Julia Child

Julia Child (1912-2004), American cooking expert, author, and television personality. Child is credited with popularizing French cooking and cuisine in the United States through her books and television shows.

Born in Pasadena, California, Child graduated from Smith College and served with the Office of Strategic Services in East Asia during World War II (1939-1945). After the war she married diplomat Paul Child and lived for six years in Paris, where she attended the Cordon Bleu cooking school and acquired a wide knowledge of French cuisine.

Child first earned critical acclaim with her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking (with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle; 2 volumes, 1961, 1970). Beginning in 1963 she hosted several award-winning cooking series on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television network, where she became known for her exuberant personality and flamboyant style in preparing food. Child also released cooking videos and served as a newspaper and magazine columnist. She wrote a number of other popular cookbooks, including The French Chef Cookbook (1968) and The Way to Cook (1989). See Cookery.