Gerald battled stage 1 lung cancer, crediting his wife’s persistence for saving his life. “Medical science, the grace of God, and a nagging wife saved my life,” he says with a smile.
A few years later, Delta faced her own medical crisis when her depression medications stopped working. Treatment and a doctor’s reevaluation helped her regain balance. During this time, she also confronted her lifelong struggle with hoarding, a habit she inherited from her mother. “I’d always been way too ashamed,” Delta admits. “The stacks are getting better,” she says, highlighting her progress.
Read also:Gene Hackman And Betsy Arakawa A Love Story That Transcended Time
A Peaceful Life in Florida
Today, Delta and Gerald reside primarily in Central Florida, where Delta grew up. They enjoy a peaceful life filled with fishing, shelling, and beach visits. While Delta occasionally takes acting roles, she has grown disillusioned with the entertainment industry. “One day, it’s like the joy of acting left me,” she admits. “It had been ruined by the ugliness that goes, unfortunately, with a lot of the business. I just withdrew from the work because the joy was not there anymore.”
