Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe Award-winning American actress, singer, model and pop icon. She was known for her comedic skills and screen presence, going on to become one of the most popular movie stars of the 1950s and early 1960s. At the later stages of her career, she worked towards serious roles with a measure of success. However, she faced disappointments in her career and personal life during her later years. Her death has been subject to speculation and conspiracy theories.
== Free pictures ==
'''Marilyn Monroe''' (born '''Norma Jeane Mortenson''' on [[June 1]], [[1926]] – [[August 5]], [[1962]]<ref name="LATArchive"/>) was a Golden Globe Award-winning [[American]] [[actress]], [[singer]], [[model]] and sex symbol.
She was known for her comedic skills and screen presence, going on to become one of the most popular movie stars of the 1950s and early 1960s. At the later stages of her career, she worked towards serious roles with a measure of success. However, she faced disappointments in her career and personal life during her later years. She was a top-billed actress for only a decade, but her films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2019) by the time of her death in 1962. <ref name="LATArchive">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/archives/la-me-marilyn-monroe-19620806-story.html|title=From the Archives: "Marilyn Monroe Dies; Pills Blamed"|author=Howard Hertzel & Don Heff|date=August 6, 1962|work=Los Angeles Times|publisher=Tribune Publishing|accessdate=May, 2, 2020}}</ref> Her death has been subject to speculation and conspiracy theories.
===Her mother===
Marilyn Monroe was born under the name of Norma Jeane Mortenson [http://www.geocities.com/marilynmonroesplace/birth.jpg] in the charity ward of the [[Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center|Los Angeles County Hospital]].<ref name="bio1">http://www.marilynmonroe.com/about/bio.html</ref><ref>http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761552273/Monroe_Marilyn.html</ref> According to biographer Fred Lawrence Guiles, her grandmother, Della Monroe Grainger, had her baptized Norma Jeane Baker by [[Aimee Semple McPherson]].<ref name="bio1"/> She obtained an order from the City Court of the State of New York and legally changed her name to Marilyn Monroe on [[February 23]], [[1956]]. <ref>http://www.marilynmonroe.com/about/facts.html</ref>
Monroe's maternal grandparents were Otis Elmer Monroe and Della Mae Hogan. Her mother Gladys Pearl Monroe was born in Porfirio Diaz, Mexico, now known as [[Piedras Negras, Coahuila|Piedras Negras]], on May 27, 1902<ref>[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=ssdi%2c&rank=0&gsfn=Gladys&gsln=Eley&sx=&gs1co=1%2cAll+Countries&gs1pl=1%2c+&year=&yearend=&sbo=0&ufr=0&srchb=r&prox=1&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&o_iid=21416&o_lid=21416&o_it=21416&fh=5&recid=19890451&recoff=1+2 Social Security Death Index] showing "Gladys Eley, last residence Gainesville, Alachua, Florida, Born: 27 May 1900, Died: Mar 1984, SSN issued by Oregon (Before 1951)"</ref> where the family had gone, so Otis could work on the railroad. The family returned to California where Gladys's brother Otis was born in [[1905]]. Their father, suffering from [[syphilis]] which had invaded his brain, died in 1909 in Southern California State Hospital in [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino County]].<ref>[http://www.vitalsearch-ca.com/picdata/CA/deaths/190_/html/CA___de90_MONROE-1.htm California Death Index (on microfilm) 1905-1929] on vitalsearch-ca.com showing "Otis Monroe, age 44, died Jul 22, 1909. San Bernardino County"
== Career ==
</ref> Gladys married first to Jasper Baker May 1917 and had two children, Robert Kermit Baker (born January 24, 1918) and [[Berniece Baker Miracle|Berniece Baker]] (born July 30, 1919). They were both born in Los Angeles.<ref>*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=0&f2=&f1=Baker&sx=&f9=Los+Angeles&f5=&f4=&rg_f3__date=&rs_f3__date=0&f6=&f7=Monroe&gskw=&prox=1&db=cabirth1905&ti=0&ti.si=0&gl=&gss=rfs&gst=&so=3 California Birth Index] showing Berniece and "Hermitt" [as listed].</ref><ref>[http://www.ancestry.com/search/io/browse.asp?c=3&state=California&county=Los+Angeles&township=Venice&ed=621&roll=T625_120&STAbrv=CA&startimg=73&endimg=103&rp=95&client=&image=&l=0.264998&t=0.010295&r=1.000000&b=1.000000&w=444&h=445&option=ZoomIn&hash=5693890&width=2417&height=1797&levels=5&colorspace=Grayscale&x=332&y=415" 1920 Census Sheet 12A, Dwelling 95, Family 95, Precinct 5, Venice, Los Angeles Co, California] showing "Jasper N Baker, 31 b KY; Gladys 18 b Mexico; Hermit 1 11/12 b CA; Berneice 2/12 b CA; Audry, brother, 18, b KY</ref> After Gladys and her Kentucky-born husband divorced, the husband took the children and moved to [[Kentucky]], according to Miracle's book ''My Sister Marilyn''. Gladys moved there as well, to be near her children. After living there for a while, she returned to Los Angeles.
=== Early years ===
While her husband was in the Merchant Marine during World War II, Norma Jeane Dougherty moved in with her mother-in-law, and started to work in the Radioplane Company factory (owned by Hollywood actor Reginald Denny), spraying airplane parts with fire retardant and inspecting parachutes. Army photographer David Conover was scouting local factories, taking photos for a ''YANK'' magazine article about women contributing to the war effort. He saw her potential as a model and she was soon signed by The Blue Book modeling agency. In his book ''Finding Marilyn'', Conover claimed the two had an affair that lasted years. Shortly after signing with the agency, Monroe had her hair cut, straightened, and lightened to golden blonde.
===Her father===
She became one of Blue Book's most successful models, appearing on dozens of magazine covers. In 1946, she came to the attention of talent scout Ben Lyon. He arranged a screen test for her with 20th Century Fox. She was offered a standard six-month contract with a starting salary of $125 per week.<ref>http://www.marilynmonroe.com/about/bio2.html</ref>
After Gladys returned to Los Angeles, she married Martin Edward Mortenson (1897-1981) on Oct 11, 1924.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E1DC1639F930A25751C0A967948260 Martin Edward Mortensen] in the New York Times. Stating that the one who died in 1981 in Riverside, is the same one who was married to Marilyn's mother. "... found copies of Miss Monroe's birth certificate at Mr. Mortensen's apartment, as well as marriage and divorce papers for Mr. Mortensen and Gladys Baker, Miss Monroe's mother....The birth certificate lists the father as Edward Mortensen, age 29."]</ref> They divorced six months into their marriage, according to ''My Sister Marilyn''. Martin's father, also named Martin, was born in [[Haugesund]], [[Norway]], and had immigrated to the United States about 1880 where he married Stella Higgins. Their son was born in [[Vallejo, California]].<ref>[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=&gsln=Mortensen&sx=y&f1=California&f2=&f3=&f20=&f16=26&f15=Feb&rg_f14__date=1897&rs_f14__date=0&f18=&gskw=&prox=1&db=ww1draft&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=0&recid=1251388&recoff=3+15+19+20+31 World War I Draft Registration Card] showing "Edward M Mortensen, born Feb 26, 1897, in Vallejo, California; Gas Fitter for LA Gas & Electric Corp, father born in [[Haugesund]], Norway, mother Stella; registered in Los Angeles County, California Jun 5, 1918."</ref>
Many [[biographer]]s, such as Donald H. Wolfe in ''The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe'', believe Norma Jeane's biological father was Charles Stanley Gifford, a salesman for [[RKO Pictures]] where Gladys worked as a [[Film editing|film-cutter]]. Monroe's [[birth certificate]] lists Gladys's second husband, Martin Edward Mortenson, as the father. While Mortenson left Gladys before Norma Jeane's birth, some biographers think he may have been the father.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/netnotes/article/0,,500022,00.html</ref> In an interview with [[Lifetime Television|Lifetime]], [[James Dougherty]], her first husband, said Norma Jeane believed that Gifford was her father. Whoever the father was, he played no part in Monroe's life.
Lyon suggested she adopt Marilyn (after Marilyn Miller) as her stage name, since Norma Jeane wasn't considered commercial enough. For her last name, she took her mother's maiden name. Thus, the twenty-year-old Norma Jeane Baker became Marilyn Monroe. During her first half year at Fox, Monroe was given no work, but Fox renewed her contract and she was given minor appearances in ''Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!'' and ''Dangerous Years'', both released in 1947. In ''Scudda Hoo!'', her part was edited out of the film except for a quick glimpse of her face when she speaks two words. Fox decided not to renew her contract again. Monroe returned to modelling and began to network and make contacts in Hollywood.
===Foster parents===
In 1948, a six-month stint at Columbia Pictures saw her star in ''Ladies of the Chorus'', but the low-budget musical was not a success and Monroe was dropped yet again. She then met one of Hollywood's top agents, Johnny Hyde, who had Fox re-sign her after MGM turned her down. Fox Vice-President Darryl F. Zanuck was not convinced of Monroe's potential, but due to Hyde's persistence, she gained supporting parts in Fox's ''All About Eve'' and MGM's ''The Asphalt Jungle''. Even though the roles were small, movie-goers as well as critics took notice. Hyde also arranged for her to have minor plastic surgery on her nose and chin, adding that to earlier dental surgery.<ref>http://marilynmonroepages.com/facts.html#surgery</ref><ref>http://obits.com/monroemarilyn.html</ref><ref>http://www.amazon.com/dp/0812885252/</ref>
Unable to persuade Della to take Norma Jeane, Gladys placed her with [[foster parents]] Albert and Ida Bolender of [[Hawthorne, California]], where she lived until she was seven. In her [[autobiography]] ''My Story'', Monroe states she thought Albert was a girl.
Gladys visited Norma Jeane every Saturday. One day, she announced that she had bought a house. A few months after they had moved in, Gladys suffered a [[mental breakdown|breakdown]]. In ''My Story'', Monroe recalls her mother "screaming and laughing" as she was forcibly removed to the State Hospital in [[Norwalk, California|Norwalk]]. According to ''My Sister Marilyn'', Gladys's brother, Marion, [[suicide|hanged himself]] upon his release from an asylum, and Della's father did the same in a fit of [[Clinical depression|depression]].
The next two years were filled with inconsequential roles in standard fare such as ''We're Not Married!'' and ''Love Nest''. However, RKO executives used her to boost box office potential of the Fritz Lang production ''Clash by Night''. After the film performed well, Fox employed a similar tactic and she was cast as the ditzy receptionist with Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers in Howard Hawks's slapstick comedy ''Monkey Business''. Critics no longer ignored her, and both films' success at the box office was partly attributed to Monroe's growing popularity.
Norma Jeane was declared a [[Ward (legal)|ward of state]], and Gladys's best friend, Grace McKee (later Goddard) became her [[legal guardian|guardian]]. After McKee married in 1935, Norma Jeane was sent to the Los Angeles Orphans Home (later renamed Hollygrove), and then to a succession of [[foster home]]s.
Fox finally gave her a starring role in 1952 with ''Don't Bother to Knock'', in which she portrayed a deranged babysitter who attacks the little girl in her care. It was a cheaply made B-movie, and although the reviews were mixed, they claimed that it demonstrated Monroe's ability and confirmed that she was ready for more leading roles. Her performance in the film has since been noted as one of the finest of her career.<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dont_bother_to_knock</ref>
The Goddards were about to move to the east coast and could not take her. Grace approached the mother of [[James Dougherty]] about the possibility of her son marrying the girl. They married two weeks after she turned 16, so that Norma Jeane would not have to return to an orphanage or foster care.
=== Stardom ===
Monroe proved she could carry a big-budget film when she starred in ''Niagara'' in 1953. Movie critics focused on Monroe's connection with the camera as much as on the sinister plot.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/niagara/ | title = ''Niagara'' (1953)|work = Rotten Tomatoes | accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> She played an unbalanced woman planning to murder her husband.
==Career==
[[Image:Lc 12 53.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Playboy cover, issue number 1, December 1953]]
===Early years===
While her husband was in the [[Merchant Marine]] during [[World War II]], Norma Jeane Dougherty moved in with her mother-in-law, and started to work in the [[OQ-2 Radioplane|Radioplane Company]] factory (owned by Hollywood actor [[Reginald Denny (actor)|Reginald Denny]]), spraying airplane parts with fire retardant and inspecting [[parachute]]s. Army photographer [[David Conover]] was scouting local factories, taking photos for a [[YANK]] magazine article about women contributing to the war effort. He saw her potential as a [[Model (person)|model]] and she was soon signed by The Blue Book [[modeling agency]]. In his book ''Finding Marilyn'', Conover claimed the two had an affair that lasted years. Shortly after signing with the agency, Monroe had her hair cut, straightened, and lightened to golden blonde.
She became one of Blue Book's most successful models, appearing on dozens of [[magazine]] covers. In 1946, she came to the attention of talent scout Ben Lyon. He arranged a [[screen test]] for her with [[20th Century Fox]]. She was offered a standard six-month contract with a starting [[salary]] of $125 per week.<ref>http://www.marilynmonroe.com/about/bio2.html</ref>
Around this time, nude photos of Monroe began to surface, taken by photographer Tom Kelley when she had been struggling for work. Prints were bought by Hugh Hefner and, in [[December]] [[1953]], appeared in the first edition of ''[[Playboy]]''. To the dismay of Fox, Monroe decided to publicly admit it was indeed her in the pictures. When a journalist asked her what she wore in bed she replied, "Chanel No. 5." When asked what she had on during the photo shoot, she replied, "The radio."
Lyon suggested she adopt Marilyn (after [[Marilyn Miller]]) as her stage name, since Norma Jeane wasn't considered commercial enough. For her last name, she took her mother's maiden name. Thus, the twenty-year-old Norma Jeane Baker became Marilyn Monroe. During her first half year at Fox, Monroe was given no work, but Fox renewed her contract and she was given minor appearances in ''[[Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!]]'' and ''Dangerous Years'', both released in 1947. In ''Scudda Hoo!'', her part was edited out of the film except for a quick glimpse of her face when she speaks two words. Fox decided not to renew her contract again. Monroe returned to modelling and began to [[social network|network]] and make contacts in [[Hollywood]].
[[Image:MarylinM01.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Marilyn Monroe Nude Photography]]
In 1948, a six-month stint at [[Columbia Pictures]] saw her star in ''[[Ladies of the Chorus]]'', but the low-budget musical was not a success and Monroe was dropped yet again. She then met one of Hollywood's top agents, [[Johnny Hyde]], who had Fox re-sign her after [[MGM]] turned her down. Fox Vice-President [[Darryl F. Zanuck]] was not convinced of Monroe's potential, but due to Hyde's persistence, she gained supporting parts in Fox's ''[[All About Eve]]'' and MGM's ''[[The Asphalt Jungle]]''. Even though the roles were small, movie-goers as well as critics took notice. Hyde also arranged for her to have minor [[plastic surgery]] on her nose and chin, adding that to earlier dental surgery.<ref>http://www.celebrityplasticpics.com/marilyn_monroe_plastic_surgery.htm</ref><ref>http://marilynmonroepages.com/facts.html#surgery</ref><ref>http://obits.com/monroemarilyn.html</ref><ref>http://www.amazon.com/dp/0812885252/</ref>
Over the following months, ''[[Wikipedia:Gentlemen Prefer Blondes|Gentlemen Prefer Blondes]]'' and ''[[Wikipedia:How to Marry a Millionaire|How to Marry a Millonaire]]'' cemented Monroe's status as an A-list actress and she became one of the world's biggest movie stars. The lavish Technicolor comedy films established Monroe's "dumb blonde" on-screen persona.
The next two years were filled with inconsequential roles in standard fare such as ''We're Not Married!'' and ''Love Nest''. However, [[RKO]] executives used her to boost [[box office]] potential of the [[Fritz Lang]] production ''[[Clash by Night]]''. After the film performed well, [[20th Century Fox|Fox]] employed a similar tactic and she was cast as the ditzy [[receptionist]] with [[Cary Grant]] and [[Ginger Rogers]] in [[Howard Hawks]]'s slapstick comedy ''[[Monkey Business (1952 film)|Monkey Business]]''. Critics no longer ignored her, and both films' success at the [[box office]] was partly attributed to Monroe's growing popularity.
In ''Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'', Monroe's turn as gold-digging showgirl Lorelei Lee won her rave reviews,<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gentlemen_prefer_blondes/</ref> and the scene where she sang "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" has inspired the likes of [[Madonna]], [[Kylie Minogue]] and [[Geri Halliwell]]. In the Los Angeles premiere of the film, Monroe and co-star [[Jane Russell]] pressed their foot- and handprints in the cement in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
Fox finally gave her a starring role in 1952 with ''[[Don't Bother to Knock]]'', in which she portrayed a deranged [[babysitter]] who attacks the little girl in her care. It was a cheaply made [[B-movie]], and although the reviews were mixed, they claimed that it demonstrated Monroe's ability and confirmed that she was ready for more leading roles. Her performance in the film has since been noted as one of the finest of her career.<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dont_bother_to_knock</ref>
In ''How to Marry a Millionaire'', Monroe was teamed up with [[Lauren Bacall]] and [[Betty Grable]]. She played a short-sighted dumb blonde, and even though the role was stereotypical, critics took note of her comedic timing.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/how_to_marry_a_millionaire/ | title = ''How to Marry a Millionaire'' (1953)|work = Rotten Tomatoes | accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref>
===Stardom===
Her next two films, the western ''River of No Return'' and the musical ''There's No Business Like Show Business'', were not successful. Monroe got tired of the roles that Zanuck assigned her. After completing work on ''The Seven Year Itch'' in early 1955, she broke her contract and fled Hollywood to study acting at The Actors Studio in New York. Fox would not accede to her contract demands and insisted she return to work on productions she considered inappropriate, such as ''The Girl in Pink Tights'' (which was never filmed), ''The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing'', and ''How to Be Very, Very Popular''.
[[Image:Monroe sings from the trailer of Niagra 2.jpg|thumb|left|Monroe in ''[[Niagara (1953 film)|Niagara]]'']]
Monroe stayed in New York. As ''[[Wikipedia:The Seven Year Itch|The Seven Year Itch]]'' raced to the top of the box office in the summer of 1955, and with Fox starlets [[Jayne Mansfield]] and [[Sheree North]] failing to click with audiences, Zanuck admitted defeat and Monroe returned to Hollywood. A new contract was drawn up, giving Monroe approval of the director as well as the option to act in other studios' projects.
Monroe proved she could carry a big-budget film when she starred in ''[[Niagara (1953 film)|Niagara]]'' in 1953. Movie critics focused on Monroe's connection with the camera as much as on the sinister plot.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/niagara/ | title = ''Niagara'' (1953)|work = [[Rotten Tomatoes]] | accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> She played an unbalanced woman planning to murder her husband.
Around this time, [[nude]] photos of Monroe began to surface, taken by photographer Tom Kelley when she had been struggling for work. Prints were bought by [[Hugh Hefner]] and, in December 1953, appeared in the first edition of ''[[Playboy]]''. To the dismay of [[20th Century Fox|Fox]], Monroe decided to publicly admit it was indeed her in the pictures. When a journalist asked her what she wore in bed she replied, "Chanel no.5". When asked what she had on during the photo shoot, she replied, "The radio".
The first film to be made under the contract was ''Bus Stop'', directed by Joshua Logan. She played Chérie,<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1003296-bus_stop/</ref> a saloon bar singer who falls in love with a cowboy. Monroe deliberately appeared badly made-up and unglamorous.
Over the following months, ''[[Gentlemen Prefer Blondes]]'' and ''[[How to Marry a Millionaire]]'' cemented Monroe's status as an [[A-list]] actress and she became one of the world's biggest movie stars. The lavish [[Technicolor]] comedy films established Monroe's "dumb blonde" on-screen [[persona]].
She was nominated for a Golden Globe for the performance and was praised by critics. Bosley Crowther of ''The New York Times'' proclaimed: "Hold on to your chairs, everybody, and get set for a rattling surprise. Marilyn Monroe has finally proved herself an actress." In his autobiography, ''Movie Stars, Real People and Me'', director Joshua Logan wrote: "I found Marilyn to be one of the great talents of all time... She struck me as being a much brighter person than I had ever imagined, and I think that was the first time I learned that intelligence and, yes brilliance have nothing to do with education."
In ''[[Gentlemen Prefer Blondes]]'', Monroe's turn as gold-digging showgirl Lorelei Lee won her rave reviews,<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gentlemen_prefer_blondes/</ref> and the scene where she sang "[[Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend]]" has inspired the likes of [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]],<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0FDGnAIWpk</ref> [[Kylie Minogue]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T10VecAun-Y&feature=PlayList&p=20D3B963FEA3D0B3&index=2 YouTube.com]</ref> and [[Geri Halliwell]]. In the Los Angeles premiere of the film, Monroe and co-star [[Jane Russell]] pressed their foot- and handprints in the cement in the forecourt of [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre]].
Monroe formed her own production company with friend and photographer Milton H. Greene. Marilyn Monroe Productions released its first and only film ''The Prince and the Showgirl'' in 1957 to mixed reviews. Along with executive-producing the film, she starred opposite the acclaimed British actor Laurence Olivier, who also directed it.
[[Image:MMONROE1.jpg|thumb|right|268px|Iconic Glamour pose of Monroe. Photo:Howard Frank Archives]]
In ''[[How to Marry a Millionaire]]'', Monroe was teamed up with [[Lauren Bacall]] and [[Betty Grable]]. She played a short-sighted dumb blonde, and even though the role was stereotypical, critics took note of her comedic timing.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/how_to_marry_a_millionaire/ | title = ''How to Marry a Millionaire'' (1953)|work = [[Rotten Tomatoes]] | accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref>
Her next two films, the western ''[[River of No Return]]'' and the musical ''[[There's No Business Like Show Business]]'', were not successful. Monroe got tired of the roles that Zanuck assigned her. After completing work on ''[[The Seven Year Itch]]'' in early 1955, she broke her contract and fled Hollywood to study acting at [[The Actors Studio]] in [[New York]]. Fox would not accede to her contract demands and insisted she return to work on productions she considered inappropriate, such as ''The Girl in Pink Tights'' (which was never filmed), ''The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing'', and ''How to Be Very, Very Popular''.
Olivier became furious at her habit of being late to the set, as well as her dependency on her drama coach, Paula Strasberg. Monroe's performance was hailed by critics, especially in Europe, where she was handed the David di Donatello, the Italian equivalent of the Academy Award, as well as the French Crystal Star Award. She was also nominated for the British BAFTA award.
Monroe stayed in New York. As ''[[The Seven Year Itch]]'' raced to the top of the box office in the summer of 1955, and with Fox starlets [[Jayne Mansfield]] and [[Sheree North]] failing to click with audiences, Zanuck admitted defeat and Monroe returned to Hollywood. A new contract was drawn up, giving Monroe approval of the director as well as the option to act in other studios' projects.
=== Later years ===
In 1959, she scored the biggest hit of her career starring alongside Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in Billy Wilder's comedy ''Some Like It Hot''. After shooting finished, Wilder publicly blasted Monroe for her difficult on-set behavior. Soon, however, Wilder's attitude softened, and he hailed her as a great comedienne. ''Some Like It Hot'' is consistently rated as one of the best films ever made.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/some_like_it_hot/ | title = ''Some Like It Hot'' (1959) | work = Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> Monroe's performance earned her a Golden Globe for best actress in musical or comedy.
The first film to be made under the contract was ''[[Bus Stop (film)|Bus Stop]]'', directed by [[Joshua Logan]]. She played Chérie,<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1003296-bus_stop/</ref> a saloon bar singer who falls in love with a cowboy. Monroe deliberately appeared badly made-up and unglamorous.
After ''Some Like It Hot'', Monroe shot ''Let's Make Love'' directed by George Cukor and co-starring Yves Montand. Monroe was forced to shoot the picture because of her obligations to Twentieth Century-Fox. While the film was not a commercial or critical success, it included one of Monroe's legendary musical numbers, Cole Porter's "My Heart Belongs to Daddy".
She was nominated for a [[Golden Globe]] for the performance and was praised by critics. [[Bosley Crowther]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' proclaimed: "Hold on to your chairs, everybody, and get set for a rattling surprise. Marilyn Monroe has finally proved herself an actress." In his autobiography, ''Movie Stars, Real People and Me'', director Joshua Logan wrote: "I found Marilyn to be one of the great talents of all time... She struck me as being a much brighter person than I had ever imagined, and I think that was the first time I learned that intelligence and, yes brilliance have nothing to do with education."
Arthur Miller wrote what became her and her co-star Clark Gable's last completed film, ''The Misfits''. The exhausting shoot took place in the hot Nevada desert. Monroe, Gable and Montgomery Clift delivered performances that are considered excellent by contemporary movie critics.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/misfits | title = ''The Misfits'' (1961) | work = Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> Tabloid magazines blamed Gable's death of a heart attack on Monroe, claiming she had given him a hard time on the set. Gable, however, insisted on doing his own stunts and was a heavy smoker. After Gable's death, Monroe attended the baptism of his son.
Monroe formed her own [[production company]] with friend and photographer [[Milton H. Greene]]. Marilyn Monroe Productions released its first and only film ''[[The Prince and the Showgirl]]'' in 1957 to mixed reviews. Along with executive-producing the film, she starred opposite the acclaimed British actor [[Laurence Olivier]], who also directed it.
Some of the most famous photographs of her were taken by Douglas Kirkland in 1961 as a feature for the 25th anniversary issue of ''Look'' magazine.
Olivier became furious at her habit of being late to the set, as well as her dependency on her drama coach, [[Paula Strasberg]]. Monroe's performance was hailed by critics, especially in Europe, where she was handed the [[David di Donatello]], the Italian equivalent of the [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]], as well as the French Crystal Star Award. She was also nominated for the British [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] award.
Monroe returned to Hollywood to resume filming on the George Cukor comedy ''Something's Got to Give'', a never-finished film that has become legendary for problems on the set and proved a costly debacle for Fox. In May 1962, she made her last significant public appearance, singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" at a televised birthday party for President John F. Kennedy.
===Later years===
In 1959, she scored the biggest hit of her career starring alongside [[Tony Curtis]] and [[Jack Lemmon]] in [[Billy Wilder]]'s comedy ''[[Some Like It Hot]]''. After shooting finished, Wilder publicly blasted Monroe for her difficult on-set behavior. Soon, however, Wilder's attitude softened, and he hailed her as a great comedienne. ''Some Like It Hot'' is consistently rated as one of the best films ever made.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/some_like_it_hot/ | title = ''Some Like It Hot'' (1959) | work = [[Rotten Tomatoes]]|accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> Monroe's performance earned her a [[Golden Globe]] for best actress in musical or comedy.
After ''Some Like It Hot'', Monroe shot ''[[Let's Make Love]]'' directed by [[George Cukor]] and co-starring [[Yves Montand]]. Monroe was forced to shoot the picture because of her obligations to Twentieth Century-Fox. While the film was not a commercial or critical success, it included one of Monroe's legendary musical numbers, [[Cole Porter]]'s "My Heart Belongs to Daddy".
[[Image:Galler31.jpg|right|thumb|220px|[[Screen test]]s for ''Something's Got to Give''.]]
[[Arthur Miller]] wrote what became her and her co-star [[Clark Gable]]'s last completed film, ''[[The Misfits (film)|The Misfits]]''. The exhausting shoot took place in the hot [[Nevada]] desert. Monroe, Gable and [[Montgomery Clift]] delivered performances that are considered excellent by contemporary movie critics.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/misfits | title = ''The Misfits'' (1961) | work = Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> Tabloid magazines blamed Gable's death of a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] on Monroe, claiming she had given him a hard time on the set. Gable, however, insisted on doing his own stunts and was a heavy smoker. After Gable's death, Monroe attended the baptism of his son.
Some of the most famous photographs of her were taken by [[Douglas Kirkland]] in 1961 as a feature for the 25th anniversary issue of ''[[Look (American magazine)|LOOK]]'' magazine.
Monroe returned to Hollywood to resume filming on the George Cukor comedy ''[[Something's Got to Give]]'', a never-finished film that has become legendary for problems on the set and proved a costly debacle for Fox. In May 1962, she made her last significant public appearance, singing [[Happy Birthday, Mr. President|''Happy Birthday, Mr. President'']] at a televised birthday party for [[President of the United States|President]] [[John F. Kennedy]].
After shooting what was claimed to have been the first ever nude scene by a major motion picture actress, Monroe's attendance on the set became even more erratic. On June 1, her thirty-sixth birthday, she attended a charity event at Dodger Stadium.
After shooting what was claimed to have been the first ever nude scene by a major motion picture actress, Monroe's attendance on the set became even more erratic. On June 1, her thirty-sixth birthday, she attended a charity event at Dodger Stadium.
[[Image:happybirthdaymonroe.jpg|right|thumb|[[Happy Birthday, Mr. President|''Happy Birthday, Mr. President'']] May 1962]]
Already financially strained by the production costs of ''Cleopatra'', starring [[Elizabeth Taylor]], Fox dropped Monroe from the film and replaced her with Lee Remick. However, co-star Dean Martin, who had a clause in his contract giving him an approval over his co-star, was unwilling to work with anyone but Monroe. She was rehired.
Already financially strained by the production costs of ''Cleopatra'', starring [[Elizabeth Taylor]], Fox dropped Monroe from the film and replaced her with [[Lee Remick]]. However, co-star [[Dean Martin]], who had a clause in his contract giving him an approval over his co-star, was unwilling to work with anyone but Monroe. She was rehired.
Monroe conducted a lengthy interview with ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'', in which she expressed how bitter she was about Hollywood labeling her as a dumb blonde and how much she loved her audience.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.marilyn-monroe-memorabilia.com/marilyninterview.htm | title = Marilyn Monroe's Last Interview | first = Richard | last = Meryman | date = 1962|accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> She also did a photo shoot for ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'', and began discussing a future film project with [[Gene Kelly]] and [[Frank Sinatra]], according to the Donald Spoto biography. Furthermore, she was planning to star in a [[biopic]] of [[Jean Harlow]]. Other projects being considered for her were ''[[What a Way to Go!]]'' (in which [[Shirley MacLaine]] would replace her), ''[[Kiss Me, Stupid]]'', a comedy starring [[Dean Martin]] (and [[Kim Novak]] taking on Monroe's role) and a musical version of ''A Tree Grows In Brooklyn''.
Before the shooting of ''Something's Got to Give'' resumed, Monroe was found dead in her Los Angeles home on the morning of [[August 5]], [[1962]]. She remains one of the 20th century's legendary public figures and archetypal [[Hollywood]] [[movie star]]s.
{{Listeninbrowser| filename=HappybdMMmp3.ogg | title=''Happy Birthday, Mr. President'' | description=Marilyn Monroe's performance of the song}}
==Marriages==
===James Dougherty===
Monroe married [[James Dougherty]] on [[June 19]], [[1942]]. In ''The Secret Happiness of Marilyn Monroe'' and ''To Norma Jeane with Love, Jimmie'', he claimed they were in love but dreams of stardom lured her away. In 1953 he wrote a piece called "Marilyn Monroe Was My Wife" for ''[[Photoplay]]'', in which he claimed that he left her.
In the 2004 [[documentary film|documentary]] ''Marilyn's Man'', Dougherty made three new claims: he was her [[Svengali]] and invented the "Marilyn Monroe" persona, studio executives forced her to divorce him, and that he was her only true love.
He remarried in 1947. When informed of her death, the [[August 6]], [[1962]] ''[[New York Times]]'' reported that he replied "I'm sorry," and continued his [[Los Angeles Police Department|LAPD]] patrol. He did not attend Monroe's [[funeral]].
His sister wrote in the 12/1952 ''[[Modern Screen Magazine]]'' that Dougherty left Monroe because she wanted to pursue modeling. He admitted to [[A&E Network]] that his mother asked him to marry her, and told [[Lifetime Television|Lifetime]] in 1996 that he cut off her allotment after being served with divorce papers. The 1999 [[Christie's]] auction of Monroe's estate revealed that she kept nothing from Dougherty except their divorce decree.
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:marilynlovejoekiss.jpg|left|thumb|[[Joe DiMaggio]] and Monroe on their wedding day, January 14, 1954 {{speedy-image-c|[[2006-12-16]]}}]] -->
===Joe DiMaggio===
In 1951 [[Joe DiMaggio]] saw a picture of Monroe with two [[Chicago White Sox]] players, but did not ask the man who arranged the stunt to set up a [[Courtship|date]] until 1952. She wrote in ''My Story'' that she did not want to meet him, fearing a [[Stereotype|stereotypical]] [[jock (subculture)|jock]]. They [[elope]]d at [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]]'s [[City Hall]] on [[January 14]], [[1954]]. During the honeymoon, they visited [[Japan]], and she was asked to visit [[Korea]]. She performed ten shows over four days in freezing temperatures for over 100,000 servicemen. Biographers have noted that DiMaggio, who stayed in Japan, was not pleased with his wife's decision during what he wanted to be an intimate trip.
Back home, she wrote him a letter about her dreams for their future, dated [[February 28]], [[1954]]:
{{quote|''"My Dad, I don't know how to tell you just how much I miss you. I love you till my heart could burst... I want to just be where you are and be just what you want me to be... I want someday for you to be proud of me as a person and as your wife and as the mother of the rest of your children (two at least! I've decided)..."''<ref>{{cite news | title = JOE'S BID-NESS: DiMaggio's granddaughters are selling off their memorabilia | first = John | last = Shea | publisher = San Francisco Chronicle | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/05/17/SPGLFIT1GH1.DTL | date = [[2006-05-17]] | accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref>|20px|20px|Marilyn Monroe}}
DiMaggio biographer Maury Allen quoted [[New York Yankees]] PR man Arthur Richman that Joe told him everything went wrong from the trip to Japan on. Fred Lawrence Guiles speculated that Joe, knowing the power and hollowness of fame, wanted desperately to head off what he was convinced was her "collision-course with disaster." Friends claimed that DiMaggio became more controlling as Monroe grew more defiant.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} On [[September 14]], [[1954]], she filmed the now-iconic skirt-blowing scene for ''[[The Seven Year Itch]]'' in front of New York's [[Trans-Lux]] Theater. Bill Kobrin, then Fox's east coast correspondent, told the [[June 26]], [[2006]] ''[[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]] Desert Sun'' that it was [[Billy Wilder]]'s idea to turn it into a media circus: "... every time her dress came up and the crowd started to get excited, DiMaggio just blew up." The couple later had a "yelling battle" in the theater lobby.<ref>{{cite news | title = Meet Marilyn Monroe photographer Saturday | url = http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060626/UPDATE/60626018 | first = Denise | last = Goolsby | publisher = The Desert Sun | date = [[2006-06-26]]|accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> Her makeup man Allan Snyder recalled Monroe later appeared on set with bruises on her upper arms.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} She filed for divorce on grounds of [[mental cruelty]] 274 days after the wedding.
Years later, she turned to him for help. In February 1961, her [[psychiatrist]] arranged for her to be admitted to the [[Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic]], where, according to Donald Spoto, she was placed in the ward for the most seriously disturbed. Unable to check herself out, she called DiMaggio, who secured her release. She later joined him in [[Florida]]. Their "just good friends" claim did not stop rumors of remarriage. Archive footage shows [[Bob Hope]] jokingly dedicated [[Academy Award for Best Song|Best Song]] nominee ''The Second Time Around'' to them at the 1960 [[Academy Awards]] telecast.
According to Maury Allen, on [[August 1]], [[1962]], DiMaggio — alarmed by how his ex-wife had fallen in with people he felt detrimental to her, such as [[Frank Sinatra]] and his "[[Rat Pack]]" — quit his job with a [[List of U.S. Army acronyms and expressions|PX]] supplier to ask her to remarry him. He claimed her body and arranged her funeral, barring Hollywood's elite. For twenty years, he had a dozen red [[roses]] delivered to her crypt three times a week. Unlike her other two husbands, he never talked about her publicly, wrote a tell-all, or remarried.
===Arthur Miller===
On [[June 29]], [[1956]], Monroe married playwright [[Arthur Miller]], whom she had first met in 1951, in a civil ceremony in [[White Plains, New York|White Plains]], [[New York]]. City Court Judge Seymour Robinowitz presided over the hushed ceremony in the law office of Sam Slavitt (the wedding had been kept secret from both the press and the public). Nominally raised as a Christian, she converted to [[Judaism]] before marrying Miller. After she finished shooting ''[[The Prince and the Showgirl]]'' with [[Laurence Olivier]], the couple returned to the United States from England and discovered she was pregnant. However, she suffered from [[endometriosis]] and the pregnancy was found to be [[Ectopic pregnancy|ectopic]]. A subsequent pregnancy ended in [[miscarriage]].
By 1958, she was the couple's main breadwinner. While paying [[alimony]] to Miller's first wife, her husband reportedly charged her production company for buying and shipping a [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]] to the United States.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
Miller's screenplay for ''[[The Misfits (film)|The Misfits]]'', a story about a despairing divorcée, was meant to be a [[St. Valentine's Day|Valentine]] gift for his wife, but by the time filming started in 1960 their marriage was beyond repair. A [[Mexican divorce]] was granted on [[January 24]], [[1961]]. On [[February 17]], [[1962]], Miller married [[Inge Morath]], one of the [[Magnum Photos|Magnum]] photographers recording the making of ''[[The Misfits (film)|The Misfits]]''.
In January 1964, Miller's play ''After the Fall'' opened, featuring a beautiful and devouring shrew named Maggie. The similarities between Maggie and Monroe did not go unnoticed by audiences and critics (including [[Helen Hayes]]), many of whom sympathized with the fact that she was no longer alive and could not defend herself.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
[[Simone Signoret]] noted in her autobiography the morbidity of Miller and [[Elia Kazan]] resuming their professional association "over a casket". In interviews and in his autobiography, Miller insisted that Maggie was not based on Monroe. However, he never pretended that his last [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]-bound work, ''Finishing the Picture'', was not based on the making of ''[[The Misfits (movie)|The Misfits]]''. He appeared in the documentary [[The Century of the Self]] lamenting the psychological work being done on her before her death.
==Death and aftermath==
{{main|Death of Marilyn Monroe}}
Monroe's last home was in [[Brentwood, Los Angeles, California|Brentwood]] in Los Angeles. She was found dead by her housekeeper on [[August 5]], [[1962]]. Her death was ruled as an [[overdose]] of sleeping pills. Questions remain about the circumstances and timeline of housekeeper Eunice Murray's discovery of Monroe's body. Also, some conspiracy theories involve John and Robert Kennedy.
There is speculation that her death was accidental,{{Fact|date=April 2007}} but the official cause was "probable suicide".
On [[August 8]], [[1962]], Monroe was interred in a crypt at Corridor of Memories, #24, at the [[Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery]] in [[Westwood, Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles, California]]. [[Lee Strasberg]] delivered the eulogy.
===Administration of estate===
In her [[will (legal)|will]], Monroe left [[Lee Strasberg]] control of 75% of her estate. She expressed her desire that Strasberg, or, if he predeceased her, her executor, "distribute [her personal effects] among my friends, colleagues and those to whom I am devoted."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/newsmakers/wills/monroe.html | title = The Will of Marilyn Monroe|work = [[Court TV]] | accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref>
Strasberg willed his portion to his widow, Anna. She declared she would never sell Monroe's personal items after successfully suing Odyssey Auctions in 1994 to prevent the sale of items which were withheld by Monroe's former business manager, Inez Melson. However, in October 1999 [[Christie's]] auctioned the bulk of the items Monroe willed to Lee Strasberg, netting [[US$]]12.3 million.
Anna Strasberg is currently in litigation against the children of four photographers to determine rights of publicity, which permits the licensing of images of deceased personages for commercial purposes. The decision as to whether Monroe was a resident of California, where she died, or New York, where her will was probated, is worth millions.<ref>{{cite news | date = [[2006-04-10]] | url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06100/681034-28.stm | title = A battle erupts over the right to market Monroe | first = Nathan | last = Koppel|publisher = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] | accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref><br />
On [[4 May]] [[2007]], a federal judge in New York ruled that Monroe's rights of publicity ended upon her death, thus allowing the family of photographer Sam Shaw to sell photos of Monroe.[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070504/en_nm/monroe_dc]
== Quotes ==
{{wikiquote|Marilyn Monroe}}
{{cquote|
I think that when you are famous every weakness is exaggerated. (...) [[Goethe]] said, "Talent is developed in privacy," you know? And it's really true. (...) Creativity has got to start with humanity and when you're a human being, you feel, you suffer. You're gay, you're sick, you're nervous or whatever.<ref>The last interview for MM [[Life (magazine)]]; Richard Meryman 03. August 1962 (two days before her murder) with the title "Marilyn Monroe Pours Her Heart Out"</ref>}}
{{cquote|Say goodbye to Pat, say goodbye to the president, and say goodbye to yourself, because you're a nice guy.[...]I'll see, I'll see. <ref> The last words of Marilyn to [[Peter Lawson]], in August 5, 1962. Anel
*[[Ella Fitzgerald]] credited Monroe with helping her launch her mainstream career by securing her a gig at the then-[[Racial segregation|segregated]] [[Mocambo]]. [http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe]
*[[Hugh Hefner]] purchased the crypt beside Monroe for himself. <ref>http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/hefner%20to%20be%20buried%20with%20monroe</ref>
*Monroe's films made over $200,000,000 on their first run, according to her New York Times obituary.
*Tiles on the doorstep of Monroe's Brentwood home bore the Latin inscription, "Cursum Perficio," commonly translated as "My journey is over." (or "I have completed my course.").<ref>http://www.yuni.com/library/latin_1.html</ref>
*The [[Jean Louis]] gown in which Monroe sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy in May 1962 was sold at [[Christie's]] auction in 1999 for $1,267,500.
*In February 2007's issue of [[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere magazine]] [[Mickey Rooney]] claims to have given her the name Marilyn Monroe.
*Many days after Monroe's death, Mrs. [[Eunice Murray]] attempted to cash her last paycheck from Monroe, and it was declined and marked "deceased." This check, one of the last that Monroe ever wrote on her Roxbury Drive Branch account at City National Bank in Beverly Hills, is today on display at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum in [[Hollywood]], CA.
*[[Marilyn Manson]] formed his name after combining the names of Marilyn Monroe and [[Charles Manson]].
* It has been rumored for years and reported in [[Ripley's Believe It Or Not]] that Marilyn Monroe had 6 toes on her left foot, but this was false. The rumor started after a photo shoot in [[1946]] on a beach in [[California]] where a clump of sand made it appear she had an extra toe. <ref>http://marilynmonroepages.com/6toes.html</ref>
*The horror punk band [[The Misfits]] derived their title Monroe's film of the same name, due to lead singer [[Glenn Danzig]]'s interest in Marilyn Monroe. The band also has a song "Who Killed Marilyn?".
| style="font-size: 90%;" | ''[[Dangerous Years]]'' (''1947'') | ''[[Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!]]'' (''1948'') | ''[[Ladies of the Chorus]]'' (''1948'') | ''[[Green Grass of Wyoming]]'' (''1948'') | ''[[You Were Meant for Me]]'' (''1948'') | ''[[Love Happy]]'' (''1949'') | ''[[A Ticket to Tomahawk]]'' (''1950'') | ''[[The Asphalt Jungle]]'' (''1950'') | ''[[The Fireball]]'' (''1950'') | ''[[All About Eve]]'' (''1950'') | ''[[Right Cross]]'' (''1950'') | ''[[Home Town Story]]'' (''1951'') | ''[[As Young as You Feel]]'' (''1951'') | ''[[Love Nest]]'' (''1951'') | ''[[Let's Make It Legal]]'' (''1951'') | ''[[We're Not Married!]]'' (''1952'') | ''[[O. Henry's Full House]]'' (''1952'') | ''[[Clash by Night]]'' (''1952'') | ''[[Monkey Business (1952 film)|Monkey Business]]'' (''1952'') | ''[[Don't Bother to Knock]]'' (''1952'') | ''[[Niagara (1953 film)|Niagara]]'' (''1953'') | ''[[Gentlemen Prefer Blondes]]'' (''1953'') | ''[[How to Marry a Millionaire]]'' (''1953'') | ''[[River of No Return]]'' (''1954'') | ''[[There's No Business Like Show Business (film)|There's No Business Like Show Business]]'' (''1954'') | ''[[The Seven Year Itch]]'' (''1955'') | ''[[Bus Stop (film)|Bus Stop]]'' (''1956'') | ''[[The Prince and the Showgirl]]'' (''1957'') | ''[[Some Like it Hot]]'' (''1959'') | ''[[Let's Make Love]]'' (''1960'') | ''[[The Misfits (film)|The Misfits]]'' (''1961'') | ''[[Something's Got to Give]]'' (''1962'')
|}
==Awards and nominations==
Monroe conducted a lengthy interview with ''Life'', in which she expressed how bitter she was about Hollywood labeling her as a dumb blonde and how much she loved her audience.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.marilyn-monroe-memorabilia.com/marilyninterview.htm | title = Marilyn Monroe's Last Interview | first = Richard | last = Meryman | date = 1962|accessdate = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> She also did a photo shoot for ''Vogue'', and began discussing a future film project with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, according to the Donald Spoto biography. Furthermore, she was planning to star in a biopic of [[Jean Harlow]]. Other projects being considered for her were ''What a Way to Go!'' (in which Shirley MacLaine would replace her), ''Kiss Me, Stupid'', a comedy starring Dean Martin (and Kim Novak taking on Monroe's role) and a musical version of ''A Tree Grows In Brooklyn''.
*1952 [[Photoplay]] Award: Special Award
Before the shooting of ''Something's Got to Give'' resumed, Monroe was found dead in her Los Angeles home on the morning of August 5, 1962. She remains one of the 20th century's legendary public figures and archetypal Hollywood movie stars.
*1953 [[Golden Globe]] Henrietta Award: World Film Favorite Female.
*1953 Photoplay Award: Most Popular Female Star
*1956 [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]] Film Award nomination: Best Foreign Actress for ''The Seven Year Itch''
*1956 [[Golden Globe]] nomination: Best Motion Picture Actress in Comedy or Musical for ''Bus Stop''
*1958 BAFTA Film Award nomination: Best Foreign Actress for ''The Prince and the Showgirl''
*1958 [[David di Donatello]] Award (Italian): Best Foreign Actress for ''The Prince and the Showgirl''
*1959 Crystal Star Award (French): Best Foreign Actress for ''The Prince and the Showgirl''
*1960 Golden Globe, Best Motion Picture Actress in Comedy or Musical for ''Some Like It Hot''
*1962 Golden Globe, World Film Favorite: Female
*Star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] 6104 Hollywood Blvd.
*1999 she was ranked as the sixth greatest female star of all time by the [[American Film Institute]] in their list [[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars]].
{{start}} {{s-awards}}
== Big boob movies / pictures of Marilyn Monroe ==
{{s-bef|before=[[Rosalind Russell]] <br> for ''[[Auntie Mame]]''}}
* {{playboy}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]] <br> for ''[[Some Like It Hot]]''|years=1960}}
* {{mrskin|00771}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Shirley MacLaine]] <br> for ''[[The Apartment]]''}}
{{end}}
==See also==
== External links ==
* [[Death of Marilyn Monroe]]
* {{playboywiki}}
* [[Marilyn Monroe in popular culture]]
* {{freeones}}
* [[Mark Bellinghaus]]
* {{babepedia}}
* [[Berniece Baker Miracle]], her half-sister
* {{Famousfix|marilyn-monroe}}
* [[Look alike contest]] Monroe's popularity as a costume
* {{ogglebooble|1851}}
* {{indexxx}}
* {{thenude|34166}}
* {{songwhip|marilyn-monroe}}
* {{WikimediaCommons|Marilyn_Monroe}}
== References ==
== References ==
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|2}}
==Further reading==
{{gfdl}}
*{{cite book | last = Baty | first = S. Paige | title=American Monroe: The Making of a Body Politic | publisher=University of California Press| year=1995 |id=ISBN 0-520-08806-9}} Examines Monroe's stature as an icon.
{{1953 playmates}}
*{{cite book | last = Belmont | first = Georges | title=Marilyn Monroe and the Camera| publisher=Te Neues Publishing Company| year=2000 | id=ISBN 3-8238-5467-4}} Monroe's "love affair" with the camera.
*{{cite book | last = Churchwell | first = Sarah | title=The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe| publisher=Metropolitan Books| year=2004 | id=ISBN 0-8050-7818-5}} Explores Western Civilization's fixation with Monroe.
*{{cite book | last = Cunningham | first = Ernest W. | title=The Ultimate Marilyn | publisher=Renaissance Books| year=1997 | id=ISBN 1-58063-003-0}} A compendium of facts, fantasies and scandals about Marilyn Monroe.
*{{cite book | last = Gilmore | first = John | title=Inside Marilyn Monroe: A Memoir | publisher=Ferine Books | year=2007 | id=ISBN 0-9788968-0-7}} Examination of Monroe's personal and professional life.
*{{cite book | last = Guiles | first = Fred Lawrence | title=Norma Jean: The Life of Marilyn Monroe | publisher=Paragon House Publishers| year=1993 | id=ISBN 1-55778-583-X}} Reissue of a biography cited in this article.
*{{cite book | last = Mailer | first = Norman | title=Marilyn: A Biography | publisher=Grosset & Dunlap| year=1973 | id=ISBN 0-448-01029-1}} His controversial take on Monroe.
*''My Sister Marilyn'', Miracle, Berniece Baker and Mona Raw Baker. Publisher: Algonquin Books; first edition (1994) Hardcover: 238 pages ISBN 1565120701
*{{cite book | last = Monroe | first = Marilyn | title=My Story | publisher=Cooper Square Press| year=2000 | id=ISBN 0-8154-1102-2}} Reprint of her memoirs, ghost-written by Ben Hecht; introduction by [[Andrea Dworkin]].
*{{cite book | last = Rollyson | first = Carl E. | title=Marilyn Monroe: A Life of the Actress | publisher=Da Capo Press| year=1993 | id=ISBN 0-306-80542-1}} Scholarly look at her films.
*{{cite book | last = Spoto | first = Donald | title=Marilyn Monroe: The Biography | publisher=Cooper Square Press| year=2001 | id=ISBN 0-8154-1183-9}} Biography cited in this article.
*{{cite book | last = Smith | first = Matthew | title=Marilyn's Last Words: Her Secret Tapes and Mysterious Death | publisher=Carroll & Graf Publishers | year=2004 | id=ISBN 0-7867-1380-1}} Alleged transcripts of Monroe's therapy sessions.
*{{cite book | last = Taylor | first = Roger G. | title=Marilyn in Art| publisher=Chaucer Press| year=2006 |id=ISBN 1-904957-02-1}} Examines Monroe's influence on numerous artists.
*Vitacco-Robles, Gary (2003). ''Cursum Perficio: Marilyn Monroe's Brentwood Hacienda: The Story of Her Final Months.'' IUniverse. ISBN 0-595-01082-2
*{{cite book | last = Victor | first = Adam | title=The Complete Marilyn Monroe | publisher=Thames and Hudson Ltd | year=1999 | id=ISBN 0-500-01978-9}}
*[[Gloria Steinem|Steinem, Gloria]] (1988). ''Marilyn: Norma Jeane'', photos by [[George Barris (photographer)|George Barris]]. Signet. (1988) ISBN 0451155963
==External links==
[[Category:Actresses]]
{{Commons|Marilyn Monroe}}
[[Category:Glamour models]]
*[http://www.marilynmonroecollection.com The Marilyn Monroe Collection]
[[Category:Singers]]
*[http://www.marilynremembered.org Marilyn Remembered Fan Club]
[[Category:Richard Avedon models]]
*[http://www.parade.com/articles/web_exclusives/2007/04-15-2007/Parade_Classic_Marilyn_Monroe Marilyn Monroe's 1952 interview with Parade]
[[Category:Bunny Yeager models]]
*{{imdb name|id=0000054|name=Marilyn Monroe}}
[[Category:Bill Ray models]]
*{{tcmdb name|id=134087|name=Marilyn Monroe}}
[[Category:Playboy models]]
*[http://www.marilynmonroe.com Official website]
[[Category:Playboy Playmates]]
*[http://mysite.verizon.net/resv9yjn/] Virtual Tour of Marilyn Monroe's Brentwood Hacienda
[[Category:Nude models]]
*[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=725 Marilyn Monroe's grave site]
[[Category:Hourglass]]
*[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2007/06/marilyn_monroe.html Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio and the 1954 "Wrong Door Raid."]
Latest revision as of 23:37, 15 February 2025
Marilyn Monroe
Personal
Also known as
MM, Norma Jean Baker, The Blonde Bombshell
Born
June 1, 1926(1926-06-01)[1] Los Angeles, California, USA
Died
August 5, 1962 (aged 36) Los Angeles, California, USA
She was known for her comedic skills and screen presence, going on to become one of the most popular movie stars of the 1950s and early 1960s. At the later stages of her career, she worked towards serious roles with a measure of success. However, she faced disappointments in her career and personal life during her later years. She was a top-billed actress for only a decade, but her films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2019) by the time of her death in 1962. [2] Her death has been subject to speculation and conspiracy theories.
While her husband was in the Merchant Marine during World War II, Norma Jeane Dougherty moved in with her mother-in-law, and started to work in the Radioplane Company factory (owned by Hollywood actor Reginald Denny), spraying airplane parts with fire retardant and inspecting parachutes. Army photographer David Conover was scouting local factories, taking photos for a YANK magazine article about women contributing to the war effort. He saw her potential as a model and she was soon signed by The Blue Book modeling agency. In his book Finding Marilyn, Conover claimed the two had an affair that lasted years. Shortly after signing with the agency, Monroe had her hair cut, straightened, and lightened to golden blonde.
She became one of Blue Book's most successful models, appearing on dozens of magazine covers. In 1946, she came to the attention of talent scout Ben Lyon. He arranged a screen test for her with 20th Century Fox. She was offered a standard six-month contract with a starting salary of $125 per week.[3]
Lyon suggested she adopt Marilyn (after Marilyn Miller) as her stage name, since Norma Jeane wasn't considered commercial enough. For her last name, she took her mother's maiden name. Thus, the twenty-year-old Norma Jeane Baker became Marilyn Monroe. During her first half year at Fox, Monroe was given no work, but Fox renewed her contract and she was given minor appearances in Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! and Dangerous Years, both released in 1947. In Scudda Hoo!, her part was edited out of the film except for a quick glimpse of her face when she speaks two words. Fox decided not to renew her contract again. Monroe returned to modelling and began to network and make contacts in Hollywood.
In 1948, a six-month stint at Columbia Pictures saw her star in Ladies of the Chorus, but the low-budget musical was not a success and Monroe was dropped yet again. She then met one of Hollywood's top agents, Johnny Hyde, who had Fox re-sign her after MGM turned her down. Fox Vice-President Darryl F. Zanuck was not convinced of Monroe's potential, but due to Hyde's persistence, she gained supporting parts in Fox's All About Eve and MGM's The Asphalt Jungle. Even though the roles were small, movie-goers as well as critics took notice. Hyde also arranged for her to have minor plastic surgery on her nose and chin, adding that to earlier dental surgery.[4][5][6]
The next two years were filled with inconsequential roles in standard fare such as We're Not Married! and Love Nest. However, RKO executives used her to boost box office potential of the Fritz Lang production Clash by Night. After the film performed well, Fox employed a similar tactic and she was cast as the ditzy receptionist with Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers in Howard Hawks's slapstick comedy Monkey Business. Critics no longer ignored her, and both films' success at the box office was partly attributed to Monroe's growing popularity.
Fox finally gave her a starring role in 1952 with Don't Bother to Knock, in which she portrayed a deranged babysitter who attacks the little girl in her care. It was a cheaply made B-movie, and although the reviews were mixed, they claimed that it demonstrated Monroe's ability and confirmed that she was ready for more leading roles. Her performance in the film has since been noted as one of the finest of her career.[7]
Stardom
Monroe proved she could carry a big-budget film when she starred in Niagara in 1953. Movie critics focused on Monroe's connection with the camera as much as on the sinister plot.[8] She played an unbalanced woman planning to murder her husband.
Playboy cover, issue number 1, December 1953
Around this time, nude photos of Monroe began to surface, taken by photographer Tom Kelley when she had been struggling for work. Prints were bought by Hugh Hefner and, in December1953, appeared in the first edition of Playboy. To the dismay of Fox, Monroe decided to publicly admit it was indeed her in the pictures. When a journalist asked her what she wore in bed she replied, "Chanel No. 5." When asked what she had on during the photo shoot, she replied, "The radio."
Marilyn Monroe Nude Photography
Over the following months, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millonaire cemented Monroe's status as an A-list actress and she became one of the world's biggest movie stars. The lavish Technicolor comedy films established Monroe's "dumb blonde" on-screen persona.
In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Monroe's turn as gold-digging showgirl Lorelei Lee won her rave reviews,[9] and the scene where she sang "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" has inspired the likes of Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Geri Halliwell. In the Los Angeles premiere of the film, Monroe and co-star Jane Russell pressed their foot- and handprints in the cement in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
In How to Marry a Millionaire, Monroe was teamed up with Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable. She played a short-sighted dumb blonde, and even though the role was stereotypical, critics took note of her comedic timing.[10]
Her next two films, the western River of No Return and the musical There's No Business Like Show Business, were not successful. Monroe got tired of the roles that Zanuck assigned her. After completing work on The Seven Year Itch in early 1955, she broke her contract and fled Hollywood to study acting at The Actors Studio in New York. Fox would not accede to her contract demands and insisted she return to work on productions she considered inappropriate, such as The Girl in Pink Tights (which was never filmed), The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing, and How to Be Very, Very Popular.
Monroe stayed in New York. As The Seven Year Itch raced to the top of the box office in the summer of 1955, and with Fox starlets Jayne Mansfield and Sheree North failing to click with audiences, Zanuck admitted defeat and Monroe returned to Hollywood. A new contract was drawn up, giving Monroe approval of the director as well as the option to act in other studios' projects.
The first film to be made under the contract was Bus Stop, directed by Joshua Logan. She played Chérie,[11] a saloon bar singer who falls in love with a cowboy. Monroe deliberately appeared badly made-up and unglamorous.
She was nominated for a Golden Globe for the performance and was praised by critics. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times proclaimed: "Hold on to your chairs, everybody, and get set for a rattling surprise. Marilyn Monroe has finally proved herself an actress." In his autobiography, Movie Stars, Real People and Me, director Joshua Logan wrote: "I found Marilyn to be one of the great talents of all time... She struck me as being a much brighter person than I had ever imagined, and I think that was the first time I learned that intelligence and, yes brilliance have nothing to do with education."
Monroe formed her own production company with friend and photographer Milton H. Greene. Marilyn Monroe Productions released its first and only film The Prince and the Showgirl in 1957 to mixed reviews. Along with executive-producing the film, she starred opposite the acclaimed British actor Laurence Olivier, who also directed it.
Olivier became furious at her habit of being late to the set, as well as her dependency on her drama coach, Paula Strasberg. Monroe's performance was hailed by critics, especially in Europe, where she was handed the David di Donatello, the Italian equivalent of the Academy Award, as well as the French Crystal Star Award. She was also nominated for the British BAFTA award.
Later years
In 1959, she scored the biggest hit of her career starring alongside Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in Billy Wilder's comedy Some Like It Hot. After shooting finished, Wilder publicly blasted Monroe for her difficult on-set behavior. Soon, however, Wilder's attitude softened, and he hailed her as a great comedienne. Some Like It Hot is consistently rated as one of the best films ever made.[12] Monroe's performance earned her a Golden Globe for best actress in musical or comedy.
After Some Like It Hot, Monroe shot Let's Make Love directed by George Cukor and co-starring Yves Montand. Monroe was forced to shoot the picture because of her obligations to Twentieth Century-Fox. While the film was not a commercial or critical success, it included one of Monroe's legendary musical numbers, Cole Porter's "My Heart Belongs to Daddy".
Arthur Miller wrote what became her and her co-star Clark Gable's last completed film, The Misfits. The exhausting shoot took place in the hot Nevada desert. Monroe, Gable and Montgomery Clift delivered performances that are considered excellent by contemporary movie critics.[13] Tabloid magazines blamed Gable's death of a heart attack on Monroe, claiming she had given him a hard time on the set. Gable, however, insisted on doing his own stunts and was a heavy smoker. After Gable's death, Monroe attended the baptism of his son.
Some of the most famous photographs of her were taken by Douglas Kirkland in 1961 as a feature for the 25th anniversary issue of Look magazine.
Monroe returned to Hollywood to resume filming on the George Cukor comedy Something's Got to Give, a never-finished film that has become legendary for problems on the set and proved a costly debacle for Fox. In May 1962, she made her last significant public appearance, singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" at a televised birthday party for President John F. Kennedy.
After shooting what was claimed to have been the first ever nude scene by a major motion picture actress, Monroe's attendance on the set became even more erratic. On June 1, her thirty-sixth birthday, she attended a charity event at Dodger Stadium.
Already financially strained by the production costs of Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Fox dropped Monroe from the film and replaced her with Lee Remick. However, co-star Dean Martin, who had a clause in his contract giving him an approval over his co-star, was unwilling to work with anyone but Monroe. She was rehired.
Monroe conducted a lengthy interview with Life, in which she expressed how bitter she was about Hollywood labeling her as a dumb blonde and how much she loved her audience.[14] She also did a photo shoot for Vogue, and began discussing a future film project with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, according to the Donald Spoto biography. Furthermore, she was planning to star in a biopic of Jean Harlow. Other projects being considered for her were What a Way to Go! (in which Shirley MacLaine would replace her), Kiss Me, Stupid, a comedy starring Dean Martin (and Kim Novak taking on Monroe's role) and a musical version of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.
Before the shooting of Something's Got to Give resumed, Monroe was found dead in her Los Angeles home on the morning of August 5, 1962. She remains one of the 20th century's legendary public figures and archetypal Hollywood movie stars.
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Playboy Playmates of 1953
