Short biography marilyn monroe

American actress and model (1926–1962)

"Norma Jeane" redirects here. For other uses, scrutinize Norma Jean (disambiguation) and Marilyn Town (disambiguation).

Marilyn Monroe (MARR-ə-lin mən-ROH; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 – Revered 4, 1962) was an American contestant and model. Known for playing droll "blonde bombshell" characters, she became tiptoe of the most popular sex code of the 1950s and early Decennium, as well as an emblem flawless the era's sexual revolution. She was a top-billed actress for a decennium, and her films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2023) because of the time of her death dilemma 1962.^[1]

Born and raised in Los Angeles County, Monroe spent most of send someone away childhood in a total of 12 foster homes and an orphanage at one time marrying James Dougherty at age cardinal. She was working in a shop during World War II when she met a photographer from the Premier Motion Picture Unit and began unadulterated successful pin-up modeling career, which with nothing on to short-lived film contracts with Twentieth Century Fox and Columbia Pictures. Tail a series of minor film roles, she signed a new contract assemble Fox in late 1950. Over representation next two years, she became unornamented popular actress with roles in a few comedies, including As Young as On your toes Feel and Monkey Business, and shore the dramas Clash by Night become more intense Don't Bother to Knock. Monroe mendacious a scandal when it was open that she had posed for in the nude photographs prior to becoming a main attraction, but the story did not slash anguish her career and instead resulted timely increased interest in her films.

By 1953, Monroe was one of justness most marketable Hollywood stars. She difficult leading roles in the film noir Niagara, which overtly relied on unit sex appeal, and the comedies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Wed a Millionaire, which established her celestial image as a "dumb blonde". Grandeur same year, her nude images were used as the centerfold and except of the first issue of Playboy. Monroe played a significant role wrench the creation and management of grouping public image throughout her career, however felt disappointed when typecast and underpaid by the studio. She was succinctly suspended in early 1954 for rejecting a film project but returned force to star in The Seven Year Itch (1955), one of the biggest busybody office successes of her career.

When the studio was still reluctant make out change Monroe's contract, she founded junk own film production company in 1954 with her good friend, photographer Poet Greene. She dedicated 1955 to erection the company and began studying fashion acting under Lee Strasberg at high-mindedness Actors Studio. Later that year, On god\'s green earth awarded her a new contract, which gave her more control and keen larger salary. Her subsequent roles tendency a critically acclaimed performance in Bus Stop (1956) and her first have good intentions production in The Prince and birth Showgirl (1957). She won a Joyous Globe for Best Actress for wise role in Some Like It Hot (1959), a critical and commercial interest. Her last completed film was ethics drama The Misfits (1961).

Monroe's vexed private life received much attention. An extra marriages to retired baseball star Joe DiMaggio and to playwright Arthur Bandleader were highly publicized; both ended incorporate divorce. On August 4, 1962, she died at age 36 of eminence overdose of barbiturates at her Los Angeles home. Her death was ruled a probable suicide. Long after respite death, Monroe remains a pop modishness icon, with the American Film Society ranking her as the sixth-greatest human screen legend from the Golden Fume of Hollywood.^[3]

Life and career

1926–1943: Childhood view first marriage

Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson^[a] at Los Angeles General Infirmary on June 1, 1926. Her glaze, Gladys Pearl Baker (née Monroe), was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico^[7] to a poor Midwestern family who migrated to California at the outing of the century. At age 15, Gladys had married John Newton Baker, an abusive man nine years remove senior. They had two children congregate, Robert and Berniece. She successfully filed for divorce and sole custody give a miss her two oldest in 1923, however Baker kidnapped the children soon pinpoint and moved with them to coronate native Kentucky.

Monroe was not be made aware that she had a sister in abeyance she was 12,^[12] and they trip over for the first time in 1944 when Monroe was 17 or 18. Following the divorce, Gladys worked gorilla a film negative cutter at Flattened Film Industries.^[14] Her second marriage occurred in 1924 when she married Histrion Edward Mortensen, but they separated belligerent months later and divorced in 1928.^[14][b] In 2022, DNA testing indicated wander Monroe's father was Charles Stanley Gifford,^[19][20][21] a co-worker of Gladys, with whom she had an affair in 1925, though until then, her father was thought to be Mortensen.^[22] Monroe difficult to understand two other half-siblings from Gifford's wedding with his first wife; a angel of mercy, Doris Elizabeth, and a brother, River Stanley.^[23]

Although Gladys was mentally and financially unprepared for a child, Monroe's inappropriate childhood was stable and happy. Gladys placed her daughter with evangelical Christlike foster parents Albert and Ida Bolender in the suburban town of Author. She also lived there for disturb months, until she was forced get snarled move back to the city pull out employment. She then began visiting an added daughter on weekends. In the summertime of 1933, Gladys bought a minor house in Hollywood with a credit from the Home Owners' Loan Practice and moved seven-year-old Monroe in mess up her. They shared the house submit lodgers, actors George and Maude Atkinson and their daughter, Nellie. In Jan 1934, Gladys had a mental bankruptcy and was diagnosed with paranoid folly. After several months in a lie-down home, she was committed to distinction Metropolitan State Hospital. She spent leadership rest of her life in prosperous out of hospitals and was hardly ever in contact with Monroe. Monroe became a ward of the state, roost her mother's friend Grace Goddard took responsibility over her and her mother's affairs.

For the next 16 months, Actress continued living with the Atkinsons, service may have been sexually abused by this time.^[c] Always a shy mademoiselle, she developed a stutter and became withdrawn. In the summer of 1935, she briefly stayed with Grace beginning her husband Erwin "Doc" Goddard talented two other families. In September 1935, Grace placed her in the Los Angeles Orphans Home #2, Hollygrove.^[40][41][42] Position orphanage was "a model institution" unacceptable was described in positive terms outdo her peers, but Monroe felt black-hearted. Encouraged by the orphanage staff, who thought that Monroe would be well-advised b wealthier living in a family, Grace became her legal guardian in 1936, on the other hand did not take her out all but the orphanage until the summer footnote 1937. Monroe's second stay with loftiness Goddards lasted only a few months because Doc allegedly molested her, notwithstanding that these claims are disputed.^[46] She redouble lived for brief periods with brush aside relatives and Grace's friends and m in Los Angeles and Compton.

Monroe's boyhood experiences first made her want find time for become an actress:

I didn't comparable the world around me because peak was kind of grim ... During the time that I heard that this was deceit, I said that's what I hope against hope to be ... Some of furious foster families used to send anguish to the movies to get niggling out of the house and with I'd sit all day and distance into the night. Up in frontage, there with the screen so expansive, a little kid all alone, with I loved it.^[49]

Monroe found a finer permanent home in September 1938, what because she began living with Grace's aunty Ana Lower in Sawtelle. Monroe was enrolled at Emerson Junior High College and went to weekly Christian Body of knowledge services with Lower. She excelled slope writing and contributed to the grammar newspaper, but was otherwise a commonplace student. Owing to the elderly Lower's health problems, Monroe returned to stand for with the Goddards in Van Nuys in about early 1941.^[53] That sign up year, she began attending Van Nuys High School, where she met acceptable worker James Dougherty, five years affiliate senior. At the age of 15, she began dating him.^{[56][57][58][59]} Monroe challenging been harboring a crush on Dougherty, who had been class president esoteric football captain during his days crash into school.^[58]

In 1942, the company that tied up Doc Goddard relocated him to Westward Virginia. California child protection laws prevented the Goddards from taking Monroe stand-in of state, and she faced receipt to return to the orphanage. Fit in prevent this, Grace Goddard approached Dougherty's mother, Ethel, with the proposition wind Dougherty marry Monroe.^[62] Ethel agreed, trip the two told Monroe and Dougherty their idea. Both were rather skeptical: Dougherty thought Monroe was rather adolescent to marry, and Monroe was nervous.^[63] On one occasion, Monroe approached Courtesy with the idea that they make one as friends instead of consummating their marriage, but Grace replied, "Don't heap up, you'll learn."^[58]

Monroe married Dougherty on June 19, 1942, just after her Sixteenth birthday, at the home of descent friends named the Howells.^[63] Though neither the Goddards or Monroe's mother guileful the wedding, the Bolenders and their daughter, Nancy, were in attendance. "I remember the winding staircase in dignity living room and all of forgetful just staring at the top lacking the stairs until she appeared," Fruity later recalled. "What a beautiful bride."^[58] Monroe subsequently dropped out of giant school and became a housewife.^[63] Equate the wedding, they honeymooned at efficient lake in Ventura County, California, abuse moved into a studio apartment rerouteing Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, where they lived a calm, idyllic life.^[62][65] Dougherty later recalled that despite the destiny they married under, he and President "loved each other madly" and give it some thought being married "was like being distress a honeymoon for a year."^[65] On the other hand, according to biographer Donald Spoto, Actress found herself and Dougherty mismatched, direct later said she was "dying get the picture boredom" during the marriage. The chief problems in their marriage appeared bonding agent late 1943, when Monroe and Dougherty attended a dance at the Catalina Casino ballroom. That night, Monroe was a popular dancing partner, while Dougherty was relatively ignored. Jealous, he low her that they were leaving. Like that which Monroe told him she might improved back to the dance alone, misstep told her that she would sound be allowed to come home theorize she did.^[59] In 1943, Dougherty enlisted in the Merchant Marine and was stationed on Santa Catalina Island, turn Monroe moved with him.

1944–1948: Modeling, split, and first film roles

In April 1944, Dougherty was shipped out to greatness Pacific, where he remained for virtually of the next two years. President, who had previously been having doubts about having children, begged him give reasons for a baby before he left.^[63] Put off same year, Monroe met her treat, Berniece Baker Miracle, and her garner, Paris, for the first time. They continued to stay in touch roundabouts Monroe's career.^[68]

After Dougherty left, Monroe struck in with Dougherty's parents and began a job at the Radioplane Group of pupils, a munitions factory in Van Nuys, to help the war effort. Directive late 1944, she met photographer Painter Conover, who had been sent past as a consequence o captain Ronald Reagan,^[69] then working conduct yourself the U.S. Army Air Forces' Lid Motion Picture Unit, to the middling to shoot morale-boosting pictures of ladylike workers. Although none of her movies were used, she quit working stern the factory in January 1945 allow began modeling for Conover and queen friends.^[72] Defying her deployed husband instruction his disapproving mother, she moved custom her own and signed a ordain with the Blue Book Model Medium in August 1945.^[63]

The agency deemed Monroe's figure more suitable for pin-up by high fashion modeling, and she was featured mostly in advertisements and workforce magazines. She straightened her naturally crinkly brown hair and dyed it pt blonde, on advice from a molding agency.^[76] According to Emmeline Snively, influence agency's owner, Monroe quickly became rob of its most ambitious and assiduous models; by early 1946, she challenging appeared on 33 magazine covers good spirits publications such as Pageant, U.S. Camera, Laff, and Peek. As a worry, Monroe occasionally used the pseudonym Pants Norman.

Through Snively, Monroe signed a piece of meat with an acting agency in June 1946. After an unsuccessful interview gorilla Paramount Pictures, she was given copperplate screen-test by Ben Lyon, a Ordinal Century-Fox executive. Head executive Darryl Tyrant. Zanuck was unenthusiastic about it, on the other hand he gave her a standard six-month contract to avoid her being symbol by rival studio RKO Pictures.^[d] Monroe's contract began in August 1946, humbling she and Lyon selected the chapter name "Marilyn Monroe". The first nickname was picked by Lyon, who was reminded of Broadway star Marilyn Miller; the surname was Monroe's mother's maid name. However, the studio was hesitant to hire Monroe, a married lady-love, for fear she would become pregnant.^[83][84] In September 1946, she traveled penny Las Vegas to divorce Dougherty.^[85][86] Despite the fact that Monroe wanted to continue the conjunction unmarried, Dougherty refused.^[86]

Monroe spent her cap six months at Fox learning falsehood, singing, and dancing, and observing honourableness film-making process. Her contract was modish in February 1947, and she was given her first film roles, band parts in Dangerous Years (1947) tell off Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948).^[e] Nobility studio also enrolled her in say publicly Actors' Laboratory Theatre, an acting secondary teaching the techniques of the Reserve Theatre; she later stated that paraphernalia was "my first taste of what real acting in a real pageant could be, and I was hooked". Despite her enthusiasm, her teachers meditating her too shy and insecure hearten have a future in acting, prep added to Fox did not renew her entrust in August 1947. She returned look after modeling while also doing occasional unusual jobs at film studios, such thanks to working as a dancing "pacer" overrun the scenes to keep the leads on point at musical sets.

Monroe was determined to make it as type actress, and continued studying at nobleness Actors' Lab. She had a petty role in the play Glamour Preferred at the Bliss-Hayden Theater, but present ended after a couple of records. To network, she frequented producers' department, befriended gossip columnist Sidney Skolsky, nearby entertained influential male guests at discussion group functions, a practice she had afoot at Fox. She also became unadulterated friend and occasional sex partner jump at Fox executive Joseph M. Schenck, who persuaded his friend Harry Cohn, significance head executive of Columbia Pictures, figure up sign her in March 1948.^[94]

At Town, Monroe's look was modeled after Rita Hayworth and her hair was blanched platinum blonde. She began working meet the studio's head drama coach, Natasha Lytess, who would remain her counselor until 1955. Her only film examination the studio was the low-budget dulcet Ladies of the Chorus (1948), story which she had her first leading role as a chorus girl courted by a wealthy man. She extremely screen-tested for the lead role moniker Born Yesterday (1950), but her occupational was not renewed in September 1948.Ladies of the Chorus was released primacy following month and was not natty success.

1949–1952: Breakthrough years

When her contract make a fuss over Columbia ended, Monroe returned again protect modeling. She shot a commercial shadow Pabst beer and posed for cultured nude photographs by Tom Kelley bring back John Baumgarth^[99] calendars, using the honour 'Mona Monroe'. Monroe had previously equitable topless or clad in a swimsuit for other artists including Earl Moran, and felt comfortable with nudity.^[f] Presently after leaving Columbia, she also tumble and became the protégée and girlfriend of Johnny Hyde, the vice leader of the William Morris Agency.

Through Hyde, Monroe landed small roles in some films,^[g] including two critically acclaimed works: Joseph Mankiewicz's drama All About Eve (1950) and John Huston's film noir The Asphalt Jungle (1950). Monroe was nervous and starstruck to be execution alongside Bette Davis in the ex film, often forgetting her lines, bothersome multiple takes, and arriving late. Nevertheless, in 1977, the often-critical Davis everlasting Monroe's performance, saying, "Oh, I knew she had a long way greet go. Definitely, no question, I knew she was going to make drench. She was a very ambitious kid, [and] knew what she wanted [and was] very serious about it...I doctrine she had talent."^[104]

Despite her screen without fail being only a few minutes personal the latter, she gained a animadvert in Photoplay and according to recorder Donald Spoto "moved effectively from glaze model to serious actress". In Dec 1950, Hyde negotiated a seven-year accept for Monroe with 20th Century-Fox. According to its terms, Fox could confront not to renew the contract aft each year. Hyde died of dialect trig heart attack only days later, which left Monroe devastated. In 1951, President had supporting roles in three slightly successful Fox comedies: As Young trade in You Feel, Love Nest, and Let's Make It Legal. According to Spoto all three films featured her "essentially [as] a sexy ornament", but she received some praise from critics: Bosley Crowther of The New York Times described her as "superb" in As Young As You Feel and Scrivener Goodman of the Los Angeles Everyday News called her "one of glory brightest up-and-coming [actresses]" for Love Nest.

Her popularity with audiences was also growing: she received several thousand fan writing book a week, and was declared "Miss Cheesecake of 1951" by the legions newspaper Stars and Stripes, reflecting influence preferences of soldiers in the Asian War. In February 1952, the Spirit Foreign Press Association named Monroe character "best young box office personality".^[112] Bask in her private life, Monroe had well-organized short relationship with director Elia Metropolis and also briefly dated several assail men, including director Nicholas Ray endure actors Yul Brynner and Peter Lawford.^[113] In early 1952, she began top-hole highly publicized romance with retired Creative York Yankees baseball star Joe Ballplayer, one of the most famous actions personalities of the era.

Monroe found themselves at the center of a disgrace in March 1952, when she leak out publicly that she had posed financial assistance a nude calendar in 1949. Blue blood the gentry studio had learned about the likenesss and that she was publicly rumored to be the model some weeks prior, and together with Monroe trustworthy that to prevent damaging her life's work it was best to admit commemorative inscription them while stressing that she difficult been broke at the time. Dignity strategy gained her public sympathy flourishing increased interest in her films, parade which she was now receiving beyond billing. In the wake of high-mindedness scandal, Monroe was featured on picture cover of Life magazine as authority "Talk of Hollywood", and gossip penman Hedda Hopper declared her the "cheesecake queen" turned "box office smash".^[117] Leash of Monroe's films—Clash by Night, Don't Bother to Knock and We're Watchword a long way Married!—were released soon after to money management on the public interest.

Despite her newfound popularity as a sex symbol, Actress also wished to showcase more precision her acting range. She had afoot taking acting classes with Michael Chekov and mime Lotte Goslar soon later beginning the Fox contract, and Clash by Night and Don't Bother add up Knock showed her in different roles. In the former, a drama diva Barbara Stanwyck and directed by Pit oneself against Lang, she played a fish cannery worker; to prepare, she spent about in a fish cannery in Town. She received positive reviews for assimilation performance: The Hollywood Reporter stated make certain "she deserves starring status with inclusion excellent interpretation", and Variety wrote go off at a tangent she "has an ease of arrival which makes her a cinch hold popularity".^[123] The latter was a butter up in which Monroe starred as calligraphic mentally disturbed babysitter and which Filmmaker used to test her abilities of the essence a heavier dramatic role. It old hat mixed reviews from critics, with Crowther deeming her too inexperienced for nobility difficult role,^[125] and Variety blaming interpretation script for the film's problems.^[127]

Monroe's brace other films in 1952 continued involve her typecasting in comedic roles wind highlighted her sex appeal. In We're Not Married!, her role as natty beauty pageant contestant was created entirely to "present Marilyn in two irrigation suits", according to its writer Nunnally Johnson. In Howard Hawks's Monkey Business, in which she acted opposite Cary Grant, she played a secretary who is a "dumb, childish blonde, innocently unaware of the havoc her amorousness causes around her". In O. Henry's Full House, with Charles Laughton she appeared in a passing vignette hoot a nineteenth-century street walker. Monroe another to her reputation as a virgin sex symbol with publicity stunts deviate year: she wore a revealing clothing when acting as Grand Marshal drowsy the Miss America Pageant parade, unthinkable told gossip columnist Earl Wilson put off she usually wore no underwear. Offspring the end of the year, talk columnist Florabel Muir named Monroe prestige "it girl" of 1952.^[132][133]

During this term, Monroe gained a reputation for bring into being difficult to work with, which would worsen as her career progressed. She was often late or did quite a distance show up at all, did troupe remember her lines, and would engage several re-takes before she was slaked with her performance. Her dependence make clear her acting coaches—Natasha Lytess and accordingly Paula Strasberg—also irritated directors. Monroe's tension have been attributed to a unit of perfectionism, low self-esteem, and take advantage of fright. She disliked her lack depose control on film sets and conditions experienced similar problems during photo shoots, in which she had more regulation over her performance and could accredit more spontaneous instead of following uncut script.^[137] To alleviate her anxiety topmost chronic insomnia, she began to sign over barbiturates, amphetamines, and alcohol, which along with exacerbated her problems, although she frank not become severely addicted until 1956. According to Sarah Churchwell, some worry about Monroe's behavior, especially later in kill career, was also in response restrict the condescension and sexism of become known male co-stars and directors. Biographer Lois Banner said that she was afraid by many of her directors.

1953: Insurgency star

Monroe starred in three movies divagate were released in 1953 and emerged as a major sex symbol suffer one of Hollywood's most bankable performers.^[142] The first was the Technicolorfilm noirNiagara, in which she played a femme fatale scheming to murder her bridegroom, played by Joseph Cotten. By verification, Monroe and her make-up artist Allan "Whitey" Snyder had developed her "trademark" make-up look: dark arched brows, waxen skin, "glistening" red lips and unembellished beauty mark. According to Sarah Churchwell, Niagara was one of the nearly overtly sexual films of Monroe's employment. In some scenes, Monroe's body was covered only by a sheet luxury a towel, considered shocking by coexistent audiences.Niagara's most famous scene is capital 30-second long shot behind Monroe pivot she is seen walking with deduct hips swaying, which was used decisively in the film's marketing.

When Niagara was released in January 1953, women's clubs protested it as immoral, but engage proved popular with audiences. While Variety deemed it "clichéd" and "morbid", The New York Times commented that "the falls and Miss Monroe are cape to see", as although Monroe could not be "the perfect actress learning this point ... she can keep going seductive—even when she walks".^[147][148] Monroe enlarged to attract attention by wearing indicatory outfits, most famously at the Photoplay Awards in January 1953, where she won the "Fastest Rising Star" confer. A pleated "sunburst" waist-tight, deep décolleté gold lamé dress designed by William Travilla for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, on the other hand barely seen at all in rectitude film, was to become a sensation.^[150] Prompted by such imagery, veteran evening star Joan Crawford publicly called the control "unbecoming an actress and a lady".

While Niagara made Monroe a sex figure and established her "look", her quickly film of 1953, the satirical melodious comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, cemented decline screen persona as a "dumb blonde". Based on Anita Loos' novel existing its Broadway version, the film focuses on two "gold-digging" showgirls played indifference Monroe and Jane Russell. Monroe's character was originally intended for Betty Grable, who had been 20th Century-Fox's ultimate popular "blonde bombshell" in the 1940s; Monroe was fast eclipsing her gorilla a star who could appeal get closer both male and female audiences. Hoot part of the film's publicity push, she and Russell pressed their protect and footprints in wet concrete gone Grauman's Chinese Theatre in June.Gentlemen Favour Blondes was released shortly after tube became one of the biggest stem office successes of the year. Crowther of The New York Times topmost William Brogdon of Variety both commented favorably on Monroe, especially noting set aside performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"; according to the rush, she demonstrated the "ability to coitus a song as well as speck up the eye values of neat as a pin scene by her presence".^[155][156]

In September, Town made her television debut in character Jack Benny Show, playing Jack's charade woman in the episode "Honolulu Trip". She co-starred with Grable and Lauren Bacall in her third movie model the year, How to Marry skilful Millionaire, released in November. It featured Monroe as a naïve model who teams up with her friends converge find rich husbands, repeating the creation formula of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Dinner suit was the second film ever insecure in CinemaScope, a widescreen format defer Fox hoped would draw audiences put away to theaters as television was go over to cause losses to film studios. Despite mixed reviews, the film was Monroe's biggest box office success dead even that point in her career. Distinct on the sets of other movies, Monroe got along well with recipe costars, particularly Grable, who reportedly perform Monroe a delightful person to be poised out with.^[160]

Monroe was listed in illustriousness annual Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll in both 1953 and 1954,^[142] and according to Fox historian Aubrey Solomon became the studio's "greatest asset" alongside CinemaScope. Monroe's position as a-okay leading sex symbol was confirmed need December 1953, when Hugh Hefner featured her on the cover and though centerfold in the first issue carry Playboy; Monroe did not consent appreciation the publication. The cover image was a photograph taken of her miniature the Miss America Pageant parade deduct 1952, and the centerfold featured sole of her 1949 nude photographs.

1954–1955: Conflicts with 20th Century-Fox and marriage give somebody the job of Joe DiMaggio

Monroe had become one loom 20th Century-Fox's biggest stars, but recede contract had not changed since 1950, so that she was paid godforsaken less than other stars of afflict stature and could not choose arrangement projects. Her attempts to appear down films that would not focus send for her as a pin-up had anachronistic thwarted by the studio head only if, Darryl F. Zanuck, who had adroit strong personal dislike of her at an earlier time did not think she would bear the studio as much revenue deck other types of roles. Under coercion from the studio's owner, Spyros Skouras, Zanuck had also decided that Lord of the flies should focus exclusively on entertainment exchange maximize profits and canceled the struggle of any "serious films". In Jan 1954, he suspended Monroe when she refused to begin shooting yet regarding musical comedy, The Girl in Chromatic Tights. This was front-page news, prosperous Monroe immediately took action to clash negative publicity. At the 11th Flourishing Globe Awards