Her beauty was immeasurable. Her mystique is still just as captivating. On this 58th anniversary of the discovery of Marilyn Monroe’s body on August 5, 1962, (her death had come hours before) we take a look back at Norma Jeane Mortenson and the impact she had on Hollywood in her short 36 years.
Born on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles as Norma Jeane Mortenson, Monroe went on to become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. She was the first Playboy cover and centerfold model, and had famous marriages to baseball star Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller. Monroe starred in some 30 films and still holds a cultural icon status today.
Marilyn Monroe’s death on the night of August 4, 1962 at age 38 has been the subject of much debate. She was found face-down nude in her bed, holding the phone, with massive amounts of barbiturates in her system. Her death was ruled a probable suicide.