Delta Burke's Husband Asked to Marry Her on 2nd Date - He Helped Her Beat Diabetes & Still Stands up for Her against Critics

• Delta Burke, star of the 80's TV series "Designing Women," has always been called "fat" during her acting career.
• Over the years, despite the lack of roles and multiple health problems, she was fortunate to find happiness and love with her husband, who's nine years her senior in age.
• Having overcome many obstacles in her personal and professional life, Burke beams joyfully and is a riveting beauty at 66.

Delta Ramona Leah Burke, born on July 30, 1956, in Orlando, Florida, is an American actress, producer, and author. She's most popularly known for starring as Suzanne Sugarbaker in the CBS sitcom, "Designing Women," which ran for seven seasons from 1986 to 1993.

Created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, the comedy series also starred Dixie Carter, Annie Potts, and Jean Smart. Its storyline centered around the misadventures of four ladies and their handymen operating a design firm based in Atlanta, Georgia.

With its theme song, "Georgia on My Mind," and several moments of comic relief, the 80's classic show garnered immense praise and appreciation from the audience. Burke, former beauty queen, and Carter's charming sister, received two Emmy nominations for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.

Rumors started circulating regarding her suspension from the series "Designing Women" owing to the many issues she was a part of on the set.

While still a teenager, Burke represented Florida in the Miss America Pageant and was declared the recipient of a talent scholarship, under which she completed a two-year study program at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

When Burke turned to Los Angeles to pursue acting, she bagged her first TV role within a month. She appeared in the 1979 television movie, "The Seekers," followed by the show, "The Chisholms." She played the lead role in the 1982 series, "Filthy Rich," and starred in HBO's first weekly show, "1st & Ten," in 1984.

Burke also started her own production house, "Perseverance Inc.," and produced and appeared in the ABC TV show, "Delta," in 1992. She was said to have lent her singing talent to the show and even colored her dark hair blonde for her character.

The Florida native had a sweet reunion with Bloodworth-Thomason, creator of "Designing Women," when she produced and appeared in "Women of the House" in 1995. Burke reprised her role as Sugarbaker and was joined by Teri Garr and Patricia Heaton. Unfortunately, the spin-off series, comprising 12 episodes, wasn't renewed after season one.

Being one of the "fat women" on television wasn't reportedly an easy feat for Burke. But in many ways, she wasn't the only famous personality whose weight gain raised eyebrows and invited all sorts of comments and opinions from people within and outside showbiz.

Raymond Burr and Jackie Gleason were said to have ignored remarks aimed at their chubby physique. Roseanne Barr was said to have celebrated her bulky figure, carrying herself with pride and joy. Surprisingly, Oprah Winfrey underwent a transformation, leaving her fans dumbfounded.

But when it came to Burke, she was said to have resorted to a practical, brilliant, and forthright approach, using her expanded waistline to amplify her TV show's appeal. She starred in one of the most popular comedy series, which combined wit, sensitivity, and social issues, promising never-ending fun and joy.

In addition to her fine acting, Burke's weight caused a stir amongst speculators and tabloids, as she reportedly gained almost 30 pounds in just two years. Rumors started circulating regarding her suspension from the series "Designing Women" owing to the many issues she was a part of on the set.

Even her six-month-old marriage to her husband wasn't spared and allegedly declared a substantial part of the problem. But that wasn't all. The "Sordid Lives" actress was attacked by radio show hosts and comics, with a song, "Delta Dawn, how many pounds have you put on?" doing rounds at the time.

Although Burke declined to reveal her actual weight in the face of criticism, reports suggested she was nowhere close to the 200-pound mark discussed frequently in the newspapers and media.

To counter the attacks on her expanding waistline, "Designing Women" reportedly concentrated on Burke's high school reunion. In one scene, she tells her friends, Carter and Potts, what she has chosen to wear. She turns to them and says:

"I'll admit I've put on a few pounds here and there, but you two act as if I should be ordering fabric over at 'Georgia Tent & Awning.'"

At the reunion party, Burke was said to have overheard the hurtful remarks by a few of her former class fellows. One student labeled her the new poster kid for "Save the Whales," while a second said her former spouses had abandoned her because they couldn't find enough food to eat.

In the face of criticism, Burke refused to be affected by those who made fun of her weight. She noted how people were generally sympathetic toward those who struggled with drugs or alcohol but never hesitated to shame the bulky folks.

But Burke wasn't ashamed of herself or her figure, which was evident from her heart-touching speech after winning the "Most Changed" trophy at the reunion. Her words moved everyone present in the room, for which she earned a standing ovation. All in all, she radiated pure confidence and beauty on-screen and behind the cameras.

Besides Burke's response to being fat-shamed, the online community rallied in her support, sharing their thoughts on the subject. "I'm old enough to remember when Delta Burke was mocked as being 'fat' by the tabloids during the 'Designing Women' TV show run… and now I'm like, 'Whaaat???'" wrote one Twitter user.

"Remember when Delta Burke was considered really fat for an actress? And she wasn't. I was a kid at the time, and thinking it was [expletive] that magazines were so focused on her weight fluctuations," added a second user.

Burke shared that she was beyond happy to support her husband, mainly during his challenging time in the industry when he worked as the kind-hearted Dr. Nathan Katowski in the 2016 TV series "This Is Us."

"I've been watching Designing Women and it's brought back all sorts of memories of how much of a thing Delta Burke fat jokes were in pop culture. It was also a plot point in the show, which was progressive and feminist in some ways but in other ways has not aged well," commented a third netizen.

In an interview in 2017, Burke recounted details about meeting her husband, Gerald McRaney, and everything that led to their paths being intertwined for good. It was 1987 when the pair got together and had their first serious date, said Burke, who was about to begin shooting the second season of "Designing Women."

At the time, McRaney was busy with his 80's breakout show, "Simon & Simon," where he starred alongside Jameson Parker, Mary Carver, and Jeannie Wilson. The pair first met when Burke guest-starred in McRaney's show, after which he also played her ex-husband in "Designing Women."

It wasn't long before they fell in love and realized what they shared was unique and lasting. Burke said they were pretty committed from the beginning, as her then-beau, McRaney, proposed to her on their second date. What followed next wasn't hard to guess.

Delta's Husband Fills Her Life with Never-Ending Happiness

McRaney has also been vocal about his love for Burke on numerous occasions. "I wasn't going to let [Delta] get away. I already had competition. There were people asking her out on dates, and I was going to move in right away," revealed the "Promised Land" actor. The duo tied the knot less than two years later, in 1989.

Burke and McRaney jokingly explained that surviving their first Emmy Awards cemented their relationship. Seeing them together and going strong many years later, McRaney recalled people telling him he shouldn't marry an actress—something he never entirely agreed with.

The "Longmire" star shared that only actors could understand how insane working in show business could be, which was the case with him and Burke. While on the set, he had instances where he couldn't contact her until 2 in the morning, but she never made a big deal out of it.

Similarly, when McRaney wasn't in a good mood and had disagreements with the director or crew members, he said his wife listened to him so he wouldn't take out his anger and frustration on her.

Burke shared that she was beyond happy to support her husband, mainly during his challenging time in the industry when he worked as the kind-hearted Dr. Nathan Katowski in the 2016 TV series "This Is Us."

McRaney was nominated for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2017, and the appreciation meant the world to his wife. Burke admitted she had wanted her husband to be recognized for his brilliant acting skills for so many years, and when it finally happened, she was overjoyed.

An emotional Burke said she was incredibly proud of her dear husband and ecstatic that he had finally received the acknowledgment he rightly deserved.

When McRaney bagged his Emmy trophy and spoke fondly of his loving wife, Burke, she couldn't keep her tears from falling. "As a man, I've had the love of the finest woman I can possibly imagine," expressed the doting husband.

The "Major Dad" alum noted how she always accepted her wife's remarks when she appreciated his performance and even respected her critique because she knew what she was talking about. He said their healthy relationship and good partnership helped him to stay on track.

Delta Beams with Joy at 66

While Burke has been lucky to have a supportive and loving partner, she's been through stressful times in her personal life. In 1998, she lost her beloved grandmother and her adorable pet, Maltese; the same year, her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.

It was a time when Burke's acting career wasn't so rewarding, and she resorted to working on a clothing brand for plus-size women. The actress, who spent much time out and about, noted how she was always exhausted and felt something wasn't right in her body.

Consequently, she began seeing doctors and was told she had Epstein-Barr. However, Burke said she knew her diagnosis wasn't correct. After having her tests done, the TV star learned she had diabetes. While helping her mom with chemotherapy, Burke said she took her diabetes medicines but didn't monitor her diet.

Upon being told by her physician she would have to inject insulin if her blood glucose levels weren't normal, Burke became scared enough to jump into action. After that, the "Bridal Fever" star began a strict eating plan and kept her blood sugar in check. Not only was she able to control her blood glucose, but she also shed 20 pounds.

During an interview in the mid-2000s, Burke credited her husband, McRaney, for being her biggest support system during the difficult times. At the time, she lived with him and her mom, a breast cancer survivor, in L.A.

"[Gerald's] been great. It didn't matter to him how fat I got. He reminds me what I should be doing or shouldn't be eating. He likes to give me my shots and says it makes him feel like he's taking care of me," said Burke of her loving spouse.

Burke's journey to improved health wasn't easy, but she eventually learned to embrace her new routine, educating herself about eating in portions and choosing the best diet.

Burke, who was never fond of working out, revealed how she and her husband, who also survived lung cancer, loved walking. The "Melanie Darrow" star said she felt good about herself and knew she would be better over time because everyone around her, including her mom and husband, was healthy and happy.

In the 2010s, Burke's acting comeback suffered a significant blow when she had an unfortunate injury. More than a decade after the lackluster performance of the TV show "DAG," the once prominent and popular television icon decided to give her comeback one more shot.

Sources reported that Burke was set to star in "Counter Culture"—a pilot that Sony Pictures TV sold to ABC—which had chances of being turned into a complete show and becoming an essential part of the 2012-2013 lineup.

"Counter Culture" was set to be a live-before-a-studio-audience situation comedy centered around three sisters who took control of their family's Texas diner. The pilot included Margo Martindale, Kerri Kenney, and Doris Roberts, famed for her performance in "Everybody Loves Raymond."

Sadly, Burke had an accident while shooting the first episode, which made the series' fate highly questionable. Thereby, the pilot's timeline was delayed so much that ABC eventually dropped the idea, ending all chances of Burke's epic comeback.

Over the years, Burke has had a few prominent roles, including her appearance in the movie "What Women Want" alongside Mel Gibson. But regardless of her sporadic TV performances, fans shower her with love and appreciation.

"Delta Burke has always been beautiful," divulged one Twitter user. Another wrote, "It's also your chance to recognize how breathtakingly beautiful Delta Burke is."

At 66, Burke is a beauty and enjoys life with her husband of 34 years, McRaney. We hope this lovely couple continues to celebrate life and their heartwarming connection in the years to come.