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Committed to Buyer Satisfaction
Also Known As: Norma
Jeane Baker
Birth Name: Norma Jeane
Mortenson
Born: June 1, 1926 in Los
Angeles, CA
Died: August 4, 1962 in
Brentwood, CA
Measurements: 37-23-36
(Studio's Claim) 35-22-35 (Dressmaker's Claim)
Height: 5 feet 5 1/2 inches
I adore Marilyn Monroe-and always will! Marilyn Monroe personified Hollywood glamour with an
unparalleled glow and energy that enamored the world. Although she was an
alluring beauty with voluptuous curves and a generous pout, Marilyn was more
than a 50s sex goddess. Her apparent vulnerability and innocence, in combination
with an innate sensuality, has endeared her to the global consciousness. She
dominated the age of movie stars to become, without question, the most famous
woman of the 20th Century.
She was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California,
to Gladys Baker. As the identity of her father is undetermined, she was later
baptized Norma Jeane Baker. Gladys had been a film-cutter at RKO studios, but
psychological problems prevented her from keeping the job and she was eventually
committed to a mental institution.
Norma Jeane spent most of her childhood in foster homes and orphanages until
1937, when she moved in with family friend Grace McKee Goddard. Unfortunately,
when Grace's husband was transferred to the East Coast in 1942 the couple
couldn't afford to take 16-year-old Norma Jeane with them. Norma Jeane had two
options: return to the orphanage or get married.
On June 19, 1942 she wed her 21-year-old neighbor Jimmy Dougherty, whom she had
been dating for six months. "She was a sweet, generous and religious
girl," Jimmy said. "She liked to be cuddled." By all accounts
Norma Jeane loved Jimmy, and they were happy together until he joined the
Merchant Marines and was sent to the South Pacific in 1944.
After Jimmy left, Norma Jeane took a job on the assembly line at the Radio Plane
Munitions factory in Burbank, California. Several months later, photographer
David Conover saw her while taking pictures of women contributing to the war
effort for Yank
magazine. He couldn't believe his luck. She was a "photographer's
dream." Conover used her for the shoot and then began sending modeling jobs
her way. The camera loved Norma Jeane, and within two years she was a reputable
model with many popular magazine covers to her credit. She began studying the
work of legendary actresses Jean
Harlow and Lana
Turner, and enrolled in drama classes with dreams of stardom. However,
Jimmy's return in 1946 meant Norma Jeane had to make another choice- this time
between her marriage and her career.
Norma Jeane divorced Jimmy in June of 1946, and signed her first studio contract
with Twentieth Century Fox on August 26, 1946. She earned $125 a week. Soon
after, Norma Jeane dyed her hair blonde and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe
(borrowing her grandmother's last name). The rest, as the saying goes, is
history.
Marilyn's first movie role was a bit part in 1947's The
Shocking Miss Pilgrim. She also
had a small part in HOME TOWN STORY. A charming
tale and Marilyn play's a secretary. She played a series of
inconsequential characters until 1950, when John Huston's thriller The
Asphalt Jungle provided her with a small but
influential role, (view the section titled FILMS
on this page for a detailed list of All Marilyn's Films.)
It was Marilynowns performance as Claudia Caswell the 1950 film, All
About Eve (starring Bette
Davis) earned her further praise. From then on Marilyn worked steadily in
movies such as: Let's
Make It Legal, As
Young As You Feel, Monkey
Business and Don't
Bother to Knock. It was her performance in 1953's Niagara,
however, that delivered her to stardom. Marilyn played Rose Loomis, a beautiful
young wife who plots to kill her older, jealous husband (Joseph Cotten).
Marilyn's success in Niagara
was followed with lead roles in the wildly popular Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes (co-starring Jane Russell) and How
to Marry a Millionaire (co-starring Lauren Bacall
and Betty
Grable). Photoplay
magazine voted Marilyn the Best New Actress of 1953, and at 27 years old she was
undeniably the best-loved blonde bombshell in Hollywood.
On January 14, 1954, Marilyn married baseball superstar Joe DiMaggio at San
Francisco's City Hall. They had been a couple for two years, after Joe asked his
agent to arrange a dinner date. "I don't know if I'm in love with him
yet," Marilyn said when the press got word of their relationship, "but
I know I like him more than any man I've ever met." During their Tokyo
honeymoon, Marilyn took time to perform for the service men stationed in Korea.
Her presence caused a near-riot among the troops, and Joe was clearly
uncomfortable with thousands of men ogling his new bride.
Unfortunately, Marilyn's fame and sexual image became a theme that haunted their
marriage. Nine months later on October 27, 1954, Marilyn and Joe divorced. They
attributed the split to a "conflict of careers," and remained close
friends.
Marilyn was ready to shed her "shallow blonde" image by 1955. It had
gotten her into the spotlight, but now that she had the opportunity and
experience, Marilyn wanted to pursue serious acting. She took a hiatus from
Hollywood and moved to New York City to study under Lee Strasberg at his Actors'
Studio. In 1956, Marilyn started her own motion picture company, Marilyn Monroe
Productions. The company produced Bus
Stop and The
Prince and the Showgirl (co-starring Sir
Laurence Olivier). These two films allowed her to demonstrate her talent and
versatility as an actress. Marilyn received further recognition for 1959's Some
Like It Hot, winning a Golden Globe for Best
Actress in a Comedy.
On June 29, 1956, Marilyn wed playwright Arthur
Miller. The couple met through
Strasberg, and friends reported she made him "giddy." While they were
married, Arthur wrote the part of Roslyn Taber in 1961's The
Misfits especially for Marilyn. The movie
co-starred Clark Gable and Montgomery
Clift. Sadly, the marriage between Marilyn and Arthur ended on January 20,
1961, and The Misfits
was to be Marilyn's (and Gable's) last completed film.
At the 1962 Golden Globes, Marilyn was named female World Film Favorite, once
again demonstrating her widespread appeal.
In a shocking turn of events, shortly before midnight on August 4, 1962,
36-year-old Marilyn died in her sleep at her Brentwood, California home. There
is some speculation about the death of Marilyn Monroe. I have my own theory, as
I am sure you do too! Please leave your comments in my
ON-LINE
Forum.
The
world was stunned when Marilyn Passed. Marilyn's vibrant spirit and beauty made it impossible to
believe she was gone. On August 8, 1962, Marilyn's body was laid to rest in the
Corridor of Memories, #24, at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.
During her career, Marilyn made over 30 films and left one, Something's
Got to Give unfinished.
Marilyn
was more than just a
movie star or glamour queen. She was and remains a global sensation. Marilyn's
popularity has extended beyond star status to icon. Today, the name
"Marilyn Monroe" is synonymous with beauty, sensuality and
effervescence. She was more than just a pretty face too... with passions for
politics and poetry, a comedic actress, a dramatic actress, a sexy bombshell
and Model...Marilyn was it all!
She remains an inspiration to all who strive to overcome personal
obstacles for the goal of achieving GREATNESS.
To view Photographs of Marilyn, continue on to the next page.
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