Norma Jeane Mortenson was born June 1, 1926 in Hollywood California. She was
baptized as Norma Jeane Baker. Her mother Gladys was poor and had mental
problems. Gladys wanted a better life for her daughter so she put Marilyn in
foster care. Marilyn lived with several families and moved to an orphanage when
she was nine. At the age of 16, Norma Jeane married Jimmy Dougherty on June 19,
1942. Marilyn took a job working in a defense plant and in 1944 an Army
photographer spotted her. Her talked her into posing for some posters. She
became very popular. Norma Jeane had been on the cover of 33 magazines by 1945.
Norma Jeane and Jimmy were divorced in 1946. By then Norma was on her way to
becoming a movie star. Norma became Marilyn Monroe in the summer of 1946. Her
big break came in Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve in 1950.
Marilyn married two more times, baseball super star Joe DiMaggio in 1954 and
playwright Arthur Miller in 1956.
Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her home in Brentwood, California on August
5, 1962. Marilyn was only 35 years old. People remember Marilyn for her beauty.
She is buried in Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
by Melissa, fourth grade, 2001
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