Marilyn Monroe Biography
Marilyn Monroe captivated the world with her beauty, glamour, and unabashed sex appeal. Born with mousey brown hair and the non-distinct name of Norma Jean Mortenson, Marilyn re-invented herself and rose to fame in the 1950s portraying bubbly, sometimes ditzy and always curvaceous blonde bombshells in Hollywood films.
She overcame a childhood of foster homes, an absent father, and a disturbed mother to become a model, singer and award-winning actress. But her sex kitten persona left her pigeonholed in shallow roles and alone. Having sacrificed her first marriage to pursue an acting career, the failure of her second marriage to baseball great Joe DiMaggio would be blamed on her demanding career and increasing sexual image. Her third marriage to playwright Arthur Miller ended when career frustrations, self-doubt, and depression began to consume her.
Marilyn Monroe is a 20th century icon representing the glamour, sexuality and tragedy of fame in Hollywood.
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Awards and Honors
- Golden Globe for "Female World Film Favorite" 1954
- British Academy Awards Nomination for Best Foreign Actress ("The Seven Year Itch", 1956)
- British Academy Awards Nomination for Best Foreign Actress ("The Prince and the Showgirl", 1958)
- Honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
- Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy 1960 "Some Like It Hot"
- Golden Globe for "Female World Film Favorite" 1962
- Ranked #6 on the American Film Institute's "50 Greatest Screen Legends" list
- U.S. commemorative postage stamp featuring Marilyn Monroe issued in 1995.
Fast Facts
- The first centerfold and cover girl for Playboy magazine in 1953.
- Crowned Miss California Artichoke Queen in 1947.
- Second husband, Joe DiMaggio, had roses delivered to Marilyn's grave two times a week for 20 years.
- Attended Art Appreciation and Literature classes at UCLA in 1951.
- At 5'and 5 1/2", Marilyn weighed 118 lbs and wore a dress size 12.
Notable Films
- The Asphalt Jungle 1950
- All About Eve 1950
- Don't Bother To Knock 1952
- Niagara 1953
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 1953
- How To Marry a Millionaire 1953
- The Seven Year Itch 1955
- Some Like it Hot 1959
- The Misfits 1961
Marilyn Monroe Timeline
1926
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles, California in June 1st.
1942
Marries neighbor and boyfriend of 6 months, Jimmy Dougherty on June 19th.
1945
Begins modeling after being discovered by a photographer while working at the Radioplane Corporation, a wartime factory.
1946
Divorces Jimmy Dougherty.
Begins using Marilyn Monroe as a stage name, but doesn't make it legal until 1956.
1947
Plays a small part in her first film, "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim", in 1947.
1954
Weds baseball player Joe DiMaggio on January 14th.
Films the infamous skirt-blowing scene in "The Seven Year Itch"
Divorces DiMaggio in October.
1955
Moves to New York City for a year to study under Lee Strasberg at the Actors' Studio.
Forms her own company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, with photographer Milton H. Greene, which produces "Bus Stop" (1956) and "The Prince and the Showgirl" (1957).
1956
Marries playwright Arthur Miller in a civil ceremony on June 29th, and again in a Jewish ceremony on July 1st.
1960
Awarded Golden Globe for Best Actress in a comedy for "Some Like it Hot".
1961
Divorces Arthur Miller.
Admitted to the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic for emotional and physical exhaustion.
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