CineScope
Marilyn Monroe picture

Marilyn Monroe

Acting
Known For

36 Years Old

Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 – 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic "blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as well as an emblem of the era's sexual revolution. She was a top-billed actress for a decade, and her films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2021) by the time of her death in 1962. Long after her death, Monroe remains a major icon of pop culture. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her sixth on their list of the greatest female screen legends from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Multiple film critics and media outlets have cited Monroe as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Monroe spent most of her childhood in a total of 12 foster homes and an orphanage; she married at age sixteen. She was working in a factory during World War II when she met a photographer from the First Motion Picture Unit and began a successful pin-up modeling career, which led to short-lived film contracts with 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures. After a series of minor film roles, she signed a new contract with Fox in late 1950. Over the next two years, she became a popular actress with roles in several comedies, including As Young as You Feel and Monkey Business, and in the dramas Clash by Night and Don't Bother to Knock. She faced a scandal when it was revealed that she had posed for nude photographs prior to becoming a star, but the story did not damage her career and instead resulted in increased interest in her films. By 1953, Monroe was one of the most marketable Hollywood stars; she had leading roles in the film noir Niagara, which overtly relied on her sex appeal, and the comedies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire, which established her star image as a "dumb blonde". The same year, her nude images were used as the centerfold and on the cover of the first issue of Playboy. She played a significant role in the creation and management of her public image throughout her career, but she was disappointed when she was typecast and underpaid by the studio. She was briefly suspended in early 1954 for refusing a film project but returned to star in The Seven Year Itch (1955), one of the biggest box office successes of her career. When the studio was still reluctant to change Monroe's contract, she founded her own film production company in 1954. She dedicated 1955 to building the company and began studying method acting under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. Later that year, Fox awarded her a new contract, which gave her more control and a larger salary. Her subsequent roles included a critically acclaimed performance in Bus Stop (1956) and her first independent production in The Prince and the Showgirl (1957). She won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in Some Like It Hot (1959), a critical and commercial success. Her last completed film was the drama The Misfits (1961).

Born

Los Angeles, California, USA on 1st June 1926

Died

5th August 1962

All Credits

Mentiras verdaderas Image
Mentiras verdaderas
Self (archive footage)
Spécial cinéma Image
Spécial cinéma
Self (archive footage)
Golden Globe Awards Image
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Winner
The Jack Benny Program Image
The Jack Benny Program
Self
The Jack Benny Program Image
The Jack Benny Program
Marilyn Monroe
The Bob Hope Show Image
The Bob Hope Show
Self
Intimate Portrait Image
Intimate Portrait
Self (archive footage)
Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields Image
Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields
Self (archive footage)
Startime Image
Startime
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe Image
Reframed: Marilyn Monroe
Self (archive footage)
Some Like It Hot Image
Some Like It Hot
Sugar Kane Kowalczyk
First Ladies Image
First Ladies
Self (archive footage)
ABC Stage 67 Image
ABC Stage 67
Self (archive footage)
Un film et son époque Image
Un film et son époque
Self (archive footage)
All About Eve Image
All About Eve
Miss Caswell
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Image
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Lorelei Lee
How to Marry a Millionaire Image
How to Marry a Millionaire
Pola Debevoise
The Misfits Image
The Misfits
Roslyn Taber
Niagara Image
Niagara
Rose Loomis
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment Image
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
River of No Return Image
River of No Return
Kay Weston
The Century of Icons Image
The Century of Icons
Self (archive footage)
The Asphalt Jungle Image
The Asphalt Jungle
Angela Phinlay
The Seven Year Itch Image
The Seven Year Itch
The Girl
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes Image
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes
Self (archive photo)
Monkey Business Image
Monkey Business
Lois Laurel
Let's Make Love Image
Let's Make Love
Amanda Dell
Home Town Story Image
Home Town Story
Iris Martin
Always at The Carlyle Image
Always at The Carlyle
Self (archive footage)
Bus Stop Image
Bus Stop
Cherie
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen Image
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
(archive footage)
There's No Business Like Show Business Image
There's No Business Like Show Business
Vicky
The Prince and the Showgirl Image
The Prince and the Showgirl
Elsie
Arthur Miller: Writer Image
Arthur Miller: Writer
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths Image
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
(archive footage)
Death In Hollywood Image
Death In Hollywood
(archive footage)
Hollywood Uncensored Image
Hollywood Uncensored
Self (archive footage)
Clash by Night Image
Clash by Night
Peggy
O. Henry's Full House Image
O. Henry's Full House
Streetwalker (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
That's Entertainment! III Image
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage)
Don't Bother to Knock Image
Don't Bother to Knock
Nell Forbes
Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire Image
Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire
Self (archive footage)
Love, Marilyn Image
Love, Marilyn
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days Image
Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days
Self (archive footage)
Smash His Camera Image
Smash His Camera
Self (archive footage)
We Remember Marilyn Image
We Remember Marilyn
Self (archive footage)
A Ticket to Tomahawk Image
A Ticket to Tomahawk
Clara
We're Not Married! Image
We're Not Married!
Annabel Jones
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage Image
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
As Young as You Feel Image
As Young as You Feel
Harriet
John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick Image
John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick
Self (archive footage)
Sex at 24 Frames Per Second Image
Sex at 24 Frames Per Second
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Image
Marilyn
Self (archive footage)
Cher: In Her Own Words Image
Cher: In Her Own Words
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bert Stern - Original Madman Image
Bert Stern - Original Madman
Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack Image
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie Image
Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie
Self (archive footage)
All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone Image
All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone
The Girl (archive footage)
Love Nest Image
Love Nest
Roberta 'Bobbie' Stevens
Ladies of the Chorus Image
Ladies of the Chorus
Peggy Martin
Playboy: Celebrity Centerfolds Image
Playboy: Celebrity Centerfolds
Self (archive footage)
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff Image
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend Image
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
Self (archive footage)
Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood Image
Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers! Image
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
Right Cross Image
Right Cross
Dusky Ledoux (uncredited)
The Fireball Image
The Fireball
Polly
Love Happy Image
Love Happy
Grunion's Client
Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess Image
Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess
Self (archive footage)
Let's Make It Legal Image
Let's Make It Legal
Joyce Mannering
Green Grass of Wyoming Image
Green Grass of Wyoming
Extra at Square Dance (uncredited)
Dream Girl: The making of Marilyn Monroe Image
Dream Girl: The making of Marilyn Monroe
Self (archive footage)
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful Image
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful
Self (archive footage)
The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot' Image
The Legacy of 'Some Like It Hot'
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical Image
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical
Self (archive)
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line Image
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe Declassified Image
Marilyn Monroe Declassified
Self (archive footage)
I Am Jackie O Image
I Am Jackie O
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe: Death of an Icon Image
Marilyn Monroe: Death of an Icon
Self (archive footage)
Becoming Marilyn Image
Becoming Marilyn
Self (archive footage)
Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star Image
Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star
Self (archive footage)
Arthur Miller: A Man of His Century Image
Arthur Miller: A Man of His Century
Self - Miller's 2nd Wife (archive footage)
Hollywood, The Dream Life of Lana Turner Image
Hollywood, The Dream Life of Lana Turner
Self (archive footage)
The Making of 'Some Like It Hot' Image
The Making of 'Some Like It Hot'
Self (archive footage)
Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! Image
Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!
Betty (uncredited)
Marilyn: Something's Got to Give Image
Marilyn: Something's Got to Give
Self (archive footage)
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim Image
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
Telephone Operator (voice) (uncredited)
Beautiful Like a Poem Image
Beautiful Like a Poem
Dangerous Years Image
Dangerous Years
Evie
Electric Blue Special: Nude Celebrity Special Image
Electric Blue Special: Nude Celebrity Special
Playboy: 50 Years of Playmates Image
Playboy: 50 Years of Playmates
Self (archive footage)
Batmania: From Comics to Screen Image
Batmania: From Comics to Screen
Self (archive footage)
The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks Image
The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved Image
Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved
(archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe: Beauty is Pain Image
Marilyn Monroe: Beauty is Pain
Self (archive footage)
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults Image
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults
Self (Archival Footage)
Making 'The Misfits' Image
Making 'The Misfits'
Self (archive footage)
Signoret et Montand, Monroe et Miller : Deux couples à Hollywood Image
Signoret et Montand, Monroe et Miller : Deux couples à Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
Aliens Uncovered: Marilyn Monroe Exposed Image
Aliens Uncovered: Marilyn Monroe Exposed
Self
Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess Image
Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess
Self - Actress (archive footage)
Zwischen Glück und Krone Image
Zwischen Glück und Krone
Self (archive footage)
La Rabbia Image
La Rabbia
Self (archive footage)
Tunnel to Freedom Image
Tunnel to Freedom
Self (archive footage)
La Rabbia di Pasolini Image
La Rabbia di Pasolini
Self (archive footage)
Nobody's Perfect - The Making of Some Like It Hot Image
Nobody's Perfect - The Making of Some Like It Hot
Self (archive footage)
Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl Image
Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl
Self (archive footage)
No Image
Hollywood's Hidden Secrets
(archive footage)
President Kennedy's Birthday Salute Image
President Kennedy's Birthday Salute
Self
The Two Kennedys Image
The Two Kennedys
Self (archive footage)
Footsteps on the Ceiling Image
Footsteps on the Ceiling
Miss Caswell (archive footage)
Marilyn in Manhattan Image
Marilyn in Manhattan
Self (archive footage)
Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe Image
Fascination: Unauthorized Story of Marilyn Monroe
Self (archive footage)
The Kennedy Detail Image
The Kennedy Detail
Self (archive footage)
No Image
Marilyn
Self (archive footage)
No Image
Jane Russell - Der Star aus dem Heu
Self (archive footage)
Something's Got to Give Image
Something's Got to Give
Ellen Wagstaff Arden
The Marilyn Monroe Story Image
The Marilyn Monroe Story
Self (archive footage)
No Image
Marilyn, divine et fragile
Self (archive footage)
Året var 1962 Image
Året var 1962
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn and I Image
Marilyn and I
Self (archive footage)
No Image
Hollywood-Diven von ihrer erotischen Seite
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime Image
Marilyn Monroe: Auction of a Lifetime
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn, dernières séances Image
Marilyn, dernières séances
Self (archive footage)
Aliens Uncovered: Declassified Image
Aliens Uncovered: Declassified
Self
Andy Warhol, Fluorescent Image
Andy Warhol, Fluorescent
Self (archive footage)
Mi Marilyn Image
Mi Marilyn
Self (archive footage)
Haunted Homes of Hollywood Image
Haunted Homes of Hollywood
Marilyn Magdalena Image
Marilyn Magdalena
Marilyn Monroe Image
Marilyn Monroe
Self (archive footage)
Una foto de Marilyn Image
Una foto de Marilyn
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn on Marilyn Image
Marilyn on Marilyn
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn: Portrait of a Legend Image
Marilyn: Portrait of a Legend
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe: Still Life Image
Marilyn Monroe: Still Life
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn Monroe for Sale Image
Marilyn Monroe for Sale
Self (archive footage)
No Image
Fake Newsreal
Self (archive footage)