Delta Burke was supposed to have it all. A breakout star of the 1980s, she charmed audiences as Suzanne Sugarbaker on Designing Women, her wit and warmth making her an instant favorite. But fame came at a cost—one the tabloids were all too eager to exploit. As Burke’s weight fluctuated, the media pounced, turning her personal struggles into public spectacle. Yet, through every heartbreak, one man stood firm: her husband, Gerald McRaney.
The cruelty was relentless. Tabloids branded her “Delta Bulk,” mocking her appearance while ignoring her talent. Behind the scenes, Burke battled depression and anxiety, often isolating herself for days. “I felt like a wounded animal,” she admitted. The stress triggered panic attacks so severe her co-star Dixie Carter would lie beside her to calm her shaking body.
Then came McRaney. They met when he guest-starred on Designing Women, and their chemistry was undeniable. He proposed almost immediately, and their 1989 wedding was a star-studded affair. While Hollywood obsessed over Burke’s size, McRaney never did. “He loved me at my heaviest,” she said. “That’s real love.”
When Burke was abruptly fired from the show, the rejection sent her spiraling. One night, she nearly ended her life—until McRaney’s voice on the phone pulled her back. With his support, she left Hollywood, moved to New Orleans, and reinvented herself as a designer and author.
Today, their love story endures. McRaney still calls her his “greatest blessing,” and Burke credits him with saving her life. In a world that tried to break her, their bond proved unbreakable.
