Birthplace and Date
Marilyn Monroe was born on
June 1, 1926 at 9:30 AM in the Los Angeles County Hospital. She was also born
the year Valentino died. Her original name was Norma Jeane Mortenson which was
soon changed to Baker. Monroe’s birth certificate says her father is Martin
Edward Mortenson, although some say her real father was Stanley Gifford. She
was the third child born to Glady’s Pearl Baker, and also the easiest birth. After
Marilyn was born she was put into foster care and lived with a family known as
the Bolenders. She also spent twenty-one months in an orphanage. Family
Marilyn’s mother was Gladys Pearl Baker. Gladys was mentally unstable and financially unable to care for the young Norma Jeane. She was a film tech and foreman who spliced together processed negatives at consolidated Film Industries. Her “father” Stanley Gilford worked there as well but was not around for long. Twenty- five years later Marilyn found out he was still alive and worked as a dairyman. She also discovered that he lived in Hemet, CA, but he refused to answer when she would call to visit.
Marilyn’s Grandfather Mr.
Monroe was nearly an insane man and his first name is still unknown today. He
spent the last part of his life committed to an asylum. Mr. Monroe’s wife Della
Monroe Grainger, was born Hogan, from a lower-class family of Hogan’s in
Missouri. She also had insane rages at night and was committed to a mental
hospital before she died. Della ended up dying in the summer of 1927. Marilyn’s
uncle also died of a suicidal death.
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| Marilyn as a child. |
Childhood and School Life
Norma Jeane was
baptized at the Angeles Temple in the Foursquare Gospet Church. She was a
veteran of many foster homes. Marilyn spent seven years with the Bolenders who
were a poor family. On Saturdays her mom would visit because the Bolenders
lived across from Della, her grandmother. Then, in 1933 Gladys bought a house
and brought Norma Jeane to live with her. A few months later Dladys began a
series of mental episodes that plagued her for the rest of her life. Gladys’
best friend. Grace Mckee, then became Marilyn’s guardian. Lastly, Marilyn
attended Van Nuys High School.
Hobbies and Sports
Marilyn Monroe’s favorite
things to do in her spare time were reading and listening to music. She also
loved to shop and usually dined out. Marilyn was known as a workaholic and
spent most of her time focusing on her career. She was either rehearsing her
lines at home, posing for photos or going to acting, singing and dancing
lessons.Anecdotes
Marilyn was only the third woman to start her own production company and the very first person to start an independent film production company in 1956. She was the first woman to get script and director approval in her films. She was in the #1 rated comedy of all time. Some Like it Hot. She was in the most ironic film scene of all time in the Seven Year Itch. She won France’s Crystal Star and Italy’s David Di Donatello award for the Prince and the Showgirl.
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| One of Marilyn's famous photos. |
Career
Norma Jeane was noticed by David of the US Army airforces, who urged her to apply to the Blue Rock Modeling Agency. She became one of the Blue Rocks most successful models and appeared on dozens of magazine covers. Ben Lyon, who, had offered Norma Jeane a standard six-month contract changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. He thought the name was sexy and had a nice flow. As she was introduced to acting she showed up in small roles of films. The small films caused a breakthrough in her acting life, giving her larger roles in future films.
Reason for Fame
Marilyn was every man's love
affair with America. She was also known as the Angel of Sex. Monroe became an
American actress, model and singer. Ben Lyon, the Fox Executive, said Norma
Jeane remined him of Marilyn Miller. He decided to change her name to something
that he thought was sexy and had a better flow. From then on out she was known
as Marilyn Monroe.
Death
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| Marilyn on stage. |
