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A Marilyn Monroe Unsigned Bank Check Dated August 3, 1962

One Day Before Her Death

A check from the personal account of Marilyn Monroe, written on August 3, 1962, one day before her death, and made out to “Department of Water & Power” for $52.59, payment for service from 5/25 to 7/27, 1962. Filled in by typewriter, the check was awaiting her signature. The next evening, August 4th, Marilyn retired to her bedroom around 8:00 p.m. and was found dead in her bed eight hours later.

Marilyn-Monroe-August-3-1962-Check

This check was likely written by Cherie Redmond, Marilyn’s last secretary from January, 1962 until her death.

From the book “Marilyn: The Last Months” by Eunice Murray:

“She must never be allowed in my home,” Marilyn told Eunice in Mexico City. Marilyn and her secretary had traveled to New York together the week before the Mexican trip to arrange for business files to be sent to Twentieth Century-Fox. They had stayed together in Marilyn’s New York apartment, and then the clash in personalities had arisen. “Mr. Rudin says she’s a good secretary, and I guess she is,” Marilyn said. “But she can’t be one of my close friends.” Marilyn’s reaction had been adverse from the moment she heard her name from the attorney. “Cherie?” Marilyn had said on the phone. “Oh, no, not another Cherie!” That had been Marilyn’s name in the movie, Bus Stop.” “Couldn’t she have another name?” Marilyn asked unreasonably, as if that name belonged once and for all to the naive dance-hall girl in Bus Stop. Cherie was an excellent secretary, capable enough to be earning $250 per week to handle Marilyn’s business affairs. But Marilyn insisted, “She is not one of the people who will be invited to my home.” Later, when Cherie needed to have Marilyn sign checks, Marilyn arranged to have her give any papers or checks to Eunice at the gate of her home. Any information for Marilyn had to be in writing. Marilyn had a week in New York to observe her, and had formed a sudden judgment. “I don’t want her advice about anything but business matters,” she said. “Besides,” Marilyn added with a whimsical glint in her eye, “She drank up the last of my Dom Perignon.”