Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Mortensen Baker on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Edward Mortensen, abandoned his family before she was born, and her mother, Gladys Baker, added the name Baker onto Norma Jean’s name when she became involved with a man with that last name. Gladys Baker was a film cutter for RKO studios, but she had mental problems and spent much of Norma Jean’s childhood in and out of institutions.

Young Norma Jean spent most of her childhood in and out of foster homes and an orphanage. Despite this, she managed to graduate from high school. When she was sixteen, possibly to escape being bounced from place to place, she married James Dougherty, a twenty-one-year-old aircraft plant worker. They divorced in 1946. Around this time, Norma Jean died her hair blonde, began modeling, and began using the name Marilyn Monroe (Monroe was her mother’s maiden name).

When Marilyn Monroe first began acting she was bounced from studio to studio and from small parts in one unsuccessful film after another. Eventually, she signed with 20th Century Fox and began getting noticed for her roles in All about Eve (1950) and The Asphalt Jungle (1950).

Monroe’s roles began to get larger, and in 1953 she was cast with Cary Grant in Monkey Business. Leading roles like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, with Jane Russell, and How to Marry a Millionaire, with Betty Grable, Lauren Bacall, and William Powell came in 1953 and Marilyn Monroe became a bona fide star. That same year, nude photos of her were published by Hugh Heffner in the very first issue of Playboy.

Success brought her money, fame, and men. In 1952 Monroe was set with up Chicago White Sox player Joe DiMaggio. The two eloped in 1954, and they honeymooned in Korea where Marilyn Monroe performed for the servicemen. However, their marital bliss was short lived. The two apparently fought severely and within a year of their marriage she filed for divorce, citing mental cruelty.

Monroe’s next husband was playwright Arthur Miller, whom she married in 1956. She converted to Judaism for him, but by 1960 their marriage was over. The strain of Marilyn Monroe being the main bread winner seemed to take its toll.

At about this time Monroe became involved with Frank Sinatra and his famous Rat Pack. It’s unknown if she was romantically involved with any of the Rat Pack, but through her association with them, she met John F Kennedy. Rumors floated around that she was involved with the married president and his brother Bobby Kennedy.

In August of 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her home. The official reason was an overdose of drugs – possibly a suicide. Conspiracy theories abound that she was killed – possibly to cover up her relationship with JFK. Twenty years after her death, the case was reopened, but again drugs, not murder, was found to be the cause of death.

YUDDY