Marilyn Monroe was born in LA on June 1, 1926 and tragically died in LA on August 5 1962, aged only 36.
Her true name was Norma Jeane Mortensen and her childhood was troubled. Her Mother was eventually placed in an institution for the mentally ill and she spent much of her childhood years in foster care, where she was allegedly abused.
This led to her dropping out of high school at 15 and getting married for the first time at the age of only 16 in the summer of 1942.
By the time her husband returned from the Army in 1946, Marilyn had a successful modelling career and had created her stage name, Marilyn Monroe. Her marriage could not withstand her career and she both signed her first movie contract and her first divorce papers later that year.
Marilyn's acting career, however, did not take off properly until the 1950's. Niagara (1953) attracted a lot of attention, after Marilyn portrayed a woman trying to kill her husband, with the help of her lover.
In 1954, she married baseball star Joe Demaggio - but divorced him only 9 months later, stating career clashes. In 1956, she married Arthur Miller (Death of a Salesman) - then divorced for the third time, in 1961. She also famously dated Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra.
During many of her early 50's films, Marilyn played frivolous, comedic roles - something she quickly tired of and wished to be taken more seriously as an actress. She moved to New York in 1956 and embarked on more serious roles; before taking part in comedies again during the late 50's.
It was a good move - she won a Golden Globe for her part in Some Like it Hot (1959).
In 1961, she filmed her last ever completed movie, The Misfits, which did not do well at the Box Office. She went on to start filming Something's Got to Give in 1962... but was released from her contract, due to missing too many days of shooting. By this point, Marilyn had a reputation for being fabulous, effervescent and always, always late.
In May 1962, it was rumored that Marilyn was having an affair with John F. Kennedy, after she sang the iconic Happy Birthday Mr President at his birthday party.
On 5 August, 1962, Marilyn was found dead in her LA home, with a bottle of sleeping pills. Though the official cause of death was cited as an overdose, there has been much speculation as to whether she was murdered due to her rumored involvement with JFK.
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Marilyn's burial was as glamorous as the persona she had created - she was buried in a Pucci dress, in a heavy bronze casket lined with oyster colored silk, known as a Cadillac Casket. Her second husband, Joe Dimaggio, had red roses delivered to her grave for 20 years.
Now, 50 years later, Marilyn is not only remembered for her films, but for her sharp wit, playful nature and the sheer epitome of glamour that she was.
