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My Birth
I was born in Los Angeles, California and my name was originally Norma Jeane Mortenson. -
Difficult Childhood
my mom, Gladys Baker, became unstable and had to give me had up to foster parents. While I was with my parents my foster father would sexually abuse me. After many attempts, Gladys finally got me back in 1933. Then Gladys became mentally unstable and was forcibly removed to the State Hospital of Norwalk and I became a ward of the state. My moms' best friend, Grace McKee, became my guardian, who I called Aunt Gracie. -
Foster Homes
Aunt Gracie then married Ervin Silliman Goddard and sent me, at 9 years old to live at the Los Angeles Orphans Home. I was then moved back and forth to a succession of foster homes. In 1937, Aunt Gracie took me back to live with her and Goddard but that didn't last long because Goddard attempted to sexually assault me on several occasions. I was then shipped from different relatives houses and ended up landing back with the Goddards. -
My First Marriage
When the Goddards relocated to Virginia, they decided to not take me with them. After several failed attempts to find someone to watch me, the Goddards asked their neighbor if their son could marry me so that I wouldn't go back to the orphanage. James Dougherty finally agreed to marry me after finishing high school in June. I was 16 at this time. -
Divorce
James find out me becoming a model when a shipmate was admiring a photo of a sexy blonde. He then wrote me several letters stating that when he got back into the States I would have to quit modeling. I saw my possibilities of a successful modeling and acting career and decided to divorce him when he returned from overseas in 1946. -
20th- Century Fox
Ben Lyon, a 20th Century Fox executive, was impressed by my screen test that he offered me a starting salary of $125.00 a week. Lyon did not like my original name and suggested that I take the name Marilyn Monroe. -
First Movie Role
My first movie role was an uncredited role as a telephone operator in The Shocking Miss Pilgrim in 1947. I won a brief role that same year in Dangerous Years and extra appearances in Green Grass of Wyoming and You Were Meant For Me. -
Unemployed
My contract was up with Twentieth Century Fox and was still looking for other jobs. While waiting I decided to pose for nude photographs for $50.00. This would be the only time I would get paid for my nude photographs. I was also crowned Miss California Artichoke Queen that year. -
Modeling Career
While James was in the Merchant Marine, I took up a job in the Radioplane Munitions Factory spraying airplane parts with fire retardant andinspected parachutes. During this time, David Conover snapped a photo of me and encouraged me to apply to the Blue Book Modeling Agency. I signed with the agency and died my brunette hair to golden blonde. But, I would only do the photo shoots when James went away. I became one of Blue Book's most successful models. -
Rehired
After my performance in The Asphalt Jungle, I got great reviews. Johnny Hyde convinced Twentieth Century Fox to sign me into a 7 year contract. -
Hyde's Death
Johnny Hyde, age of 55 died of a heart attack in Palm Springs. He was the man who had be me, me. -
Suicide attempt
After Johnny Hyde passed away, I couldn't think of living without him. So, I took bottle barbiturates, and swallowed what was in it. My roomate soon discovered me, and rushed me to the LA Hospital. -
Niagara
Niagara was my first major role. I played a femme fatale scheming to murder her husband. I had received positive reviews once again;) -
2nd Marriage
I got married to Joe DiMaggio in San Fransisco. Wetraveled to Japan on a business trip and also combined it as our honeymoon as well. -
Divorce....
DiMaggio and I got a divorce after a despute of my scene in the Seven Year Itch. I had to stand while the air from a subway grate blew my dress up. After the fight, we rwent back to California and avoided the press for two weeks. We then announced that we were seperated. -
3rd Marriage
Arthur Miller and I married after a reporter was following us and after trying to escape them, Arthur crashed into another car and killed the woman driver. This irritated me and I felt that if I came out about me and Arthur's relationship things in the press would cool off. -
Golden Globe Award
I won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy from my performance in Some Like it Hot. -
Health Issues
I began seeing a Los Angelese psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson. I told him about my insomnia and admitted to seeing many doctors to give me medication. Greenson believed that i had an addiction to pills. Since I was taking so many I became tolerant, so I used higher amounts of the pill. -
Divorce
Me and Arthur seperate. -
Happy Birthday JFK
I was asked to attend John F. Kennedy's birthday where I peformed Happy Birthday along with a specially written verse for him. This was one of my many most honorable moments of my life. -
Death
I took some pills......and....
