Marilyn Monroe

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9.7 Superb
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Biography

Recent Role:
(footage version) on E! True Hollywood Story
Gender:
Female
Born:
6-1-1926
Died:
8-5-1962 (Overdose of Nembutal and Chloral Hydrate)
Birthplace:
Los Angeles, California
Birth Name:
Norma Jeane Mortenson
AKA:
Norma Jeane Mortenson, Norma Jeane Baker
Marilyn Monroe, one of the world's most famous celebrities to date, was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles California on the morning of June 1st, 1926, to a mentally unstable mother and an uncommitted father who left her mother before she was even born. Marilyn's biological father was unknown, so when she was baptized, her mother, Gladys Pearl Monroe Baker, changed Marilyn's name to Norma Jeane Baker. Due to the mental problems that Marilyn's mother had, she was let go from her job, and eventually gave up custody of Marilyn, thus making Marilyn a ward of the state.



More Marilyn spent many years in foster homes and orphanages in California, eventually moving in with a family friend, Grace McKee Goddard, in June of 1937. In 1942, Grace was forced to move to the east coast and the family did not have enough money to take Marilyn with them. In order to avoid having to return to an orphanage, Marilyn decided to marry James Dougherty, her 21-year-old neighbor whom she had been dating for six months. They were married on June 19th, 1942. Around the same time Marilyn dropped out of University High, where she was in the 10th grade.

In 1944, Jimmy went off to the war in the South Pacific and Marilyn got a job in the Radio Plane Munitions factory in Burbank. Marilyn was "discovered" by David Conover, a photographer taking photos of women helping with the war effort. Conover loved Marilyn's look and used her for his shoot, then helped her to get various modeling jobs during the next few years. During this time Marilyn studied the works of famous actresses and took a few classes at UCLA. Jimmy returned from the war in 1946, soon to be divorced by Marilyn, on September 13th of that same year. Also in 1946, Marilyn signed her first contract with Twentieth Century Fox, earning $125 a week. Marilyn then decided to dye her hair blonde and change her name from Norma Jeane Baker, thus becoming the woman the world knows her as, Marilyn Monroe.

The 1947 movie "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim" was the start of Marilyn's movie career, in which she had a very small part. Over the next few years Marilyn got larger parts in various movies, but nothing too prominent. On May 27th, 1949, Marilyn posed nude on red velvet for the photographer Tom Kelley, who put her picture in a calendar in which she appeared as Anonymous. In 1953, Hugh Hefner bought the rights to use Marilyn's nude calendar photo and used it as the centerfold for his first issue of the now-famous magazine Playboy, which came out in December of 1953. Marilyn's 1953 role in the movie "Niagara" led to her breakthrough performance in the well-known 1953 movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," which threw her into the spotlight along with "How to Marry a Millionaire," another popular 1953 movie.

On January 14th, 1954, Marilyn married the famous baseball player Joe DiMaggio, and they went to Tokyo for their honeymoon. Later that same year, on October 5th, Marilyn decided to divorce her second husband, and the divorce was granted later that month on October 27th. On December 31st, 1954, Marilyn started her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions. In 1955 she went on to star in the well-known movie "The Seven Year Itch," in which she had a scene where she stood over a grate while her dress blew up from the draft, which is now one of the most famous scenes in all of movie history. She then decided to move to New York City to study under Lee Strasberg in his Actor's Studio, in an attempt to shed her "dumb blonde" image. On June 29th, 1956, Marilyn married the playwright Arthur Miller, whom she met through Lee Strasburg. 1956 was also the year when Marilyn finally legally changed her name to Marilyn Monroe.

In 1959, Marilyn starred in another popular movie, "Some Like it Hot," which won her a Golden Globe. She played a part written specifically for her by her husband in the 1961 Clark Gable movie "The Misfits." Sadly, she also decided to divorce Arthur that same year, and the divorce was granted on January 20th. Marilyn worked on her last movie, "Something's Got to Give" in 1962, but was fired by Fox during production of the movie because of several absences. After this, she secluded herself in her home in Brentwood, California for the next few months. In the early morning of August 5th, 1962, the timeless legend Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bedroom, leaving the world in shock at the loss of such a beautiful young Hollywood star.

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    9.5 Superb
    Awesome! hide show

    Theory of a life not lived – Marilyn Monroe's other story?
    Marilyn Monroe – who doesn't love her? I've been fascinated by her since I first saw her in "Some Like it Hot" on TCM. Who could be that sexy? She was amazing. Every girl would want to be her – I know I did.
    How tragically young she died and with so many unanswered questions. That's why I decided to do some research with my good pal T.L. Horton to decide what might have happened if she had lived. I'd like to think she did if only through the pages of a novel.
    We looked into all aspects of her life including her psychologist and one time friend Dr. Greenson. We looked at Hollywood stars, the Rat Pack and even the president, John F Kennedy. Who wanted her killed and why? I think that is a question that deserves to be answered but we go beyond that to her deep affection for JFK. Did she know who wanted to kill him? Is that why they got rid of her?
    T. L. and I wanted to know but we also wanted to fantasize about what might have happened if she had lived. Would history have been changed if she had?
    With so many questions floating out there we decided to invent an alternate ending for Marilyn's life and give it back to her. If you want to find out how and what may have happened to her visit us at www.whatsheknew.com.

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    10 Perfect
    I LOVE her!! hide show

    Marilyn Monroe is the best old-time hollywood star ever!!! She is pretty and very talented!! No one from way back when can compare! To bad she died so suddenly, she could've made many more great movies and stuff! She was a fantastic actress and will never be forgotten in our hearts.

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    10 Perfect
    Marilyn Monroe-Movie Star & Actress. hide show

    Marilyn Monroe of course became the ultimate Hollywood Movie Star. Highly publicised by the Hollywood studio system intent on cashing in on her success as Lorelli Lee in "Gentlemen prefer blonds" and as a rich husband seeker in "How to marry a millionaire".
    To this day she is remembered for being the quintessential dumb blond of Moviedom. "The seven year itch" & "The Prince and the showgirl".
    My favorite films to watch her in would have to be "Niagara" and "Don't bother to knock".
    Before the studio system typecast her she seemed to be cementing a career like that of Lana Turner.
    The beautiful,troubled bad girl in Hollywood thrillers.
    She was an appreciative actress,wanting to please her fans and yet still struggling to be allowed to play a variety of roles.
    Later she achieved a measure of this in "Bus stop" and "The Misfits".
    She was a wonderful Commediene,a brilliant Movie Star,a Beautiful Woman & a Gifted Actress.

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    9 Superb
    empty hide show

    I think that she is sort of cool. I think that she is pretty, I did not particulary enjoy her music, I really think that she was a good actress. I like the way she acted in movies like "Some Like it Hot" or "The Seven Year Itch" I really liked her style and I really liked Marilyn Monroe. Shame about her death, but still she is one great actress.

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    10 Perfect
    marilyn monroe is a legend hide show

    i think marilyn monroe was a gorgeous, talented and amazing singer and actress. she was more of a idol then celeberties today such as paris hilton and all those other anorexic so called idols. she wasnt bone thin she had curves, like an actual human. true that she wasnt the brightest person around and not very reliable but for a teenager who is weight concious she was an amazing one. she didnt act as if she was the best and snuck up. she acted normally and fun like she always wanted to have a good time and take nothing for granted.

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