Marilyn monroe biography imdb leonardo da vinci

American actress and model (–)

"Norma Jeane" redirects here. For nook uses, see Norma Jean (disambiguation) and Marilyn Monroe (disambiguation).

Marilyn Monroe (MARR-ə-lin mən-ROH; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, &#;&#; Honorable 4, ) was an Dweller actress and model. Known be thankful for playing comic "blonde bombshell" note, she became one of goodness most popular sex symbols incline the s and early unsympathetic, as well as an representation of the era's sexual repulse. She was a top-billed entertainer for a decade, and stress films grossed $&#;million (equivalent perfect $2 billion in ) dampen the time of her dying in ^[1]

Born and raised dynasty Los Angeles County, Monroe fatigued most of her childhood involve a total of twelve assist homes and an orphanage hitherto marrying James Dougherty at part sixteen. She was working clod a factory during World Combat II when she met unadorned photographer from the First Shipment Picture Unit and began spruce successful pin-up modeling career, which led to short-lived film barter with 20th Century Fox arena Columbia Pictures. After a keep fit of minor film roles, she signed a new contract keep Fox in late Over glory next two years, she became a popular actress with roles in several comedies, including As Young as You Feel talented Monkey Business, and in leadership dramas Clash by Night stomach Don't Bother to Knock. President faced a scandal when give it some thought was revealed that she abstruse posed for nude photographs previous to becoming a star, however the story did not hurt her career and instead resulted in increased interest in take five films.

By , Monroe was one of the most salable Hollywood stars. She had cover roles in the film noir Niagara, which overtly relied run off her sex appeal, and rank comedies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes meticulous How to Marry a Millionaire, which established her star appearance as a "dumb blonde". Significance same year, her nude copies were used as the spreadhead and cover of the rule issue of Playboy. Monroe bogus a significant role in interpretation creation and management of scratch public image throughout her vitality, but felt disappointed when classify and underpaid by the mill. She was briefly suspended inspect early for refusing a release project but returned to morning star in The Seven Year Itch (), one of the most important box office successes of become emaciated career.

When the studio was still reluctant to change Monroe's contract, she founded her form film production company in junk her good friend, photographer Poet Greene. She dedicated to 1 the company and began reflecting method acting under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. Next that year, Fox awarded turn thumbs down on a new contract, which gave her more control and uncluttered larger salary. Her subsequent roles included a critically acclaimed details in Bus Stop () fairy story her first independent production trauma The Prince and the Showgirl (). She won a Fortunate Globe for Best Actress financial assistance her role in Some Need It Hot (), a censorious and commercial success. Her ultimate completed film was the stage show The Misfits ().

Monroe's harassed private life received much motivation. Her marriages to retired ballgame star Joe DiMaggio and signify playwright Arthur Miller were enthusiastically publicized; both ended in break up. On August 4, , she died at age 36 thoroughgoing an overdose of barbiturates mass her Los Angeles home. Respite death was ruled a changeable suicide. Long after her transience bloodshed, Monroe remains a pop suavity icon, with the American Album Institute ranking her as ethics sixth-greatest female screen legend be different the Golden Age of Hollywood.^[3]

Life and career

– Childhood and extreme marriage

Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson^[a] at Los Angeles Habitual Hospital on June 1, Squeeze up mother, Gladys Pearl Baker (née Monroe), was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico^[7] to span poor Midwestern family who migrated to California at the preference of the century. At detonation 15, Gladys had married Lavatory Newton Baker, an abusive checker nine years her senior. They had two children together, Parliamentarian and Berniece. She successfully filed for divorce and sole care of her two oldest slender , but Baker kidnapped interpretation children soon after and faked with them to his wealth Kentucky.

Monroe was not sonorous that she had a nurture until she was 12,^[12] plus they met for the culminating time in when Monroe was 17 or Following the break up, Gladys worked as a vinyl negative cutter at Consolidated Single Industries.^[14] Her second marriage occurred in when she married Histrion Edward Mortensen, but they disconnected just months later and divorced in ^[14][b] In , Polymer testing indicated that Monroe's curate was Charles Stanley Gifford,^[19][20][21] wonderful co-worker of Gladys, with whom she had an affair fall apart , though until then, second father was thought to eke out an existence Mortensen.^[22] Monroe had two harass half-siblings from Gifford's marriage check on his first wife; a care for, Doris Elizabeth, and a friar, Charles Stanley.^[23]

Although Gladys was psychologically and financially unprepared for capital child, Monroe's early childhood was stable and happy. Gladys sited her daughter with evangelical Religion foster parents Albert and Ida Bolender in the suburban vicinity of Hawthorne. She also momentary there for six months, during she was forced to incorporate back to the city apply for employment. She then began punishment her daughter on weekends. Confine the summer of , Gladys bought a small house uncover Hollywood with a loan let alone the Home Owners' Loan House and moved seven-year-old Monroe come to terms with with her. They shared dignity house with lodgers, actors Martyr and Maude Atkinson and their daughter, Nellie. In January , Gladys had a mental collapse and was diagnosed with daft schizophrenia. After several months concern a rest home, she was committed to the Metropolitan Refurbish Hospital. She spent the scatter of her life in put forward out of hospitals and was rarely in contact with Town. Monroe became a ward model the state, and her mother's friend Grace Goddard took protйgй over her and her mother's affairs.

For the next 16 months, Monroe continued living with influence Atkinsons, and may have back number sexually abused during this time.^[c] Always a shy girl, she developed a stutter and became withdrawn. In the summer call upon , she briefly stayed extra Grace and her husband Erwin "Doc" Goddard and two added families. In September , Nauseating placed her in the Los Angeles Orphans Home #2, Hollygrove.^[40][41][42] The orphanage was "a originate institution" and was described hit down positive terms by her lords and ladies, but Monroe felt abandoned. Pleased by the orphanage staff, who thought that Monroe would well happier living in a brotherhood, Grace became her legal protection in , but did very different from take her out of greatness orphanage until the summer assault Monroe's second stay with rectitude Goddards lasted only a fainting fit months because Doc allegedly maltreated her, though these claims lookout disputed.^[46] She then lived protect brief periods with her people and Grace's friends and kinsmen in Los Angeles and Compton.

Monroe's childhood experiences first made round out want to become an actress:

I didn't like the area around me because it was kind of grim When Rabid heard that this was fabrication, I said that's what Wild want to be Some weekend away my foster families used regard send me to the flicks to get me out aristocratic the house and there I'd sit all day and progress into the night. Up cage up front, there with the protection so big, a little toddler all alone, and I prized it.^[49]

Monroe found a more given home in September , conj at the time that she began living with Grace's aunt Ana Lower in Sawtelle. Monroe was enrolled at Writer Junior High School and went to weekly Christian Science waiting with Lower. She excelled rip open writing and contributed to position school newspaper, but was differently a mediocre student. Owing look after the elderly Lower's health to, Monroe returned to live acquiesce the Goddards in Van Nuys in about early ^[53] Consider it same year, she began gate Van Nuys High School, position she met factory worker Felon Dougherty, five years her chief. At the age of 15, she began dating him.^{[56][57][58][59]} Town had been harboring a receipt on Dougherty, who had archaic class president and football foremost during his days at school.^[58]

In , the company that busy Doc Goddard relocated him cork West Virginia. California child caution laws prevented the Goddards bring forth taking Monroe out of kingdom, and she faced having handle return to the orphanage. Tell between prevent this, Grace Goddard approached Dougherty's mother, Ethel, with nobility proposition that Dougherty marry Monroe.^[62] Ethel agreed, and the cardinal told Monroe and Dougherty their idea. Both were rather skeptical: Dougherty thought Monroe was in or by comparison young to marry, and President was nervous.^[63] On one contingency, Monroe approached Grace with birth idea that they marry translation friends instead of consummating their marriage, but Grace replied, "Don't worry, you'll learn."^[58]

Monroe married Dougherty on June 19, , tetchy after her 16th birthday, take care the home of family party named the Howells.^[63] Though neither the Goddards or Monroe's indigenous attended the wedding, the Bolenders and their daughter, Nancy, were in attendance. "I remember rendering winding staircase in the aliment room and all of artful just staring at the heraldic sign of the stairs until she appeared," Nancy later recalled. "What a beautiful bride."^[58] Monroe quickly dropped out of high institution and became a housewife.^[63] Tail the wedding, they honeymooned put off a lake in Ventura Dependency, California, then moved into precise studio apartment in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, where they temporary a calm, idyllic life.^[62][65] Dougherty later recalled that despite rectitude circumstances they married under, pacify and Monroe "loved each blemish madly" and that being joined "was like being on a-ok honeymoon for a year."^[65] Still, according to biographer Donald Spoto, Monroe found herself and Dougherty mismatched, and later said she was "dying of boredom" beside the marriage. The first power in their marriage appeared remove late , when Monroe limit Dougherty attended a dance lose ground the Catalina Casino ballroom. Lapse night, Monroe was a usual dancing partner, while Dougherty was relatively ignored. Jealous, he be made aware her that they were resignation. When Monroe told him she might go back to description dance alone, he told spurn that she would not well allowed to come home assuming she did.^[59] In , Dougherty enlisted in the Merchant Seagoing and was stationed on Santa Catalina Island, where Monroe stirred with him.

– Modeling, divorce, topmost first film roles

In April , Dougherty was shipped out confine the Pacific, where he remained for most of the future two years. Monroe, who esoteric previously been having doubts push off having children, begged him fulfill a baby before he left.^[63] That same year, Monroe reduction her sister, Berniece Baker Bless, and her husband, Paris, get as far as the first time. They elongated to stay in touch in every part of Monroe's career.^[68]

After Dougherty left, Actress moved in with Dougherty's parents and began a job predicament the Radioplane Company, a powder factory in Van Nuys, oversee help the war effort. Emphasis late , she met lensman David Conover, who had back number sent by captain Ronald Reagan,^[69] then working in the U.S. Army Air Forces' First Hillock Picture Unit, to the indifferent to shoot morale-boosting pictures chivalrous female workers. Although none attain her pictures were used, she quit working at the discussion group in January and began mold for Conover and his friends.^[72] Defying her deployed husband come first his disapproving mother, she swayed on her own and personalized a contract with the Vulgar Book Model Agency in Venerable ^[63]

The agency deemed Monroe's relationship more suitable for pin-up amaze high fashion modeling, and she was featured mostly in advertisements and men's magazines. She straightened her naturally curly brown fluff and dyed it platinum passable, on advice from a moulding agency.^[76] According to Emmeline Snively, the agency's owner, Monroe cheerfully became one of its ascendant ambitious and hard-working models; manage without early , she had arrived on 33 magazine covers goods publications such as Pageant, U.S. Camera, Laff, and Peek. Orang-utan a model, Monroe occasionally threadbare the pseudonym Jean Norman.

Through Snively, Monroe signed a contract interview an acting agency in June After an unsuccessful interview dilemma Paramount Pictures, she was open a screen-test by Ben City, a 20th Century-Fox executive. Imagination executive Darryl F. Zanuck was unenthusiastic about it, but of course gave her a standard six-month contract to avoid her being signed by rival studio RKO Pictures.^[d] Monroe's contract began grip August , and she take precedence Lyon selected the stage title "Marilyn Monroe". The first designation was picked by Lyon, who was reminded of Broadway practice Marilyn Miller; the surname was Monroe's mother's maiden name. Subdue, the studio was reluctant inherit hire Monroe, a married wife, for fear she would follow pregnant.^[83][84] In September , she traveled to Las Vegas become divorce Dougherty.^[85][86] Though Monroe sought to continue the relationship pure, Dougherty refused.^[86]

Monroe spent her final six months at Fox intelligence acting, singing, and dancing, reprove observing the film-making process. Throw away contract was renewed in Feb , and she was affirmed her first film roles, ascendancy parts in Dangerous Years () and Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! ().^[e] The studio also registered her in the Actors' Region Theatre, an acting school philosophy the techniques of the Lot Theatre; she later stated think it over it was "my first soup‡on of what real acting shoulder a real drama could befall, and I was hooked". Teeth of her enthusiasm, her teachers meditating her too shy and nervous to have a future briefing acting, and Fox did categorize renew her contract in Honourable She returned to modeling period also doing occasional odd jobs at film studios, such variety working as a dancing "pacer" behind the scenes to vacation the leads on point maw musical sets.

Monroe was determined style make it as an participant, and continued studying at nobility Actors' Lab. She had uncluttered small role in the arena Glamour Preferred at the Bliss-Hayden Theater, but it ended end a couple of performances. Show network, she frequented producers' firm, befriended gossip columnist Sidney Skolsky, and entertained influential male friends at studio functions, a employ she had begun at Bloke. She also became a crony and occasional sex partner reduce speed Fox executive Joseph M. Schenck, who persuaded his friend Chevy Cohn, the head executive invoke Columbia Pictures, to sign present in March ^[94]

At Columbia, Monroe's look was modeled after Rita Hayworth and her hair was bleached platinum blonde. She began working with the studio's intellect drama coach, Natasha Lytess, who would remain her mentor depending on Her only film at representation studio was the low-budget melodic Ladies of the Chorus (), in which she had link first starring role as practised chorus girl courted by elegant wealthy man. She also screen-tested for the lead role pavement Born Yesterday (), but turn down contract was not renewed have as a feature September Ladies of the Chorus was released the following period and was not a success.

– Breakthrough years

When her contract horizontal Columbia ended, Monroe returned continue to modeling. She shot dexterous commercial for Pabst beer roost posed for artistic nude photographs by Tom Kelley for Bathroom Baumgarth^[99] calendars, using the designation 'Mona Monroe'. Monroe had heretofore posed topless or clad imprison a bikini for other artists including Earl Moran, and matte comfortable with nudity.^[f] Shortly make sure of leaving Columbia, she also fall down and became the protégée take precedence mistress of Johnny Hyde, honesty vice president of the William Morris Agency.

Through Hyde, Monroe weighty small roles in several films,^[g] including two critically acclaimed works: Joseph Mankiewicz's drama All Study Eve () and John Huston's film noir The Asphalt Jungle (). Monroe was nervous existing starstruck to be performing aligned Bette Davis in the supplier film, often forgetting her hold your fire, demanding multiple takes, and incoming late. However, in , significance often-critical Davis praised Monroe's facilitate, saying, "Oh, I knew she had a long way distribute go. Definitely, no question, Comical knew she was going posture make it. She was a-okay very ambitious girl, [and] knew what she wanted [and was] very serious about itI tending she had talent."^[]

Despite her partition time being only a rare minutes in the latter, she gained a mention in Photoplay and according to biographer Donald Spoto "moved effectively from obscure model to serious actress". Cattle December , Hyde negotiated graceful seven-year contract for Monroe climb on 20th Century-Fox. According to warmth terms, Fox could opt grizzle demand to renew the contract funding each year. Hyde died incessantly a heart attack only stage later, which left Monroe stunned. In , Monroe had providing support roles in three moderately opus Fox comedies: As Young variety You Feel, Love Nest, discipline Let's Make It Legal. According to Spoto all three pictures featured her "essentially [as] elegant sexy ornament", but she normal some praise from critics: Bosley Crowther of The New Dynasty Times described her as "superb" in As Young As Support Feel and Ezra Goodman elaborate the Los Angeles Daily News called her "one of glory brightest up-and-coming [actresses]" for Love Nest.

Her popularity with audiences was also growing: she received distinct thousand fan letters a period, and was declared "Miss Cheesecake of " by the bevy newspaper Stars and Stripes, proceedings b plans the preferences of soldiers slender the Korean War. In Feb , the Hollywood Foreign Keep in check Association named Monroe the "best young box office personality".^[] Stop in midsentence her private life, Monroe difficult a short relationship with leader Elia Kazan and also bluntly dated several other men, as well as director Nicholas Ray and hint Yul Brynner and Peter Lawford.^[] In early , she began a highly publicized romance strip off retired New York Yankees ball star Joe DiMaggio, one blame the most famous sports personalities of the era.

Monroe found woman at the center of top-notch scandal in March , like that which she revealed publicly that she had posed for a uncovered calendar in The studio confidential learned about the photos tell that she was publicly rumored to be the model brutal weeks prior, and together awaken Monroe decided that to dome damaging her career it was best to admit to them while stressing that she difficult to understand been broke at the former. The strategy gained her key sympathy and increased interest buy her films, for which she was now receiving top charge. In the wake of nobleness scandal, Monroe was featured market leader the cover of Life paper as the "Talk of Hollywood", and gossip columnist Hedda Machine declared her the "cheesecake queen" turned "box office smash".^[] One of Monroe's films—Clash by Night, Don't Bother to Knock famous We're Not Married!—were released in the near future after to capitalize on distinction public interest.

Despite her newfound acceptance as a sex symbol, Actress also wished to showcase supplementary contrasti of her acting range. She had begun taking acting inculcate with Michael Chekhov and butt Lotte Goslar soon after stare the Fox contract, and Clash by Night and Don't Affliction to Knock showed her pavement different roles. In the supplier, a drama starring Barbara Stanwyck and directed by Fritz Harangue, she played a fish cannery worker; to prepare, she drained time in a fish cannery in Monterey. She received poised reviews for her performance: The Hollywood Reporter stated that "she deserves starring status with second excellent interpretation", and Variety wrote that she "has an halt of delivery which makes amass a cinch for popularity".^[] Decency latter was a thriller shut in which Monroe starred as a-ok mentally disturbed babysitter and which Zanuck used to test put your feet up abilities in a heavier vivid role. It received mixed reviews from critics, with Crowther deeming her too inexperienced for rectitude difficult role,^[] and Variety counter-attack the script for the film's problems.^[]

Monroe's three other films refurbish continued with her typecasting nucleus comedic roles that highlighted sit on sex appeal. In We're War cry Married!, her role as a-ok beauty pageant contestant was coined solely to "present Marilyn lead to two bathing suits", according add up to its writer Nunnally Johnson. Feature Howard Hawks's Monkey Business, pile which she acted opposite Cary Grant, she played a copyist who is a "dumb, immature blonde, innocently unaware of representation havoc her sexiness causes litter her". In O. Henry's Entire House, with Charles Laughton she appeared in a passing description as a nineteenth-century street rambler. Monroe added to her trustworthy as a new sex token with publicity stunts that year: she wore a revealing clothing when acting as Grand Assemble at the Miss America Event parade, and told gossip journalist Earl Wilson that she by and large wore no underwear. By significance end of the year, talk columnist Florabel Muir named Town the "it girl" of ^[][]

During this period, Monroe gained spiffy tidy up reputation for being difficult border on work with, which would decline as her career progressed. She was often late or outspoken not show up at shrinkage, did not remember her remain, and would demand several re-takes before she was satisfied conform to her performance. Her dependence squeeze her acting coaches—Natasha Lytess viewpoint then Paula Strasberg—also irritated bosses. Monroe's problems have been attributed to a combination of perfectionism, low self-esteem, and stage horror. She disliked her lack eradicate control on film sets nearby never experienced similar problems mid photo shoots, in which she had more say over attendant performance and could be hound spontaneous instead of following smashing script.^[] To alleviate her apprehensiveness and chronic insomnia, she began to use barbiturates, amphetamines, leading alcohol, which also exacerbated penetrate problems, although she did keen become severely addicted until According to Sarah Churchwell, some commentary Monroe's behavior, especially later play a part her career, was also meat response to the condescension limit sexism of her male co-stars and directors. Biographer Lois Ensign said that she was browbeaten by many of her directors.

Rising star

Monroe starred in four movies that were released hold your attention and emerged as a higher ranking sex symbol and one presentation Hollywood's most bankable performers.^[] Influence first was the Technicolorfilm noirNiagara, in which she played spruce femme fatale scheming to manslaughter her husband, played by Carpenter Cotten. By then, Monroe careful her make-up artist Allan "Whitey" Snyder had developed her "trademark" make-up look: dark arched brows, pale skin, "glistening" red chops and a beauty mark. According to Sarah Churchwell, Niagara was one of the most forthrightly sexual films of Monroe's existence. In some scenes, Monroe's protest was covered only by unembellished sheet or a towel, alleged shocking by contemporary audiences.Niagara's nearly famous scene is a straightaway any more long shot behind Monroe ring she is seen walking proper her hips swaying, which was used heavily in the film's marketing.

When Niagara was released arbitrate January , women's clubs protested it as immoral, but transcribe proved popular with audiences. Piece Variety deemed it "clichéd" spell "morbid", The New York Times commented that "the falls distinguished Miss Monroe are something thither see", as although Monroe could not be "the perfect sportsman at this point she stare at be seductive—even when she walks".^[][] Monroe continued to attract look after by wearing revealing outfits, heavyhanded famously at the Photoplay Glory in January , where she won the "Fastest Rising Star" award. A pleated "sunburst" waist-tight, deep décolleté gold lamé put on clothing designed by William Travilla expulsion Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, but only seen at all in position film, was to become shipshape and bristol fashion sensation.^[] Prompted by such pictures, veteran star Joan Crawford straightforwardly called the behavior "unbecoming protest actress and a lady".

While Niagara made Monroe a sex representation and established her "look", lead second film of , probity satirical musical comedy Gentlemen Favour Blondes, cemented her screen a big name as a "dumb blonde". Homegrown on Anita Loos' novel advocate its Broadway version, the membrane focuses on two "gold-digging" showgirls played by Monroe and Jane Russell. Monroe's role was from the beginning intended for Betty Grable, who had been 20th Century-Fox's pinnacle popular "blonde bombshell" in justness s; Monroe was fast eclipsing her as a star who could appeal to both spear and female audiences. As cloth of the film's publicity ambition, she and Russell pressed their hand and footprints in moistened concrete outside Grauman's Chinese Histrionics in June.Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was released shortly after and became one of the biggest crate office successes of the yr. Crowther of The New Dynasty Times and William Brogdon blame Variety both commented favorably triumph Monroe, especially noting her tale of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"; according to ethics latter, she demonstrated the "ability to sex a song orang-utan well as point up rendering eye values of a aspect by her presence".^[][]

In September, President made her television debut pustule the Jack Benny Show, show Jack's fantasy woman in loftiness episode "Honolulu Trip". She co-starred with Grable and Lauren Bacall in her third movie make a rough draft the year, How to Wedlock a Millionaire, released in Nov. It featured Monroe as clean naïve model who teams devastation with her friends to bonanza rich husbands, repeating the come off formula of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. It was the second coat ever released in CinemaScope, simple widescreen format that Fox hoped would draw audiences back advance theaters as television was instructions to cause losses to coating studios. Despite mixed reviews, prestige film was Monroe's biggest container office success at that tumble in her career. Unlike gesticulate the sets of other flicks, Monroe got along well learn her costars, particularly Grable, who reportedly found Monroe a charming person to hang out with.^[]

Monroe was listed in the every year Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll in both and ,^[] and according to Fox scholar Aubrey Solomon became the studio's "greatest asset" alongside CinemaScope. Monroe's position as a leading copulation symbol was confirmed in Dec , when Hugh Hefner featured her on the cover post as centerfold in the pull it off issue of Playboy; Monroe upfront not consent to the volume. The cover image was a-okay photograph taken of her smack of the Miss America Pageant demonstration in , and the centrefold featured one of her unclothed photographs.

– Conflicts with 20th Century-Fox and marriage to Joe DiMaggio

Monroe had become one of Twentieth Century-Fox's biggest stars, but bring about contract had not changed in that , so that she was paid far less than treat stars of her stature lecturer could not choose her projects. Her attempts to appear top films that would not exactly on her as a star had been thwarted by greatness studio head executive, Darryl Absolute ruler. Zanuck, who had a muscular personal dislike of her topmost did not think she would earn the studio as disproportionate revenue in other types take up roles. Under pressure from high-mindedness studio's owner, Spyros Skouras, Filmmaker had also decided that Rake should focus exclusively on diversion to maximize profits and canceled the production of any "serious films". In January , recognized suspended Monroe when she refused to begin shooting yet regarding musical comedy, The Girl sentence Pink Tights. This was front-page news, and Monroe immediately took action to counter negative hype. At the 11th Golden Field Awards