Marilyn Monroe

From ArticleWorld

Marilyn Monroe was considered a legend of the silver screen and a forerunner for the modern day Hollywood sex symbol. Marilyn Monroe was born June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California.

Contents 1 Family Life 2 There’s No Business… 3 Marriages 4 Death

Family Life

While her career indeed took her to stardom, her first appearance on life’s stage was a humble beginning. She was born Norma Jeane Mortenson (she was later baptized Norma Jeane Baker) in the charity ward of Los Angles County Hospital. Her biological mother, Gladys was unable to care for her and placed her in foster care. Norma Jeane fluctuated back and forth between the orphanages, foster homes and Gladys’ friend, Grace. By 1941, she was back in Graces care but was on the verge of being returned to the orphanage. However, Grace decided the best thing for the 15 year old was to marry the neighbor’s young son, James. Norma Jeane Baker and James Dougherty exchanged vows on June 19, 1942 in what she would later dub a “marriage of convenience.” They divorced in September of 1946

There’s No Business…

Norma Jeane got her start in show business through modeling and later moved into the film industry when she signed with 20th Century Fox. Young Norma Jeane, now dubbed Marilyn Monroe, was cast in very minor roles in two 1947 box office flops. Fox did not to renew her contract. She returned to modeling and did a short stint with Columbia Pictures until Fox resigned her in 1948. Marilyn’s 1953 performance in Niagara solidified her onscreen sex symbol image. Subsequent films, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How To Marry a Millionaire catapulted her toward A-list status and movie stardom. Her 1955 film The Seven Year Itch (and the famous “skirt blowing scene”) bounded her to the top of the box office ratings that summer. However Marilyn, tired of being type-cast into the role of the “dumb blonde,” broke her contract with Fox and fled to New York to study acting. Upon her return, she filmed the movie Bus Stop. Critics immediately noticed a change in her performing style. This film, considered to be one of her best, earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

In 1959, she reached the peak of her career with the box office smash: Some Like it Hot. Her talent for comedy acting and unparalleled screen presence shone through. She took home the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy.

Marriages

Monroe was married and divorced three times. She married her first husband James Dougherty in 1942 and later divorced him in 1946.

She eloped with baseball great, Joe DiMaggio in 1954. He was very frequently jealous of her sex-symbol image and months after their marriage, reportedly beat her. She divorced him in October of 1954 at the behest of her production company.

In 1956 Marilyn married playwright, Arthur Miller. They later divorced in 1961.

Flames were re-kindled with DiMaggio in 1961. In August 1, 1962, DiMaggio asked her to remarry him.

Death

Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood home on August 5, 1962 at the age of 36. Cause of death was believed to have been an overdose on barbiturates although none were found in her mouth, stomach or intestines. Theorists speculate this overdose was administered by injection or rectal suppository. This cannot be proven as the crime scene was never secured. Therefore, there existed the probability of contaminated or even destroyed evidence. Autopsy reports and lab work also disappeared from the LA Coroners office.