Marilyn Monroe

Norma Jean Mortenson (Marilyn Monroe) was born on June 1, 1926 in California. She was abandoned to foster homes at a very young aged and she was paid a nickel a month for kitchen work. At sixteen Norma Jean worked in an aircraft plant, married James Dougherty and divorced him after four years. Norma owned 200 books, listened to Beethoven records and studied acting at the Actor's Lab in Hollywood. She worked with Natasha Lytess and acted in Ladies of the Chorus (1948). In 1950 she acted in All About Eve and went on to star in Niagara and her signature role, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953).
She legally changed her name to Marilyn Monroe in 1956 but was unable to remember how to spell "Marilyn." Marilyn only made 30 films in her career, but she is well known for her breathless voice, platinum blond hair (dyed) and voluptuous figure. Her films are well known for her sexy but innocent style and her ditzy blond acting. In 1959 she starred with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot. The film was a smashing hit, but was her only film for 1959.
In 1961 Marilyn made her final film The Misfits with Clark Gable. She was chosen to star in Something's Got to Give, but absenteeism and illnesses cause her to be fired from the production. Studios had had enough of Marilyn being absent, late, drunk or drugged and her career began to wane.
In December 1953, Marilyn was "Sweetheart of the Month" a Playboy first. Playboy loved her so much they named Marilyn the Number One Sex Star of the 20th Century. She died in 1962 at the age of 36 and was found completely nude face down on her bed.