Marilyn moves to New York

She moved to New York and began studying at the Actors Studio under the direction of Lee Strasberg and entered into psychoanalysis to understand more about herself and her childhood. She formed her owned production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, and produced (although uncredited) her own film, Bus Stop. Achieving critical acclaim for her transformation in this dramatic role, she then shocked the world with her third marriage to playwright Arthur Miller. Her next film, also produced (an uncredited) by her company was The Prince and The Showgirl starring opposite Laurence Olivier. While filming in Britain, fighting between her and Miller became very frequent and she began a dependency on alcohol and prescription drugs. The Prince and The Showgirl was not as successful as all hoped it would be and Marilyn took the year off.

In 1959, Marilyn came back with the smash Billy Wilder hit film, Some Like It Hot, starring opposite of Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. Brilliantly funny, the film once again showed Marilyn in fine form. Meanwhile her relationship with Miller was deteriorating and she felt the very real loss of two miscarriages.

The next year, she appeared in the Cukor Film, Let's Make Love opposite Yves Montand. Her declining marriage sunk her further into depression and she engaged in an affair with her co-star. The Miller-Monroe marriage ended in divorce on Jan. 20, 1961. But, during that same year, she starred in what would be her last completed film, The Misfits, which was written for her by Miller. Starring opposite of Clark Gable, the film would also be his last, he died of a heart attack shortly after the completion of the filming. A poignant story, making so many connections between the demons and hurdles Marilyn herself faced in her own life, she was able to prove that she was indeed the fine actress she longed to be.

In 1962, Monroe was named "World Film Favorite - Female" by Golden Globe and allegedly began an affair with President John F. Kennedy, whose 40th birthday party was made legendary by Marilyn's rendition of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President." She was dropped from the production of the film Something's Got to Give due to her chronic lateness and drug dependency, and she went into seclusion in her Los Angeles home. Her career at a standstill, the studios unwilling to take a chance on their volatile actress, she once again sunk into depression.

On August 5, 1962 she was found dead in her Brentwood home, officially a victim of barbiturate overdose. She was only 36.

Although her time on this earth was short, she made an impact that has yet to be paralleled by anyone, and has left behind a legacy so powerful that she will not be forgotten.

Original biography written by Dawn Marie for Bombshells.Com on June 1, 2001, the 75th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth.

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