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Delta Burke

Delta Burke

Keynote Speaker: Actress & Comedian; Known For "Designing Women"

  • Speaking Fee:
    Live Event Fee: $50,000 - $100,000
    Virtual Event Fee: Contact us for details
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Delta Burke Biography

Delta Burke went from a very shy youngster to a household name as the persnickety Suzanne Sugarbaker on the hit TV show "Designing Women." Along the way, she overcame a lifelong battle with eating disorders to become a proud plus-size designer and model, inspiring women everywhere to accept their bodies just the way they are.

Burke's career started when she joined a local theater troupe and began entering every beauty contest she could, eventually becoming the youngest winner ever of the Miss Florida pageant at age 17. But even at this early age, the pressure to succeed started to take a toll. In the months before the Miss America pageant, Burke began to gain weight. In an effort to reshape her full-figured curves, she began popping diet pills, paving the way for a lifelong battle with eating disorders.

Burke didn't place in the Miss America contest, but her performance in the talent competition landed her a scholarship to a drama school in London. When she finished, Burke set out to fulfill her ambition of being a Hollywood somebody. She began landing minor parts and appearing as a guest star on many TV shows. It was during one of these appearances that she met the person who would change the path of her career: producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. In 1982, she cast Burke as a scheming ex-beauty queen in "Filthy Rich," a show co-starring actress Dixie Carter. Four years later, the three women teamed up again. Bloodworth-Thomason asked Burke to revive the ex-beauty queen character in a new series called "Designing Women."

The actress became the self-involved Suzanne Sugarbaker, and a TV star was born. The mammoth success of the sitcom had its downside, however. Relations between Bloodworth-Thomason, Burke and co-star Carter became strained, and Burke turned to food to ease the stress. Tabloids began publishing hurtful stories about her weight gain. In an episode entitled "They Shoot Fat Women, Don't They?," Burke got to bite back and address her battle with weight gain publicly and with dignity.

She received an Emmy nomination for the role as well as achieving five successful seasons on the air. In 1992, she appeared on her own show, "Delta." More recently, Burke co-starred in the Lifetime Original Movie "Going for Broke." Burke even teamed up with all five of her former cast mates for a "Designing Women" reunion special.

The actress has launched a successful plus-size clothing line, and continues to act. She has appeared on the TV comedy "Popular" as Cherry Cherry, oil baronness and mom to cheerleader extraordinaire Mary Cherry, as a guest performer on "Touched By An Angel" and "Any Day Now," and as a long-suffering mother in Lifetime's original movie, "Dangerous Child." Back on the small screen and finally at peace with her body, Burke encourages other women to accept themselves, whether they are size 6 or 16.

Burke has also tackled depression, a disease she now openly admits to struggling with for much of her life. Burke was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of 41, while she was struggling with her weight and depression.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Delta Burke and other top speakers and celebrities.

Delta Burke Videos

Delta Burke discusses Diabetes

How do I book Delta Burke to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Delta Burke for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Delta Burke, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Delta Burke or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Delta Burke for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Delta Burke, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $50,000 - $100,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Delta Burke, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Delta Burke speak about?

Delta Burke is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Obesity, Fitness, Personal Growth, Mental Health, Health, Diabetes, Overcoming Adversity and Acting.

Who is the agent for Delta Burke?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Delta Burke for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Delta Burke for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Delta Burke or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Delta Burke is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Obesity, Fitness and Personal Growth. The estimated speaking fee range to book Delta Burke for live events is $50,000 - $100,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Delta Burke can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jean Smart, Tracey Gold and Lily Collins. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Delta Burke for an upcoming event.

Delta Burke Videos

Delta Burke discusses Diabetes

Delta Burke News

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