Child, Julia (1912–2004)
Child, Julia (1912–2004)
American chef, culinary-arts writer and tv personality. Born Julia Carolyn McWilliams in Pasadena, California, Aug 15, 1912; died April 13, 2004, in Santa Barbara, California; dau. of John and Carolyn (Weston) McWilliams; Smith College, BA, 1934; studied at Cordon Bleu; m. Paul Child (artist-sculptor), Sept 1946 (died May 1994).
Cooking teacher, cookbook author, and tv personality who pioneered the epicurean cooking revolution in US (1960s–70s), taking the mystery out of the preparation of French cuisine; with French chefs Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, published Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961); launched PBS cooking show, "The French Chef," which ran for 9 years; published The French Chef Cookbook (1968); her 7 subsequent tv programs (including a 2nd series of "The French Chef" and "Baking with Julia"), as well as 6 one-hour videos called The Way to Cook, provided the basis for 9 additional cookbooks; with vintner Robert Mondavi, founded American Institute of Wine & Food (1981). Received France's National Order of Merit (1976); won Peabody Award (1966) and Emmy (1966) for "The French Chef" series.
See also Noël Riley Fitch, Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child (Doubleday, 1997); and Women in World History.