Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
American film star Marilyn Monroe poses for a portrait in 1954.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Norma Jeane Mortenson, who later changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, was born in 1926 in Los Angeles.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Childhood was very difficult for Monroe. Her mother, Gladys Baker, lived in a mental health facility after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. She didn't know her father.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
As a teen, she lived at an orphanage and then with a series of foster families. The place where young Marilyn felt happy and safe was at the movies. "I watched all kinds of movies like 'Cleopatra' with Claudette Colbert, and I'd see it over and over and over and over again," she said.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
When Monroe was 16 years old, she married her neighbor, Jim Dougherty, who she barely knew. The marriage lasted four year.
The marriage was the idea of her foster mother, Grace McKee. "Grace arranged it. She and her husband were going to West Virginia, and they were going to put me in a home, or I could marry this boy who was 21," she said.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
At 19 years old, Monroe tried her luck with the Blue Book Model Agency. "Norma Jeane looked like the girl next door, and I thought I could make her into something quite marketable in a short length of time," said Emmeline Snively, the owner of the Blue Book Model Agency. "She was very beautiful in a clean-cut American wholesome way."
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
In 1947, Monroe signed a contract with 20th Century Fox. She went to the studio every day doing photo shoots or taking acting classes.
"I said, 'Why do you work so hard? The other kids that are under contract. I call sometimes at 11:00, 12:00, they're still sleeping from being out the night before.' " recalled Ben Lyons, casting director at 20th Century Fox. "She said, 'Well, Mr. Lyon.' She said, 'I work hard because one day, maybe opportunity will knock, and I want to be prepared.' "
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
The head of Columbia Pictures insisted Monroe make big changes to her look before he'd cast her in a movie. This is when she transformed into a platinum blonde.
"It was the ultimate Hollywood look, the ultimate star image. It's almost unearthly. It's almost like an angel with, like, glowing hair," said actress Mira Sorvino.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Within a month of signing with Columbia Pictures, 21-year-old Monroe landed her first starring role as a burlesque dancer in a low-budget musical. In the "Ladies of the Chorus," she played a chorus girl named Peggy Martin, who was courted by a lovestruck fan.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe starred in several musicals. Picture here, she's taking singing lessons with jazz musician Phil Moore at the Mocambo, the famous West Hollywood nightclub, in 1948.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe is seen sitting on a train to Warrenburg, New York, to present the keys to a new house to a winner of a Photoplay Magazine contest in 1949. Photoplay Magazine was an American film fan magazine. Monroe was on the cover in 1953.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
She was in several movies in 1950, including "The Asphalt Jungle" and "All About Eve." Seen here, Monroe is reading sheet music while sitting on a bedroom floor with a tape player on her side.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
When she was out of contract, media-savvy Monroe used photo shoots to get her noticed. In this photo session, she's at the home of her first major movie agent, Johnny Hyde. He was one of the most powerful agents in Hollywood in the 1950s.
"She loves to be in front of the camera," said photographer Nancy Lee Andrews."She's staging it, and the photographer, he's clicking it... Follow Marilyn, and you'll get the shot."
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe fixes her hair in front of a mirror in 1951. That year she had several supporting roles in comedies, including "As Young as You Feel," "Love Nest" and "Let's Make It Legal."
"If you happen to have blonde hair, you're considered dumb. I don't know why that is. It's very -- I think it's a very limited view," Monroe said at the time.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe wins a trophy at the "Star Of Tomorrow" Awards in Los Angeles in 1952.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
By the 1950s, Monroe was a household name. In 1953, she made history by becoming the first cover and centerfold of "Playboy" magazine. In this photo, Monroe is playing the drums with the Ray Anthony Band.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
In her biggest budget movie to date, Monroe starred in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" in 1953. In the musical comedy film, she sings the famous song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
In "How To Marry A Millionaire," Monroe starred alongside David Wayne. The movie was Marilyn's third hit of 1953, earning Fox a total of $15 million, the equivalent of $150 million today. "There are not many Hollywood actresses of that era that combined clear physical attractiveness and physical comedy of a slapstick style like she does in 'How to Marry a Millionaire,' where she's a bit blind and keeps running into walls," said film critic Christina Newland.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
She developed her sexy on-screen persona and become an even larger-than-life celebrity. "She realized, 'People wanna come snap pictures of me. People wanna know about me.' She was sort of an original Kardashian in that way," said actress Amber Tamblyn.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" co-star Jane Russell place their hands in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The musical comedy topped the box office in 1953.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe and former Yankees baseball player Joe DiMaggio leave city hall after their wedding. After two years of dating, their marriage captivated the nation in 1954. "He has a very sensitive nature in many respects. When he was young, he had a very difficult time. So he understood some things about me, and I understood some things about him," Monroe said.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Thousands of US Marines stationed in Korea gathered to listen to Monroe sing. "The highlight of my life was singing for the soldiers there," she said. "I stood out on an open stage, and it was cold, but I swear I didn't feel a thing except good."
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Weeks after "The Seven Year Itch" shoot, Monroe and her attorney announced her divorce from DiMaggio. "Our marriage wasn't a happy one. It ended in nine months, unfortunately. And I don't know what else to say," Monroe said.
The flashy scene in New York was one of many straws that allegedly ended their tumultuous marriage. "After about the tenth of the skirt going up, he began to tremble," said Monroe's friend Amy Greene. "And I put my hand on his arm and said, 'Joe, it's just a movie. It's not real.' And he said, 'I realize that, but it's my wife showing off her panties.' "
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe is seen with singer Ella Fitzgerald at the Tiffany Club in Hollywood, California, in 1954. "My very favorite person, and I love her as a person as well as a singer, I think she's the greatest, and that's Ella Fitzgerald," said Monroe.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe left Hollywood for New York in an effort to be seen as a serious artist. She wanted to stop being typecast as a dumb blonde, and she believed New York was where real art was being made.
She embraced the city. "It's the people. I like the streets. The atmosphere, I just like it," Monroe said. Seen here, Monroe leans over the balcony of the Ambassador Hotel in New York in 1955.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
In a photoshoot with Redbook magazine, Monroe posed by the subway in Grand Central Station in New York. She positioned herself as an everyday kind of girl. "In fact, Marilyn never really did ride the subway, but the important thing is she saw herself as a woman who rode the subway," said biographer Elizabeth Winder.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Holding two telephones, Monroe poses at the 20th Century Fox film set. In 1956, she starred in the drama "Bus Stop." She played a saloon singer with an Ozark accent. "She did the hardest thing to do. She chose to play it like somebody who is not very good at what they do but trying really hard to be good," said actress Ellen Burstyn.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe marries playwright Arthur Miller in 1956. "He treated me as a human being. And he was a very sensitive human being and treated me as a sensitive person also," she said. Correction: A previous version of this caption incorrectly stated the year Monroe married Miller.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe blows out the candle on 30th birthday cake.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe rides her bike with her third husband Miller. He's best known for writing the play Death of a Salesman.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Queen Elizabeth II meets Monroe at the Royal Command Film Performance in London in 1956. Monroe went to England to film "The Prince and the Showgirl" with actor Laurence Olivier.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Playing Sugar Kane, Monroe sings and plays the ukulele in the movie "Some Like It Hot." The film is one of her greatest performances. "When I knew I had the final shots, there was a moment of 'never again,'" said film director Billy Wilder. "Well, all I can tell you is if Marilyn was around today, I would be on my knees, 'Please, let's do it again.'"
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
Monroe leaves Polyclinic Hospital in New York after a gall bladder surgery in 1961. As she was rolled out in a wheel chair, she was surrounded by crowds.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures
During the filming of "Something's Got to Give," Monroe swims in the nude. The 1962 movie was never completed due to Monroe's sudden death during production.
In released clips, Monroe is seen playing a mother. "It naturally brings a certain softness. You can't help but to wonder what could have been. And I'm sure I'm not the only person to have thought that while watching those scenes," said film critic Christina Newland.
Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures