Marilyn Monroe

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Lore & Background

Monroe had suffered from mental illness and substance abuse, and had not completed a film since *The Misfits*, released on February 1, 1961, which was a box-office disappointment. She spent 1961 preoccupied with various health problems, including surgery for endometriosis and a cholecystectomy, and spent four weeks in hospital care—including a brief stint in a mental ward—for depression. In April 1962, she began filming *Something's Got to Give* for 20th Century Fox, but the studio fired her in early June. Fox publicly blamed Monroe for the production's problems. In the weeks preceding her death, she attempted to repair her public image by giving several interviews to high-profile publications like *Life*, *Cosmopolitan*, and *Vogue*. She also began negotiations with Fox on being re-hired for *Something's Got to Give* and for starring roles in other productions. On the day of her death, August 4, Monroe was at her Brentwood home. She was accompanied at various times by publicist Patricia Newcomb, housekeeper Eunice Murray, photographer Lawrence Schiller, and psychiatrist Ralph Greenson. At Greenson's request, Murray stayed overnight. At approximately 3 a.m. on August 5, Murray noticed Monroe had locked herself in her bedroom and appeared unresponsive. Greenson arrived, entered the room by breaking a window, and found Monroe dead. Her death was officially ruled a probable suicide by the Los Angeles County coroner's office, based on information about her overdosing and being prone to mood swings and suicidal thoughts. The toxicological analysis concluded the cause of death was acute barbiturate poisoning; she had 8 mg% of chloral hydrate and 4.5 mg% of pentobarbital in her blood and a further 13 mg% of pentobarbital in her liver.

Reader's Guide

Despite the coroner's findings, several alternative theories suggesting murder or accidental overdose have been proposed since the mid-1960s. Many involve U.S. president John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy, as well as union leader Jimmy Hoffa and mob boss Sam Giancana. Because of the prevalence of these theories in the media, the office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney reviewed the case in 1982 but found no evidence to support them and did not disagree with the findings of the original investigation. However, the report conceded that 'factual discrepancies' and 'unanswered questions' remained in the case. Monroe had acquired a reputation for being difficult to work with, frequently delaying productions by being late to film sets and having trouble remembering her lines. She also had an FBI file open since 1956 due to her 'problematic' relationship with accused communist Arthur Miller. By 1960, her behavior was adversely affecting her career. For example, although she was the preferred choice of author Truman Capote to play Holly Golightly in *Breakfast at Tiffany's*, Paramount Pictures declined to cast her due to fear that she would complicate the film's production. Her third marriage, to Arthur Miller, ended in divorce in January 1961. In early 1962, she received a 'World Film Favorite' Golden Globe award.

Did You Know?

• Monroe's films had grossed $200 million by the time of her death.
• She had an FBI file open since 1956 due to her relationship with accused communist Arthur Miller.
• On May 19, 1962, Monroe sang 'Happy Birthday' on stage at President John F. Kennedy's birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden.
• Deputy coroner Thomas Noguchi conducted Monroe's autopsy on the same day she was found dead, August 5, 1962.
• The toxicological analysis found 8 mg% of chloral hydrate and 4.5 mg% of pentobarbital in her blood.