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Like many other icons, Marilyn Monroe did not come from a star-studded family. In fact, she came from no family at all and was not called Marilyn Monroe until late in her short life. Born Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, her name was quickly changed to Norma Jean Baker, her mother’s last name, because her father could not be found. Giving her name was all that Gladys Baker could do for her daughter, and she was soon locked away in an insane asylum. Thus Norma began life by bouncing around California’s foster home system until she moved in with family friends in 1937. When these friends left for the East Coast in 1942, Norma had to decide whether to get married or return to the foster care system.

So, on June 19, 1942 Norma married Jim Dougherty, her boyfriend of six months. While the marriage survived his departure to the Merchant Marines in World War II, it did not last through her discovery as a modeling talent. After Jimmy left for the merchant marines, 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. She signed her first studio contract with Twentieth Century Fox on August 26, 1946. She earned $125 a week. Soon after, Norma 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.

By the time Jimmy got back, in early 1946, Norma was completely immersed in her career. She had no time, or desire, for the marriage---Norma divorced Jimmy in June of 1946.

On January 14, 1954, long after films like “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “Some Like it Hot” had made Marilyn a national sensation, Marilyn married baseball superstar Joe DiMaggio at San Francisco's City Hall. 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, with Joe delivering roses to her grave every week after her death for over 20 years. Many even believe that Joe and Marilyn were planning to get remarried in the week following her sudden suicide.

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. 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.

In a shocking turn of events on the early morning of August 5, 1962, 36-year-old Marilyn died in her sleep at her Brentwood, California home. The world was stunned. Marilyn's vibrant spirit and beauty made it impossible to believe she was gone.


official website-This is fairly biased as it is maintained by Monroe's estate, but it is pretty good for biography, quotes and pictures.
fan site with good quotes like "When you speak of the American way of life, everybody thinks of chewing gum, Coca-Cola and Marilyn Monroe.” the Russian magazine Nedvela
Ti me magazine essay
Biography

Recommended Reading
American Monroe by Paige S. Baty
Marilyn Monroe by Barbara Leaming
My Story by Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography by Donald Spoto

  • Born:June 1, 1926
  • Died:August 5, 1962
  • Famous As:An actress, model and sex symbol
  • Interesting Facts:
  • Marilyn was married to baseball great Joe DiMaggio and renowned playwright Arthur Miller
  • Marilyn had affairs with many stars, including: Frank Sinatra, John F. Kennedy, and Bobby Kennedy
  • Marilyn was featured in the first playboy magazine, published by Hugh Hefner.
  • Some of her Most Famous Works:
    • The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
    • Monkey Business (1952)
    • How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
    • Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
    • There's no business like show business (1954)
    • The Seven Year Itch (1955)
    • Some Like it Hot (1959)