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Birth
Marilyn Monroe was born June 1, 1926, at the LA general hospital, California, with the original name Norma Jeane Mortenson. Born to her mother Gladys Baker, a widow who suffered from mental illness and struggled to raise Norma Jeane. -
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The Life of Marilyn Monroe
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Unstable Mother
With no father in the picture, and Gladys becoming too unstable to care for Norma, Gladys was forcibly taken into the care of the State Hospital of Norwalk. Norma Jeane was then thrown back and forth between foster parents and family members creating a difficult childhood that would later affect Norma. -
Enters Orphanage
While Norma Jeane was under the care of her mothers bestfriend, Grace Mckee, she was sent away into the Hollygrove orphange in Los Angeles at the age of 9 because of her marriage to Ervin Silliman Goddard. While in the orphange, Norma was moved from place to place several times. -
Leaves Orphanage
In 1937, Grace and her husband Goddard took Marilyn out of the orphange and back into their custody. While livivng with the newly married couple, Norma Jeane experienced many attempted sexual assults by Ervin Goddard from the age of 11-16. -
Married at the age of 16
Grace and Ervin decided to relocate to Virgina, and did not want to bring Norma Jeane with them, but also did not want to put her back into the orphange. After many attempts to find someone to take her into their care, their neighbours son finally agreed to marry her after he had graduated highschool in June. -
Beginning of Career
While Normas husband was overseas at war, she began to work at Radio Plane Munitions Factory inspecting parachutes and spraying airplanes with fire retartdent. While working at the factory, her photo was taken for a newspaper and was encouraged to apply to the Blue Book Modeling Agency. She signed with the agency, later dying her hair to golden blonde and becoming one of their most succesful models. -
First Magazine Cover
Norma Jeanes first magazine cover was on The Family Circle, a well known and read U.S magazine. Her picture captured the attention of Hollywood producers, and helped circulate her name and image. This helped her eventually gain her first big contract just a few months later. -
First Studio Contract
Norma met Ben Lyon in 1946, a well known actor and talent seeker within 20th Century Fox. Ben Lyon saw that she was aspiring to become an actress and devoted himself to promoting her. Eventually he got a contract signed for her with Fox, and changed her name to "Marilyn Monroe." Marilyn after the actress Marilyn Miller, and Monroe from her mothers maiden name. -
Divorced
Marilyn and James divorce was finalized in september of 1946 because he did not approve of her modeling/ acting career. James had found out of Marilyns career overseas when he saw a friend admiring a "Sexy blonde" on a cover of a magazine. Marilyn refused to end her career because she saw her potention and she filled for the divorce. -
Monroe Makes it Onto the Screen
As Marilyn started off in small uncredited rolls in films such as The Shocking Miss Pilgrim and Dangerous Years, she eventually worked her way in major rolls in big picture films such as Ladies of the Chorus and Asphalt Jungle. These rolls landed her another 7 year contract with 20th Century Fox after her of unemployment break. -
First "Life" Magazine Cover
Marilyn Monroe became the "Talk of Hollywood" according to Life magazine when her first cover was published. The stories of her upbringing and childhood won over hearts in hollywood and people began to feel sympethetic for Monroe. -
Marriage #2
Marilyn meet Joe Dimaggio, a New York Yankees player, through an acquaintance that set them up for a dinner date. The press covered the new relationship immidiatley, gaining Marilyn more population within the media. They eventually married in 1954 at San Francisco City Hall, and ejoying their honeymoon in Japan. -
Divorce #2
Marilyns iconic scene from The Seven Years Itch when her skirt was blown up from a subwy grate created a barrier with in her relationship with Dimaggio becsuse he didnt approve of her reputation of a "Sex icon." The divorce was finalized as the end of october in the year of 1955. -
Golden Globe Award
Over the course of Monroes career, she was nominated for 10 awards and offically won 8. Her first USA Golden Globe for Best Actress (musical or comedy) for her roll in Some Like it Hot. -
Last Completed Film
Due to Monroes abuse of alcohol and various medications, The Misfits was the last completed film she played a role in. Monroes behavious and attitude on the film sete made it hard for her co-workers to act with her. -
Health Problems
Monroe began seeing a psychiatrist in Los angeles, admitting to insomnia and depression and began taking medications that were spposed to help her conditions. After she began taking an excessive amount of medications, it was believed that Monroe had developed an addiction. -
Death
At the age of 36, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bedroom of her home by her psychiatrist Dr. Greenson. The cause of death appeared to be an overdose and was concluded to be a "probable suicide" by the Los Angeles County Office.
