Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comedic "blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s. Monroe was a top-billed actress for a decade, and her films grossed $200 million by the time of her death in 1962. She was born and raised in Los Angeles County, Monroe spent most of her childhood in foster homes and an orphanage before her breakthrough in the film industry. She gained fame with roles in films such as 'Niagara','Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' and 'How to Marry a Millionaire'. Monroe's troubled private life received much attention including her marriages to retired baseball star Joe DiMaggio and to playwright Arthur Miller, both ended in divorce. On August 4, 1962, she died of a barbiturate overdose at an early age of 36. Her death was ruled a probable suicide. Long after her death, Monroe remains a pop culture icon.

During her career, Monroe's films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2023) by her premature death in 1962. Monroe has been regarded as both a serious actress - she received a BAFTA Award nomination and won a David di Donatello award, a Golden Globe Award and a Laurel Award for her performances in diverse film genres, from film noir and dramas to comedies and musicals. Her production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, released 'The Prince and the Showgirl' (1957), for which she received the David di Donatello award, and 'The Misfits' (1961), which was her final completed film. Monroe continues to be considered a major popular culture icon.