Julia Child

Julia Child (1912–2004) was an American chef, author, and television personality who helped popularize French cuisine in the United States. Born in Pasadena, California, she worked for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II and later moved to France, where she studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. With Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, she co-wrote *Mastering the Art of French Cooking* (1961), a landmark cookbook for American home cooks. Child became a household name through her public-television series *The French Chef*, noted for its approachable instruction and humor. She went on to write additional cookbooks and host further cooking programs.