From her modeling shoots to her fashion, Marilyn Monroe undoubtedly lived a glamorous life. We can’t forget The Seven-Year Itch, where Marilyn posed in her sexy white dress. Most people only know about Marilyn Monroe’s glamorous lifestyle; only a few know her as a regular foster kid with an absent mother and nonexistent father. We’ve compiled the most significant highlights of the icon’s life.
Her non-notable birth
In 1926, Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson at Los Angeles General Hospital. She would go on to bear Norma Jeane throughout her childhood years. ‘Marilyn Monroe’ came later in her life as she became more popular in Hollywood.
Monroe’s father’s identity remains unconfirmed to date. Around 1930, her mother was confined to asylums, and Marilyn had to spend her childhood in a series of orphanages and foster homes. In 1937, she moved in with a family friend, Grace McKee Goddard.
Her first marriage
Norma Jeane got married at the early age of 16. In 1942, Grace Goddard’s family relocated to Virginia and couldn’t take her with them. Grace decided to look for someone to watch Norma Jeane so she wouldn’t go back to the orphanage home.
When she found none, Grace asked their neighbor if her son could marry Norma Jeane so she’ll have a place to stay. 21-year-old James Dougherty married Norma Jeane in June 1942. James had just finished high school when they got married.
Her modeling debut
While her husband was in the Merchant Marine, Norma worked in the Radioplane Munitions Factory, spraying airplane parts with a fire retardant. During this time, David Conover snapped a photo of her and encouraged her to apply to the Blue Book Modeling Agency.
She joined the agency and dyed her brunette hair to golden blonde, becoming one of their most successful models. Dougherty discovered his wife became a model when a shipmate was admiring a photo of a sexy blonde. He wanted her to quit modeling, and they divorced in 1946.
Her change of name and second marriage
On August 26, 1946, Norma signed with 20th Century Fox. Her impressive screen test made Ben Lyon, an executive, offer her a $125 weekly starting salary. He also suggested her name change to Marilyn Monroe because he didn’t like her name.
Marilyn married Joe DiMaggio in January 1954. After the famous Seven Year Itch scene where a subway grate blew her dress up, she and her husband got into a dispute. They divorced in November 1954, and Marilyn married Arthur Miller in 1956.
Her last performance and death
In 1959, Marilyn started seeing many doctors for medication as she was experiencing insomnia; one doctor believed she was getting addicted. In 1961, she did her last film, The Misfits. She allegedly took drugs during the movie’s production, making her difficult to work with.
On August 5, 1962, Marilyn died around 4 am. According to the autopsy, she had 8-milligram percent of Chloral Hydrate and 4.5-milligram percent of Nembutal. There were different theories about how she died, but her last phone call to the President was the only constant.
