Table of Contents
Marilyn Monroe: Early Years
Famed Career
Legacy Left Behind
Marilyn Monroe’s only chance of success was to overcome a tough childhood and fight her way to top. Marilyn Monroe’s life was not as easy and fun as it may seem. She had to overcome a difficult childhood and fight her way up. Modeling and acting in many motion pictures can lead to a luxurious life, or one of hidden pain. Marilyn Monroe’s life ended when she took too many sleeping pills at age 36.
Marilyn Monroe’s ChildhoodMarilyn Monroe is a Californian born on the 1st of June 1926. Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson. She later changed her name to Norma Jeane Baker. Glady Monroe developed mental problems during Monroe’s youth and was ultimately placed in an institution. Marilyn’s mother tried to smother Marilyn with a cushion in her crib. Marilyn had a half sister, but they were not close and she only saw her a few occasions. Monroe didn’t know who her birthfather was, but there were rumors claiming Clark Gable to be his father. Glady never met Gable or knew him. (Marilyn Monroe 1)
Marilyn spent most of her childhood living in orphanages, foster homes, and other institutions. She spent the majority of her childhood in this place. She moved from school-to-school. Marilyn was only raised by the Goddards a couple of years. Marilyn’s mum paid them 25 dollars per week for raising her. Marilyn had to remain in her hometown due to financial problems after Mr. Goddard received a job that he simply could not refuse on the East Coast.
Monroe married Jim Dougherty at age 16, her neighbor and boyfriend. She saw it as an alternative to being sent into another foster family or home. Dougherty joined the South Pacific just a few months after the wedding. Monroe got a small job in California to earn some extra cash. David Conover discovered her and offered her a small modelling job. Marilyn was a successful model by the time Dougherty returned to New York in 1944. As a result of her newfound fame, she divorced from her husband. (Marilyn Monroe 1)
Famed CareerAfter the divorce in 1946 was finalized, Norma changed to Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn Monroe seemed more appropriate to her as she hoped to become a well-known actress. In addition to the change of name, her hair would also be a different color. It was no longer the brown she had been born with. Instead, it was a stunning blonde. Marilyn had signed her studio contract around 1946 shortly after Marilyn’s career as a model began. (Fox Par 5) This was the first time she had a big break. Twenty-five dollars were promised per week over an entire year. She began to get noticed. Scudda Doo Scuddahay, her debut film, was never released in theaters. Marilyn turned to modeling again after she lost her job as an actress. Marilyn didn’t abandon her dreams, however. Marilyn finally got an offer in 1950 for a small role on The Asphalt Jungle. It was a sure way to get her noticed, and she was able to relaunch her career. The fan mail was proof. (McHenry 1)
Her success started to increase. She was soon awarded a new contract by Fox. All About Eve won her the contract. Marilyn Monroe became a household name in no time. Monroe began singing in her films, as well as acting. In 1951, Monroe starred as a lead in Let’s Make It Legal. Marilyn Monroe’s career was booming. She was the rising star. Monroe was a rising star in Niagara, just two years after her breakthrough in Niagara. Marilyn Monroe was now being viewed as a sex icon, a sex god. (Matthews 1)
Marilyn Monroe’s first film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), was a musical comedy that became a hit. She won numerous awards and attracted large audiences. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (2005) was Monroe’s first hit musical film. She began a series of comedic films, including How to Marry a Millionaire in 1954, There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954), The Seven Year Itch in 1955. (Marilyn Monroe 1).
Marilyn Monroe experienced pre-performance stress, which made her ill at times. Marilyn’s notorious tardiness was also due to this anxiety. Her lateness would irritate her co-stars as well as producers. Monroe was an international superstar. She was admired for her hourglass shape and breathy vocals. Monroe’s tardiness was a major problem in the film industry. This led to her being released and signed from several contracts. Marilyn Monroe 2: Tired with the same “dumb blondes” roles she was playing, Marilyn moved from Los Angeles to New York City. She studied acting in the Actors’ Studio. It was not something that most actors or actresses of experience would have done. Marilyn wanted a wider range of acting. Monroe appeared in Bus Stop (1956), an action comedy, in which a rancher fell in love with a Saloon Singer. Monroe received mixed but mostly positive reviews. Monroe’s acting style returned to its more comfortable state shortly after. In Some Like It Hot (1959), an amusing film, Monroe played a song-singer who wanted to marry a wealthy man. Monroe won the Golden Globe Award for “Best Actress of a Comedy” (1959) for her role in Some Like It Hot. (Marilyn Monroe 2). Marilyn Monroe’s Last Completed Film was The Misfits (1961). Monroe was excused in 1962 from filming due to her repeated absences. Monroe claimed to have been ill, according to a New York Times article.
Monroe’s professional as well as personal life was in trouble. Let’s Make Love, 1960 and The Misfits, 1961 were both box-office disappointments. Marilyn’s private life was in disarray as well. She had failed marriages and relationships. In January 1954 she married Yankees’ baseball sensation Joe DiMaggio. The marriage lasted only nine months. In 1956, she married Arthur Miller. Monroe performed her now famous “Happy Birthday Mr. President” on May 19, 1962. (Marilyn Monroe 3)
Monroe’s LegacyLeft BehindAt only thirty-six years of age, Monroe died at her Los Angles apartment on the 5th August 1962. The empty sleeping pill bottle was found by her bedside. Marilyn’s death is ruled to be a result of drug overdose. (Marilyn Monroe #3) There have been rumors about Monroe’s involvement with John F. Kennedy &/or Robert Kennedy around the period of her death. However, this has not been proven.
Hugh Hefner and Joe DiMaggio bought the adjacent crypt to Monroe. Marilyn Monroe did not own a house until she was in her final year. She owned surprisingly few things. Albert Einstein had signed a photo of Marilyn for her, inscribed with “To Marilyn, With respect, Love and Thanks.” Marilyn’s career grossed more money than any other performer during that period. Even today, Marilyn is regarded as a popular icon of beauty and sex. Monroe said that if you closed your eyes and thought about Hollywood all you see is a large varicose artery.
