Marilyn Monroe Complete Biography
Born: June 1, 1926, Los Angeles
Fast Facts: Marilyn Monroe
- Known For: Model, pinup, actress
- Also Known As: Norma Jeane Mortenson, Norma Jeane Baker
- Born: June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California
- Parents: Gladys Baker Mortenson; father unknown
- Died: Aug. 5, 1962, in Brentwood, California
- Education: Attended Van Nuys and University High School in Los Angeles, California; dropped out at 15
- Selected Films: "Some Like It Hot," "The Seven Year Itch," "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "How to Marry a Millionaire," "Bus Stop," "The Misfits"
- Awards and Honors: Three Golden Globes, star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Spouse(s): James Dougherty (m. 1942–1946), Joe DiMaggio (m. 1954–1955), Arthur Miller (m. 1956–1961)
- Notable Quote: "I don't mind living in a man's world as long as I can be a woman in it."
Early Life
Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson—and later baptized as Norma Jeane Baker—in Los Angeles, California, to Gladys Baker Mortenson (née Monroe). No one knows the identity of Monroe’s biological father, but some biographers speculate it was Gladys’ second husband, Martin Mortenson, although they were separated prior to Monroe’s birth.
Others have suggested Monroe’s father was a co-worker of Gladys’ at RKO Pictures named Charles Stanley Gifford. In any case, Monroe was regarded as an illegitimate child and grew up not knowing her father.
As a single parent, Gladys worked during the day and left her daughter with neighbors. Unfortunately, Gladys was not well; she was in and out of mental hospitals until she was institutionalized at the Norwalk State Hospital for Mental Diseases in 1935.
At age 9, Marilyn was taken in by Gladys’ friend Grace McKee. Within the year, however, McKee was no longer able to care for the girl and took her to the Los Angeles Orphanage. Monroe spent two years there and then lived in a succession of foster homes. It's believed that during this time, Monroe was molested.
In 1937, 11-year-old Monroe found a home with “Aunt” Ana Lower, a relative of McKee’s, where she had a stable home life until Lower developed health problems. Subsequently, McKee arranged a marriage between 16-year-old Monroe and Jim Dougherty, a 21-year-old neighbor. The two were married on June 19, 1942.
Marilyn Monroe (A Life of the Actress, 1993)
In 1954, she married baseball star Joe DiMaggio, a friend of over two years. Monroe was now one of the biggest box-office draws of Hollywood, but her contract, negotiated in 1950, left her paid less than other stars. Also, Monroe didn’t wish to be typecast as a ‘blonde bombshell’ – just playing simple roles in comedies and musicals. In a dispute over pay and choice of acting, she was temporarily suspended by 20th Century Fox, but eventually, they acceded to some of Monroe’s demands and gave her higher pay. In September 1954, she starred in The Seven Year Itch, which was released to widespread media interest – after a successful media stunt on Lexington Avenue, New York.
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