Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was an American actress of the 20th century. Her sizzling screen presence and mysterious death at the age of 36 would make her a perennial sex symbol, and later a pop icon.

Death and aftermath

Marilyn Monroe was found dead August 5 1962 in the bedroom of her Brentwood, California, home at age 36 from an overdose of barbiturates. As with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, conspiracy theories have sprung up around the circumstances of her death. While the conspiracy theorists have tried to make their "case" for murder due to her involvement with the Kennedy family or others, they cannot explain why the President's other alleged girlfriends,including Mary Pinchot Meyer who was killed in 1964, survived him.

Related Topics:
August 5 - 1962 - Brentwood, California - Overdose - Barbiturate - Assassination of President John F. Kennedy - Kennedy family

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Marilyn's body was discovered by live-in housekeeper, Mrs. Eunice Murray, assigned to Marilyn's care by her psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson. Conspiracy theorists have also tried to make their "case" on the relationship between Murray and Greenson, and Monroe's personal publicist, Pat Newcomb. Several days after Monroe's death, Murray attempted to cash a $200.00 check made out to her by Monroe. The un-cancelled check is today on display in the Monroe exhibit at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum. In the Fall of 1962, Murray left the country for an extended European cruise on the Queen Mary; Newcomb joined the Kennedy administration in the ensuing months. Murray told her own version of that fateful night in "Marilyn, The Last Months." The book was written by a ghostwriter in the early 1970s while Murray was living in Santa Monica; Pat Newcomb was a frequent visitor. In her later years, Murray moved back East, possibly to Martha's Vineyard, remarried for a short time, and survived the passing of her second husband. Murray has since passed away.

Related Topics:
Eunice Murray - Hollywood Entertainment Museum. - Queen Mary - Martha's Vineyard

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A formal investigation in 1982 by the Los Angeles County District Attorney came up with no evidence of foul play, but the stories persist. Los Angeles County coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi, who'd performed the autopsy (and the autopsies of Robert F. Kennedy, Natalie Wood and William Holden, among other celebrities), wrote in his book Coroner that Marilyn's death had been highly likely a suicide. Yet he conceded that he could find no trace in the stomach or intestines of any of the overdose of barbiturates that had reportedly been the cause of death; some conspiracy theorists claim this proves the drug overdose had been forcibly administered to Monroe (after she'd been rendered unconscious with chloral hydrate) perhaps by intravenous injection or, more likely, by rectal suppository, leaving no marks. Chicago mobster Sam Giancana reportedly claimed to have ordered Monroe's killing with the help of the CIA and the Kennedys. Most of these theories are seen to be without much evidence.

Related Topics:
1982 - Los Angeles County - Thomas Noguchi - Robert F. Kennedy - Natalie Wood - William Holden - Chloral hydrate - Chicago - Sam Giancana

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http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/mob_bosses/giancana/monroe_10.html?sect=15.

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On August 5, 2005, the Los Angeles Times publishedhttp://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-et-marilyn5aug05,0,1217607.story?coll=la-home-headlines an account of Monroe's death by former Los Angeles County prosecutor John W. Miner, who was present at the autopsy http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-et-marilyn5aug05_miner,0,3555315.story?coll=la-home-headlines as well as Miner's notes purportedly made from tapes Monroe had made for her psychiatrist, Ralph Greensonhttp://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-et-marilyn5aug05_transcript,0,1660714.story?coll=la-home-headlines, which he claims show she was not suicidal. Yet, as the Times itself noted, Miner's claims must be taken with a grain of salt: Greenson's widow told the Times her husband never mentioned a tape made by Monroe, and Miner did not mention to the District Attorney in 1982 of either a tape or that he had made notes from it. It is speculated that the man seems to have made these tapes up to put forward his theory and make it stick.

Related Topics:
August 5 - 2005 - Los Angeles Times

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A devastated DiMaggio claimed her body and arranged her funeral. According to her half-sister, Berniece Baker Miracle, he just took over and she allowed him to do so. For 20 years, he had a dozen red roses delivered three times a week to her crypt. Unlike the other men who knew her intimately (or had claimed to), the highly private DiMaggio never publicly spoke about her nor wrote a book about his life with her.

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Marilyn is interred in a crypt at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery just off of Wilshire Boulevard. She had Grace Goddard interred there because Grace's aunt – who cared for Norma Jeane briefly – is there. Just as her career took off, she asked her make-up man, Whitey Snyder, to promise he would make her up when she died. Snyder joked he would if her body was brought to him while it was warm. A few days later, he received a money clip: "Whitey Dear, While I am still warm, Marilyn." He fulfilled that promise with the help of a bottle of whiskey.

Related Topics:
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery - Whiskey

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When Gladys was between mental hospitals, she married her last husband, John Stewart Eley, who died in 1952. Diagnosed as a schizophrenic, she walked out of a sanitarium in the early 1970s and flew to Florida, where Berniece picked her up at the airport. She died of congestive heart failure on March 11, 1984 at a nursing home. Obsessed by Christian Science, she would refuse to discuss either Norma Jeane or Marilyn Monroe, unable or unwilling to relive the past.

Related Topics:
Schizophrenic - Congestive heart failure - March 11 - 1984 - Christian Science

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But if Marilyn's death signalled the end of a human being, it was only the beginning of an icon. Despite (or because of) the endless conspiracy theories, Marilyn still captivates the world and her image can be seen nearly everywhere. The actress who worried nobody would take her seriously has become one of the most famous and most adored women in history. There have been many imitators and wannabes but no one has surpassed Monroe for her beauty, charisma and lasting appeal. She will always be remembered as the most beloved star in Hollywood history.

Related Topics:
Icon - Conspiracy - Image - Famous - History

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