MARILYN MONROE FACTS
Essential Facts Behind the Icon
Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most enduring cultural figures of the twentieth century, an icon whose life continues to inspire fascination, scholarship, and myth.
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles in 1926, Monroe rose from humble beginnings to become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, celebrated for her beauty, charisma, and luminous presence on screen. Yet behind the legend was a complex individual, ambitious, intelligent, and deeply committed to her craft.
The facts below provide a grounded reference point within her extraordinary story, placing Marilyn in time, in place, and in history, beyond the myths that so often surround her name.
Facts
- Name at Birth: Norma Jeane Mortenson
- Also Known As: Norma Jeane Baker
- Date of Birth: June 1, 1926
- Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California
- Date of Death: August 4–5, 1962
- Place of Death: Brentwood, Los Angeles, California
- Eye Color: Blue
- Hair Color: Blonde
- Height: 5 ft 5½ in
- Stage Name Introduced: Began using Marilyn Monroe in 1946
- Legal Name Change: February 23, 1956
- Measurements:
- 37–23–36 (studio publicity claim)
-
35–22–35 (dressmaker’s claim)
Notable Recognitions
- Crowned Miss California Artichoke Queen (1947)
- Selected as Playboy Sweetheart of the Month (December 1953)
- Featured on a U.S. commemorative postage stamp (issued June 1, 1995)
- Named the No. 1 Sex Star of the 20th Century by Playboy (1999)
- Voted the Sexiest Woman of the Century by People magazine (1999)
Learn About Marilyn Monroe
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