Marilyn, also known as Norma Jeane Mortenson, was born in Los Angeles, CA to Gladys Pearl Baker and Martin Edward Mortenson. Her mother, Pearl, was an unstable parent and had some mental issues. Norma Jeane survived being smothered by a pillow at age two and was nearly raped by her step father, Charles, at age six. She was a lonely child in foster care.
When Marilyn was sixteen, she married a man named James Dougherty. She got a job at Radioplane Munition Factory. A man named Ronald Reagan took some pictures of her on the job for a magazine of young women helping the war effort. He encouraged her to sign up for The Blue Book Modeling Agency. James Dougherty went off to war and they divorced in 1946.
When Marilyn was sixteen, she married a man named James Dougherty. She got a job at Radioplane Munition Factory. A man named Ronald Reagan took some pictures of her on the job for a magazine of young women helping the war effort. He encouraged her to sign up for The Blue Book Modeling Agency. James Dougherty went off to war and they divorced in 1946.
She was one of Blue Book's most popular models and was said to be "Jean Harlow all over again". One day Ben Lyon, from 20th Century Fox, arranged for a screen test and LOVED her. He gave her the first stage name, Carole Lind.
She was in her first musical of Ladies of the Chorus. The production didn't go well and soon dropped, leaving her without a job. She went back to modeling. She was named Mona Monroe by Tom Kelley.
In 1949 she impressed the producers of Love Happy. After that, they sent her to New York to be in the films promotional campaign.
During March, 1952, Marilyn was in a possible scandal. Two of her nude photos taken by Tom Kelley were featured in a calender. Many people who viewed it was speculating whether or not it was her; it was. She claimed she only did it to pay the rent.
She was in her first musical of Ladies of the Chorus. The production didn't go well and soon dropped, leaving her without a job. She went back to modeling. She was named Mona Monroe by Tom Kelley.
In 1949 she impressed the producers of Love Happy. After that, they sent her to New York to be in the films promotional campaign.
During March, 1952, Marilyn was in a possible scandal. Two of her nude photos taken by Tom Kelley were featured in a calender. Many people who viewed it was speculating whether or not it was her; it was. She claimed she only did it to pay the rent.
She starred in 33 movies and received 12 awards. They say that she was plagued with stage fright her entire career. Sometimes she even had to redo the same scene more than five times.
Her life wasn't all glitz and glamour. On the outside she seemed like she was perfectly fine, but on the inside she was breaking. After three failed marriages, she felt was lost. She was pressured into becoming skinnier and her careers were going down the drain.
She was fired from 20th Century Fox because of her tardiness and sometimes no shows in 1962. That deepened her depression and had to take antidepressants.
Four days before her death on August 5th 1962, she was rehired. Friends said she looked better than ever during her last week and that she was very pleased to be rehired. But what happened was very unexpected.
Her life wasn't all glitz and glamour. On the outside she seemed like she was perfectly fine, but on the inside she was breaking. After three failed marriages, she felt was lost. She was pressured into becoming skinnier and her careers were going down the drain.
She was fired from 20th Century Fox because of her tardiness and sometimes no shows in 1962. That deepened her depression and had to take antidepressants.
Four days before her death on August 5th 1962, she was rehired. Friends said she looked better than ever during her last week and that she was very pleased to be rehired. But what happened was very unexpected.
Word spread that Marilyn was pregnant...multiple times. Sadly, she had two miscarriages. Miscarriages take a tole on the mother, which worsened her depression.
She was pregnant during the making of "Some Like it Hot" with a ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside of the womb. This was very dangerous for both the baby and Marilyn. Again, she lost the baby. This was terrible for her because motherhood was Marilyn's biggest dream.
She was pregnant during the making of "Some Like it Hot" with a ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside of the womb. This was very dangerous for both the baby and Marilyn. Again, she lost the baby. This was terrible for her because motherhood was Marilyn's biggest dream.
On August 5th 1962, she was found dead in her apartment in Brentwood, Los Angeles. She was only 36 years old. They say she overdosed on her antidepressants. They found a love letter to Joe DiMaggio, her second husband, in her room and it was half-finished.
There are actually many theories to her death. Some believe the Kennedy's murdered her.
The most reasonable cause of death would have to be suicide.
There are actually many theories to her death. Some believe the Kennedy's murdered her.
The most reasonable cause of death would have to be suicide.