Marilyn Monroe 1926 – 1962

Biography

Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, model, and singer who became one of the most enduring pop culture icons of the twentieth century. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, she spent much of her childhood in foster homes before signing with 20th Century Fox. Her breakthrough came with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), followed by The Seven Year Itch (1955) and Bus Stop (1956). Her performance in Some Like It Hot (1959) won her a Golden Globe and remains one of cinema’s most celebrated comedic turns. Behind the breathless-blonde persona was an ambitious actress who studied at the Actors Studio and fought the studio system for better roles. She died on August 4, 1962 in Brentwood, Los Angeles, at age 36. She is interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.