The Untold Story of Marilyn Monroe’s Family Turmoil

Before becoming the iconic Marilyn Monroe, Norma Jeane Mortenson was born to Gladys Baker.

Her early life was tumultuous due to her mother's struggles, leading Monroe to fabricate stories about her parents and their fate, concealing the hardships she endured before fame.

Gladys Baker faced adversity in her youth, growing up impoverished with undiagnosed schizophrenia.

She married John Newton Baker at a young age, who was abusive, and had two children, Robert and Bernice, with him.

Following their divorce, John abducted the children, leaving Gladys devastated.

After a brief marriage to Martin Edward Mortenson, speculated to be Monroe's father, Gladys believed her co-worker, Charles Stanley Gifford, was the true parent of her child, casting uncertainty on Monroe's paternity throughout her life.

Monroe was placed in foster care shortly after birth, under the care of Ida and Wayne Bolender, providing her with a stable and nurturing environment.

Despite this, Gladys remained fixated on being involved in her daughter's life, leading to conflicts with the foster parents.

In 1933, Gladys experienced a series of tragic events, including the death of her son and her grandfather, as well as work-related issues, culminating in a mental breakdown that led to her institutionalization in 1934.

With Gladys hospitalized, Monroe was entrusted to Grace McKee, who struggled to care for her.

Monroe then became a “half orphan,” moving between caregivers under McKee's supervision, where she faced mistreatment.

At 16, Monroe married James Dougherty, but the marriage was short-lived.

Meanwhile, Gladys, upon her release from the hospital, made questionable choices that strained her relationship with Monroe, who was just starting her career in show business.

To protect Monroe's image, 20th Century Fox urged her to maintain the false narrative of being an orphan, concealing her mother's identity.

However, Gladys inadvertently exposed the truth to a reporter in 1952, prompting Monroe to confirm their relationship, which led to another breakdown for Gladys.

Despite offering financial support, Monroe kept her distance from her mother, who resided at Rockhaven Sanitarium.

Upon Monroe's death in 1962, she left Gladys an annual allowance, but chose not to visit her due to the distressing conditions of the facility.

After Monroe's passing, Gladys escaped from care, briefly evading authorities before being returned to Rockhaven.

Eventually deemed fit for release, she relocated to Florida, where she lived until her death in 1984, outliving her daughter by 22 years.