“We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.” -Chuck Palahniuk

Here are some really wonderful sites the give this beauty icon credit for making life wonderful:

If you're interested in viewing all of the movies Monroe graced her presence with, click on this link 

Monroe's List of Films.

To read a compiled list of Monroe's inspiring words of wisdom, click on this link

Quotes by Marilyn.

To view an extensive gallery of exquisite photographs of Monroe, click on this link

Monroe Photo Gallery.

Monroe's life, complied into a time-line. Click on this link 

Timeline of Norma Jeane.

Thank you for viewing this blog!

"We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle." — Marilyn Monroe

After an autopsy, suicide by means of an overdose on sleeping pill was the official cause of death. Whitey Snyder restored Monroe's body from the damages of the autopsy in order to prepare it for the coffin. Joe DiMaggio supervised the funeral arrangements. He preferred a private affair, but was impossible because of Monroe's status.Gladys and Monroe's half sister were the only family to show up to the funeral. Conspiracy theorists brought Jack Kennedy and Monroe's death together, but that may be stretching things a little to far. One very important question that still stands is, who was Monroe on the phone with that fateful night? This mystery will never be solved. I'm sure speculation will continue, critics will still criticize, and the thought of Monroe's death will become hazy. One thing that's for sure is Marilyn Monroe was a legend, and legends NEVER die. 

Norma Jeane

Forever in Our Hearts

1926-1962

"It's not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on." — Marilyn Monroe

On August 3, 1962, Monroe had trouble sleeping. Her psychiatrist, Ralph Gleeson, paid her a visit the next day. He was pleased there were no sleeping pills in her system. She was, however, having suicidal thoughts. At 3 AM on August 5, Gleeson received a call from Monroe's housekeeper. He rushed over to Monroe's place. Gleeson found Monroe with the phone clutched in her hand, face down on the pillow. An empty bottle of Nembutal, a powerful sleeping pill, was found next to her bed. The superstar was dead.

"Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about." — Marilyn Monroe

After the divorce, Monroe flew back to New York to start a new business, enroll at Actors Studio, and reunited with Aurthur Miller. After being involved in several films, she left New York in 1956 and returned to Twentieth Century-Fox. Miller divorced his wife of around 15 years to marry Monroe. Their honeymoon was spent in England. She became pregnant; it was diagnosed as tubal and was terminated. Not long after this tragedy, Miller discovered Monroe slumped in a chair from a drug-induced coma. She blamed herself for the lost pregnancy. The couple moved to Connecticut for a fresh start. However, all Monroe did was resort back to her usual ways; posing for the camera and enchanting everyone with her beautiful smile that was clearly a result of false happiness. Conspiracy and rumors arose of an affair with president Kennedy. And just as before, Monroe finished 3 movies and ended up becoming divorced.

"I don't mind living in a man's world, as long as I can be a woman in it." — Marilyn Monroe

Monroe was now making more than $1000 a week. She then stared in several films such as "Gentleman Prefers Blondes," "Little Rock," and "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend." In Hollywood's eyes, she could do no wrong. In the summer of 1953, Joe DiMaggio swept Monroe away for a private wedding. Their official honeymoon took place in Tokyo. Concern then arose as Monroe was discovered as having a drug problem. Pill popping was a major occurrence in the 1950's. These pills affected Monroe's preforming. She forgot lines, took showers after getting hair and makeup, and drank from cups before she had even poured the coffee. Monroe's producer was concerned. Trouble also occurred in paradise when DiMaggio showed his true colors; violence and jealousy. Their marriage was dreadful. Just 274 days after their marriage, Monroe filed for divorce under mental cruelty.

"Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world." — Marilyn Monroe

Starring in many other films led to Monroe's status as a "celebrity." When Joe DiMaggio visited the set of one of Monroe's films, "Monkey Business," he immediately was taken to her. However, it is rumored that Monroe was married to Robert Slatzer; if so, the pair was married for 3 days. There is no legitimate evidence this marriage took place, but she insisted to family and friends that it did. Delusion and fantasy was never far from Monroe's mind. She also claimed her mother died when she was a child, yet Gladys was still living in a mental asylum. She then had her appendix removed in 1952 and told the doctors  in a poorly written note to take extra care of her. Monroe posed nude for a collection of calendar pictures taken by Tom Kelley. One of these pictures was bought by Hugh Hefner for $500. This was the centerfold of the first edition of Playboy.

"Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world." — Marilyn Monroe

In March of 1948, Monroe landed a 6-month, $75 a week contract with Columbia Pictures. Monroe played the part of Peggy Martin in her first Hollywood credited movie, "Ladies of the Chorus." She also played a small part in Love Happy, a Marx Brothers film. Monroe was then sent to New York and posed for Photoplay magazine. She met millionaire dress manufacturer Henry Rosenfeld, who did all that a real father might had done; Monroe, however, thought that was too little too late. In June of 1950, Monroe sacrificed her body to make it in Hollywood. She had an orthodontist fix her teeth and a surgeon "perfected" her nose and chin. At this point she had made 7 films, all which she was credited in. John Hutson's "The Asphalt Jungle" provided Monroe with jump-start she needed to make it in Hollywood. This film might have been the sole thing that saved Monroe's career.

"I live to succeed, not to please you or anyone else." — Marilyn Monroe

Monroe's first marriage to Jim Dougherty was arranged by Grace Mckee. Dougherty was an athletic young man who enjoyed young women and their company - especially Monroe. It is said that he liked the way she danced closely and intimately, that she laughed a lot, and knew when to keep her mouth shut. The two were married on June 19,1942. This was 3 weeks after Monroe's 16th birthday. Dougherty returned to serving overseas and Monroe got a job working for Radio Plane, a small factory that made aircraft for target practice. This is where David Conover, an army photographer, was taking pictures of pretty girls for Yank magazine. Conover convinced Monroe that she had what it took to become a cover-girl. Dougherty heard of the news overseas and demanded she choose between marriage and modeling. Monroe filed for divorced. Conover's pictures led to Monroe's 1946 contract as a stock player with Twentieth Century-Fox. Rather than the name "Norma Jeane," "Marylin Monroe" appeared on the contract. A star had been born.

"I read poetry to save time." — Marilyn Monroe

In reaching adulthood, Monroe "lost count" of the number of abortions and miscarriages that had occurred throughout her life. She had a strong desire to have a baby. She had possibly fabricated many stories about giving birth to a baby boy but having either the authorities take him away, or giving him up for adoption. She claimed "I hugged and kissed him.. I just kept touching him. I couldn't believe he was my baby.. But the doctor and a nurse came in with Grace (her guardian).. They took my baby from me.. and I never saw him again.." Regardless of the truth, Monroe's life was obviously was focused on fairy-tales and the desire to become "wonderful."

"I learned to walk as a baby and I haven't had a lesson since." — Marilyn Monroe

Despite the smile on her face in this photo, Monroe's childhood was anything but happy. Her entire family was founded on delusions and lies. Monroe's grandmother was sent to a mental hospital where she died at 51, and Monroe's mother suffered from schizophrenia. She had a brother and sister she didn't know she had until she 12. By the time she was told, Bernice, her sister, was 15 and Jackie, her brother, was dead.  Monroe was born into an unstable family with two dysfunctional parents. Unfortunately, this led to her move from foster home to foster home. Kimmel, her foster parents' lodger, allegedly assaulted Monroe; yet her foster mother told her to keep her mouth shut because Kimmel was a good lodger and paid the rent on time. At 9, Monroe was sent to a private orphanage in Hollywood. She used to "sit in the window and cry," and was remembered by Mabel Ella Campbell, her science teacher, as "a little girl, not well developed.. a nice child, not very outgoing, not very vibrant.."

"It's all make believe, isn't it?" — Marilyn Monroe

Monroe's life got off to a very shaky start. She was fixated on the desire for Clark Gable to be her father. Her grandmother Delia attempted to smother her at only 13 months old, which led to her frequent changes of foster homes. She had a long history of being abused and molested, something that would haunt the beauty queen forever. The family's insanity continued to be a permanent menace in Monroe's life.

"All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren't." — Marilyn Monroe

Born Norma Jeane Baker, Monroe graced this world with her presence on June 1, 1936. Her mother was Gladys Baker and her father was either Edward Mortenson or Stanley Gifford; Gladys was unaware of the true father. Monroe fantasized that her real father was Clark Gable. As you can see, her desire for fairy-tales and magic started at quite a young age. However, life wasn't just roses for Monroe. Her mother had shown signs of emotional disturbance. She left her baby at daycare in a hurry and returned to her job as a film cutter.

"We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets." — Marilyn Monroe

The passing of heartthrob Marilyn Monroe was not only the death of a movie star, but the death of an icon. She touched many lives with her story: a journey and rise to being wonderful. She forever holds a special place in our hearts and is dearly missed. This blog is dedicated to her life; her shortcomings as well as her achievements. It's amazing that someone can still shine so brightly, even through death.