| Marilyn Monroe Legendary Actress |
| What a dame! Just the mere mention of this legend brings respect in Hollywood. Her legacy is surrounded in greatness, and tragedy. The internet offers miles and miles and miles and miles and miles of information on the life and death of Marilyn. You can find her full bio elsewhere, here I would like to point out the interesting stuff, while holding respect in tact. So without further ado ....... She was born Norma Jean Mortensen on June 1, 1926 at 9:30 am. Her mother was a film-cutter at RKO who, widowed and insane, abandoned her to sequence of foster homes. She was almost smothered to death at two, nearly raped at six. At nine the LA Orphans' Home paid her a nickel a month for kitchen work while taking back a penny every Sunday for church. Needless to say, the childhood era for Marilyn was indeed rough. Throughout her carrer, she spanned 30 films, and developed a cult following that still generates admirers today. By the 1950's she had found common ground in the bizz, and found love. On January 14, 1954, Marilyn wed Joe DiMaggio, then proceeded to film There's No Business Like Show Business. That was quickly followed by The Seven Year Itch, which showcased her considerable comedic talent and contained what is arguably one of the most memorable moments in cinema history. Life was good, for the time anyway. Her and DiMaggio lived in this home in Bel Aire, CA. The marriage was over almost from the beginning, and in October of 1954, Marilyn announced her divorce from DiMaggio. The union lasted only eight months. In 1955 she was suspended by Fox for not reporting for work on How to Be Very, Very Popular. It was her second suspension, the first being for not reporting for the production of "The Girl In Pink Tights". Both roles went to others. Her work was slowing down, due to her habit of being continually late to the set, her illnesses (whether real or imagined) and generally being unwilling to cooperate with her producers, directors, and fellow actors. In 1962 Marilyn was chosen to star in Fox's Something's Got to Give. Again, her absenteeism caused delay after delay in production, resulting in her being fired from the production in June of that year. It looked as though her career was finished. Studios just didn't want to take a chance on her because it would cost them thousands of dollars in delays. She went into seclusion in her home in L.A. On August 5, 1962, her housekeeper found her dead body, nude and lying face down on her bed, apparently the victim of an overdose of sedatives. She was only 36. Her funeral was a literal swarm of fans. (another pic) Controversy surrounds Marilyn Monroe's death. Even today, opinions vary. Some say she was murdered, some say it was an accidental overdose, and some simply scrath thier heads. One thing is for sure. Marilyn Monroe was an American icon, a legend, that can never be lived down. In her own words on getting started in Hollywood, "I want to be a big star more than anything. It's something precious." Indeed she did!! Visit her grave here, and leave flowers and a note. Thanks to Denny Jackson for excepts in this story! TRIVIA Was a direct descendant of U.S. President James Monroe, on her mother's side. Playboy "Sweetheart" of the Month, December 1953. Hugh M. Hefner, in fact, owns the burial vault next to hers. Fearing blemishes, she washed her face fifteen times a day and thought the right side of her face was her "best" side. On Febuary 23rd, 1956, she obtained order from the City Court of the State of New York to legally change her name from Norma Jeane Mortenson to Marilyn Monroe. On December 31, 1955, she formed her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions. Measurements: 37C-24-35 (definitive measurements for the majority of her career) / (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) |
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