Delta Burke's life took a dramatic turn when she was at the peak of her career. While starring on the beloved show Designing Women, her mental health spiraled out of control. Her depression became so overwhelming that one fateful day, she found herself in her car, surrounded by Xanax, holding a gun, contemplating ending it all. But fate intervened. Instead of pulling the trigger, she called her husband, actor Gerald McRaney. “I didn’t even know where I was,” Delta recalls, “but he found me.”
Now, as the couple prepares to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary on May 28, they reflect on their extraordinary relationship. Delta, now 67, credits Gerald for transforming her life. “For the first time, I truly love my life,” she says with heartfelt gratitude. “And I love him desperately. No one had ever loved me for who I really am—not my mother, not my grandmother. They always judged me based on how I looked. Gerald never did. His unconditional love saved me.”
Gerald, 76, met Delta during a guest appearance on Designing Women in 1987. Delta portrayed Suzanne Sugarbaker, a former beauty queen with an over-the-top personality. Like her character, Delta had a history in pageants, starting in high school. “This is where Delta and Suzanne are alike—both of us love crowns,” she jokes. But unlike Suzanne, Delta struggled with self-doubt. “Playing a confident character was a challenge for me,” she admits. “I never felt like I was good enough, so it took everything I had to portray someone who thought she was so fabulous.”
Read also:Ugi Budget Billing The Smart Way To Manage Your Energy Expenses
Struggling with Self-Destruction
Delta’s battle with her body image began early in her career. As a young actress studying in London, she turned to diet pills to stay thin. Over time, her tolerance built up, rendering the pills ineffective. During her stint on the TV series Filthy Rich in the early '80s, a friend introduced her to methamphetamines. “Crystal meth wasn’t widely known back then,” Delta explains. “I would mix it into my cranberry juice and go days without eating. But no matter what I did, they’d still say things like, ‘Your butt’s too big.’”
When Delta became a breakout star on Designing Women, the pressures only intensified. The media attention and the relentless focus on her appearance became unbearable. “At first, I was thrilled to be part of the show,” Delta reminisces. “I loved every minute of it. But as time went on, fame started to weigh on me. I just couldn’t handle it anymore.”
During rehearsals, Delta experienced terrifying panic attacks. “My entire body would seize up,” she describes. “Dixie [Carter], my co-star, would come to my rescue, lying beside me in bed, comforting me. They’d tell me how much they loved me. I was terrified these attacks would happen in front of an audience.”
Delta gained over 40 pounds while on the show, causing tension with producers and leading to cruel headlines in the tabloids. “When I was depressed in L.A., all I wanted was comfort food,” she confesses. “It wasn’t hunger—it was something deeper.” Her attempts to leave the show were rejected, and by the time she finally exited in 1991, she weighed 215 pounds.
A Lifeline in Love
Delta credits Gerald, whom she affectionately calls “Mac,” for helping her navigate through her darkest days. Their romance blossomed quickly. “I wasn’t about to let her slip away,” Gerald recalls. “I proposed on our second date.”
Delta, however, needed more time. Growing up without a father figure, she had developed trust issues. A childhood trauma involving a molestation incident and harassment during her pageant years left her wary of men. “I never trusted anyone,” she admits. “But Gerald was different. He accepted me for who I was, no matter my size or flaws.”
Read also:Frys Food Feedback Survey The Ultimate Guide To Boost Your Shopping Experience
The couple married in 1989, two years after they met. “The secret to a successful marriage is simple—marry Delta Burke,” Gerald jokes. “I’ve been married twice before, so I’m no expert, but marrying Delta was the best decision I ever made.”
Of course, every marriage has its challenges. In 2004, Gerald suffered a knee injury during a hunting trip in New Zealand. His wife urged him to see a doctor, and a routine X-ray revealed stage 1 lung cancer. “I had surgery on Monday after the diagnosis on Friday,” Gerald recounts. “My wife and modern medicine saved my life.”
Delta faced her own health crisis four years later when her depression medications stopped working. “I was taking five different drugs,” she says. “I hadn’t left my bed for two weeks. We knew something had to change.”
During her hospital stay, Delta confronted her lifelong struggle with hoarding. “I was ashamed to admit it,” she admits. “I had 27 storage units filled with everything from magazines to dinner rolls. It runs in my family—my mom had it too. But I’m working on it now.”
Building a Life Together in Florida
Today, Delta and Gerald call Central Florida home, where Delta grew up. “We love spending time outdoors,” Gerald says. “Fishing, shelling, going to the beach—it’s how we unwind.”
Though Delta occasionally takes acting roles, she’s grown disillusioned with the entertainment industry. “The joy of acting left me,” she reflects. “The ugliness that comes with the business ruined it for me. I withdrew from the industry because I no longer found joy in it.”
