Interesting Facts About Marilyn Monroe (21 gifs)
Between a tragic upbringing and life full of glamour and fame, Marilyn Monroe led a truly fascinating life. Take some time and learn all about the iconic bombshell.
She was born Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1st, 1926.
The name Marilyn Monroe came to be for two reasons. A studio executive told her she looked like a Marilyn and her mother’s maiden name was Monroe.
Monroe only owned one home: the house she died in, at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive, in Brentwood, California.
Marilyn never knew her father. Her mother, Gladys, was hospitalized for mental issues when she was 9 years old. She would be in and out of mental institutes the rest of Monroe’s life.
Marilyn was in and out of foster homes and orphanages from the ages of 9 and up. For a while, she lived with family friends, the Goddards, but they had to move away when she was 16.
Marilyn married her first husband, a police officer named James Dougherty, just weeks after her 16th birthday. She did this to avoid returning to a foster home.
She developed a stutter during the turbulent times during her childhood.
Marilyn’s career was launched when photographer David Conover discovered her while working the assembly line at Radioplane.
Although she was often typecast as a ‘dumb blonde’, the actress was reported to have a very high IQ.
In 1950, her agent paid for her to have two plastic surgeries. Marilyn underwent a tip rhinoplasty (reshaping the edge of her nose) and a chin implant.
The burial vaults surrounding Marilyn Monroe have sold for upwards of $4.5 million. Hugh Hefner purchased the vault next to her in 1992, and was laid to rest beside her after his death.
In 1962, the actress was fired from ‘Something’s Got to Give’ because of her chronic lateness and no-shows. On August first, she was rehired by Fox on a $1 million two-picture deal. This would have been her highest earning contract, but she died four days later.
She was a very well-read woman. By the end of her life, Monroe owned more than 400 volumes, including several first editions.
She was married three times. Her husbands were Arthur Miller (m. 1956–1961), Joe DiMaggio (m. 1954–1955), and James Dougherty (m. 1942–1946).
Marilyn Monroe was discovered dead in her home on August 5, 1962. Many conspiracies surround her death, as it was ruled a probable suicide but no drugs were found in her system and her body appeared unharmed on the outside.
The actress had a terribly hard time remembering her lines.
Actress Veronica Hamel bought Marilyn’s house in 1972. While renovating the house, she discovered an extensive system of wire-taps. A private investigator later confirmed that the FBI and CIA had bugged Marilyn’s home.
Marilyn preferred to walk around naked when she could, including at home and around female studio employees.
She often referred to herself as ‘Marilyn Monroe’ in the third person.
