Profile of the Day: Marilyn Monroe

Posted June 1, 2022 by Amanda | No Comment

Happy birthday to Marilyn Monroe! Today we remember the legendary film icon on what would have been her 96th birthday.

Image: Marilyn Monroe / Wikimedia Commons

Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles California to Gladys Pearl Baker. Soon after her birth, Marilyn’s surname was changed to Baker. With her mother unable to care for her, Marilyn spent much of her childhood in foster homes. At 16, she married her first husband, a merchant marine, and began working in a munitions factory. It was here that she was first discovered by a photographer.

After gaining some success as a model, she caught the attention of major film studios. With a new name and newly blonde hair, Marilyn was soon starring in films such as The Seven Year Itch, How to Marry a Millionaire, and Some Like It Hot. Sadly, her widely successful career was cut short when she was found dead in her home just months after her 36th birthday.

To this day Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most popular and influential cultural icons in the world.

Explore Marilyn Monroe’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re related!