The life of Marilyn Monroe is a captivating and heartbreaking tale that continues to captivate Hollywood and serves as the inspiration for Netflix's film “Blonde,” starring Ana de Armas as the beloved screen goddess.
Monroe passed away at the age of 36 in 1962, leaving many curious about the circumstances surrounding her death.
Born as Norma Jeane Mortenson in 1926, Monroe rose to fame in 1953 and quickly became known as the iconic “blonde bombshell.”
She was one of the first true s** symbols in the world, representing a time of s**ual revolution between the 1950s and 60s.
However, beneath her confident on-screen persona, Monroe was a deeply sensitive person who was exploited and objectified by tabloids and film executives for their own personal gain.
This aspect of her life is extensively explored in “Blonde,” based on Joyce Carol Oates' book of the same name.
French poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau commented on her tragic death, stating that it should serve as a warning to those who spy on and torment film stars, as reported by the New York Times in 1962.
So how did Marilyn Monroe die?
An autopsy revealed that Monroe had a lethal dose of barbiturates, commonly known as sleeping pills, in her system.
On the night of her passing, her housekeeper Eunice Murray, who had been staying overnight at Monroe's home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, sensed something was wrong.
Murray noticed a light on in Monroe's bedroom but found the door either blocked or locked when she tried to enter.
Concerned, Murray called Monroe's psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson, who entered the bedroom through the window and discovered Monroe unresponsive in her bed.
Monroe's doctor arrived shortly after and pronounced her dead at the scene.
In the months leading up to her death, Monroe's mental health deteriorated.
Her affair with President John F. Kennedy had seemingly ended, and his treatment of her became cold.
Her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller fell apart, and two of her films, “Let's Make Love” and “The Misfits,” were commercial failures.
In 1960, Monroe was convinced by her New York-based psychiatrist, Dr. Marianne Kris, to enter the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic.
Initially, Monroe believed she was seeking help for alcohol and sleeping pill withdrawal, but soon discovered that she was considered “self-destructive” and was placed in a straitjacket in a maximum-security ward.
Eventually, she was allowed a phone call and contacted her ex-husband, baseball player Joe DiMaggio, who arranged for her to be transferred to another hospital for regular treatment and detoxification.
For a brief period, it seemed like Monroe was getting back on track.
Her affair with JFK appeared to be reignited, and she famously sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” at Madison Square Garden in May 1962 for Kennedy's 45th birthday celebration.
However, by June, she began spiraling once again into insecurity, depression, and substance abuse.
Monroe was fired from her upcoming film, “Something's Got to Give,” due to repeated lateness and absences.
She expressed feelings of worthlessness and talked about being a waif and feeling ugly.
She believed that people only pretended to be nice to her for their own gain.
Rejection and loneliness took a toll on her, especially as her love letters and phone calls to the president went unanswered.
On the night of August 4, 1962, Monroe spoke to her friend Peter Lawford for the last time.
Police reports from 1962, released in 1985, revealed that Lawford sensed something was wrong during their phone conversation.
Monroe sounded despondent over losing her contract with 20th Century-Fox Studios and other personal matters.
Lawford tried to persuade her to join him and his wife for dinner, but Monroe declined, saying she was tired.
She then said, “Say goodbye to Pat, say goodbye to Jack (President John F. Kennedy), and say goodbye to yourself because you're a nice guy.”
The call abruptly ended, leaving Lawford with a feeling that something was amiss.
He later regretted not going to check on her himself.
Despite rumors and conspiracy theories surrounding Monroe's death, the official conclusion was that she died by suicide.
However, the shocking book “Bombshell: The Night Bobby Kennedy Murdered Marilyn Monroe” by Douglas Thompson and M Rothmiller claimed that Robert “Bobby” Kennedy was directly responsible for her death in an effort to protect his and his brother's political careers.
The Kennedy family has consistently denied these allegations.
Monroe's death deeply affected Hollywood, with many expressing bitterness and placing blame on the industry and the pressures of fame.
Sir Laurence Olivier described her as a victim of sensationalism, while director Josh Logan stated that she was one of the most unappreciated people in the world.
Her funeral, held on August 8, 1962, was a private affair attended only by her closest friends.
It was organized by her ex-husband Joe DiMaggio, who for the next 20 years had six roses delivered to Monroe's crypt three times a week as a tribute.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
For more insights into Marilyn Monroe's life, her 1974 autobiography “My Story” provides a firsthand account.
Written by Monroe herself, the book takes readers on a journey from her difficult childhood as an orphan to her rise as a movie star and s** symbol.
It delves into her marriages, including her controversial relationship with Joe DiMaggio, and explores her self-perception as someone who could end up dead with a bottle of sleeping pills in hand.
Illustrated with rare photos, “My Story” unveils the true story of how Marilyn Monroe became the iconic Hollywood figure adored by the world.
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