Marilyn Monroe
South side of the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard
Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, CA
Died Aug. 5, 1962 of sleeping pill overdose in Brentwood, CA

Marilyn Monroe has become one of the most enduring American icons of the 20th century. Images of her in such films as "The Seven-Year Itch" and "Some Like It Hot" have become fixtures on the American cultural panorama along with Babe Ruth at the plate and Norman Rockwell paintings.

But before she was an icon — even before she was Marilyn Monroe — she was Norma Jeane Mortensen, and she lived in the San Fernando Valley.

Born in 1926, her mother suffered a severe nervous breakdown nine years later. After her mother was committed to a state mental institution for a stay that lasted six years, Norma Jeane came to live with her mother's friend, Grace Goddard, and her husband, Doc. In 1939, the Goddards moved with Norma Jeane to a house on Odessa Street in Van Nuys.

She was raised by a series of foster parents and, after her first marriage to James Dougherty, she began working as a model. She appeared on the cover of a number of men's magazines, which got the attention of Twentieth Century Fox.

She signed a one-year contract with Fox, which the studio let expire. Monroe did freelance modeling and acting work until she appeared in "All About Eve," and Fox signed her again.

She went on to appear in "Don't Bother to Knock" (1953), "Clash by Night" (1952), "Monkey Business" (1952), "How to Marry a Millionaire" (1953), "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953) and "There's No Business Like Show Business" (1954).

In all, Monroe appeared in 23 motion pictures that grossed about $200 million.

Her high-profile second and third marriages to baseball great Joe DiMaggio and Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Arthur Miller ended in divorce.

Her death at 36 remains one of Hollywood's most compelling, and unforgettable, mysteries.

Monroe's body was found naked and facedown on her bed in her Brentwood home in August 1962.

An autopsy conducted by Dr. Thomas Noguchi, then deputy medical examiner, concluded that death was due to acute barbiturate poisoning, and a psychiatric team tied to the investigation termed it a "probable suicide."

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    13 thoughts about Marilyn Monroe

    I never met her, but was in the hospital with polio when she was filming "Bus Stop" in Phoenix, Az. There was a scene filmed in the hospital, when Don Murray was injured as a rodeo rider, which was eventually cut from the movie. The whole hospital was abuzz. My Dad was at the rodeo and said she was, "very beautiful and never had he seen a woman with such white, luminescent skin."

    — ann Shahan
    March 19, 2010 at 2:53 p.m.

    I love Marilyn. Never met her, but was living in West LA when she died. Went out for breakfast, bought the LA Times, and was very much saddened. I was able to place flowers at her crypt in Westwood.Rest in peace, our Angel.

    — Diana
    April 10, 2010 at 6:45 a.m.

    Never met Marilyn,but I know she was a very smart lady and a great actress,umfortunately and fortunately he curves and sex appeal overshowed all.

    — ARMANDO SALINAS
    May 24, 2010 at 6:52 p.m.

    Marilyn Monroe is one of my favorite actresses of all time. Her classic beauty and iconic hourglass figure overshadowed her comedic timing and vulnerability as a performer. She was truly a star, and she will always be a legend. Love you, Marilyn! Hope to visit her and leave a gift at the Westwood Village Memorial Park one day.

    — Allison H.
    November 9, 2010 at 7:32 p.m.

    I Love Marilyn Monroe and I adore
    her andI have watched all of her movies and what I LOVE the most about her is her SOFT VOICE and her BEAUTIFUL innocent features!!!!
    I wish she didnt leave this earth so soon because I believe she was a very
    SPECIAL ACTRESS and it is TRUE
    please SPEAK like MARILYN when you are having aruments for some reason no one cares if you sound so SWEET ♥

    — Tammy Grubert
    January 8, 2011 at 3:35 a.m.

    I did meet Marilyn many years ago. I was 12 or 13, this was around 1959 or 1960. My dad came home and told us he was painting her apartment. This was in NYC. My mom, told him that I should come along (probably because she thought Marilyn wanted to steal this house painter). So the next day we went. At that time, the only way we knew of movie stars, was thru magazines like Photoplay or Life, newspapers stories, or sometimes on the news. What I knew of Marilyn, was big shiny lips, tight sparkly dresses, a fur stole and a wiggle.
    When we got to the apartment the next morning, a dark haired lady let us in, no Marilyn. It was not the gold and marble palace I had imagined, just a regular apartment. All morning long people came and went, phones rang,but no Marilyn. It was very hot and we had the living room windows open. Sometime in the afternoon a girl walked from a room in the back, thru the living room. My dad said "That's her! Go talk to her!" I could not believe that the girl was Marilyn. No gold gown, no fur, no shiny lips, no wiggle.
    I went into the kitchen where she was. She was, she asked if I wanted a Coke, I said OK, and she gave me one. I said "Thanks", turned and walked out. I still could not believe it was her, a pretty girl, yes, but not the glossy Marilyn I expected. She had bobby pins in her hair. Lots of them. I had also somehow expected her to be very tall, but she wasnt. I kept that Coke bottle for many years, until one day it was gone. My son had taken it to the park to shoot bottle rockets out of. He didnt know it meant anything to me.

    — jim
    January 11, 2011 at 6:12 p.m.

    I think Marilyn Monroe is a very Beautiful lady.. She has been through so much things in her life!

    — Braxtyn Garreaux
    February 24, 2012 at 2:47 p.m.

    I never met her but I have a friend who did . He was every bit of seventy when I first met him. He loved to tell this story every chance he got. He was a man that worked part-time for the filmmakers while they were on location in the Moab Utah area. His name was Gene Scribbner. He was a character, a cross between Will Rodgers and Walter Brennan. He could tell a story like no one else. Well, when he told this one his face would light up and he'd smile then that one tooth he had would expose it self and make the story even greater.It was as if he was that young man again. This one story was about him having the pleasure of giving Marilyn Monroe rides down a canyon dirt road to a river. He drove heavy equipment for years. He said that she would jump up onto that dozer and she would talk to him every inch of the way. He was in heaven, being with the most beautiful woman in the world and getting paid to be. He swore she was the nicest and sweetest young lady in the world. He was so glad she never said anything about how it took longer for him to get her down and then back up each day he did. He liked to think she enjoyed it as much as he did, just unwinding and talking about anything and not being judged. You know I loved hearing him tell the story so much that after a days work sitting at the dinner table with Gene and others that I knew had not heard this time in Gene's life I would beg him to tell us about Marilyn. Then I would see that young man again.

    — Jack Rodriguez
    March 16, 2012 at 12:31 p.m.

    she was a beatiful woman its sad what she went thur.!!!!

    — MIKE MCLEAN
    May 10, 2012 at 2:08 p.m.

    Marilyn Monroe does deserve a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, just as much or more than some of the others who has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    I am 72 yrs. old, and I have always enjoyed her movies and watch them whenever they are rerun. I believe she was a Star and a Lady that was used for others benefit. They never saw the intelligence she had.
    All they saw was a blonde with a great body. She had more in mind for her self.
    I believe it is so sad that she died before her time. I'm sure that others hastened her death. She never had a true friend.
    Well, maybe one. Her psychiatrist. I say GIVE HER A STAR, she deserves it.

    — Elizabeth E. Rayot
    August 6, 2012 at 2 a.m.

    I thought she had one, or am I thinking of something else?

    — Paula Welsh
    January 30, 2013 at 4:05 a.m.

    I love her and she was very inspirational. I am 17, almost 18 and i can honestly say she was one of the greatest actresses of this world. RIP Ms. Beautiful. <3, XoXo.

    — Ashley Gorby
    February 6, 2013 at 8:53 a.m.

    Everyone abused marilyn... they would always make her feel bad about something and blame her for everything... she was vulnerable because no one cared about her...she had no family or friends so it was easy to bully her.... they called her a brat, selfish, bitch, and joe dimaggio beat her up and broke her thumb, he was jealous of her and very abusive... she was an orphan and people treated her like one.... when you have no mother your an orphan and everyone attacks you... hopefully shes happy now and with people that care about her.....

    — deb
    February 13, 2013 at 10:09 p.m.

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