1.
How
did Marilyn die?
Let’s just get this one out of the way
first, as this is one of the most popular questions I get asked. Marilyn passed
away of a drug overdose on August 5th, 1962. Some people like to
argue August 4th, but based on coroner findings, the closest we can
get to an exact time is no earlier than 12:30am in the early morning hours of
the 5th. Marilyn self-administered sleeping tablets that night,
which can also be proven by the pathology results. Whether she did so
accidentally or intentionally is something we’ll never know. And no, there is
no evidence to even suggest she was murdered. That is a theory recycled through
the years by tabloids and people who just want money and a juicy story. But I’m
not going to go in depth on this topic. If you’d like to learn more, I highly recommend listening to Goodnight
Marilyn Radio, an extremely thoroughly researched podcast that covers all
aspects of her death, and includes several interviews with panel members and
distinguished professionals, such as renowned forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht.
You can find all the episodes here: https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/83328/the-kick-off
2.
What
was Marilyn’s favorite of her movie characters?
Marilyn’s favorite of her on screen
characters was Angela Phinlay from The
Asphalt Jungle (1950). She has stated this herself in a few interviews. The Asphalt Jungle was Marilyn’s first
big break. Before this film, she had only played bit parts, with the exception
of a larger role in a low budget film made by Columbia Pictures. Jungle was also her first opportunity to
work with major director John Huston, and her first film in which she began to
be taken seriously as an actress.
3.
What
beauty products did she use?
Marilyn used beauty brands such as
Elizabeth Arden, Nivea moisturizer, Max Factor, and Erno-Laszlo, as well as
many others. But don’t be fooled by the Max Factor advertising. The Max Factor
company prides itself on their connection to Marilyn, claiming that Max Factor
himself was the first person to dye Marilyn’s hair blonde. This is completely
false. Hairstylist Sylvia Barnhart was the first to begin transforming
Marilyn’s hair to a lighter shade beginning in 1945. In fact, as a young model,
Marilyn was very much against going blonde, as so many of her modeling school
peers were doing to book more jobs. In addition, there is no substantial
evidence to prove that Marilyn even visited a Max Factor studio. The photos
below are often mislabeled as being taken at Max Factor, when they were
actually taken by Ed Cronenweth at Columbia Pictures, where Marilyn was signed
in 1948.
4.
Did
Marilyn ever meet Audrey Hepburn/James Dean/Elvis Presley?
Unfortunately, there is no evidence to
suggest that Marilyn met either Elvis or Audrey. However, there is some
evidence out there that supports her meeting James Dean on one occasion. The
main source for this comes from the 1989 memoir of Shelley Winters, where she
recalls attending a screening of On The
Waterfront in which both Marilyn and Jimmy were present. Afterwards, she
states that they all attended a gathering at Nicholas Ray’s bungalow at the
Chateau Marmont Hotel in Hollywood. Apparently, Jimmy was being reckless on his
motorcycle and began circling them, which seems somewhat characteristic.
Another piece of evidence is the fact that one small piece of paper exists (shown below) which includes more than likely authentic signatures from Marilyn, Nick Ray,
and Jimmy. There is more evidence to support the theory that they met briefly
than there is to prove they didn’t, and although we still can’t say for sure,
personally I tend to believe it.
5.
What
was her diet, and how did she maintain her figure?
Marilyn maintained a healthy diet
throughout her life. She began weight training and running when she was living
on Catalina Island during her marriage to Jim Doughtery. She would often take
their dog Muggsie on runs, and spent many hours at the gym. As she progressed
in her career as a model and actress, health always remained really important
to her. She ate a variety of protein and vegetables, and famously whipped raw
eggs into a glass of milk every morning. As healthy as she was, she did enjoy
the occasional ice cream sundae.
6.
Was
her name legally Marilyn Monroe?
Yes. In 1956, she legally changed her name
to Marilyn Monroe. People who knew her in her younger years (her mother, aunts,
first husband, etc.) continued to call her Norma Jeane, because that is what
they always knew her as.
7.
Was
she crazy/did she have a mental illness?
No. By no accounts from people who knew her
did she ever exhibit signs of “going crazy.” It was her mother Gladys that
suffered from schizophrenia, and because of this, Marilyn’s biggest fear was
inheriting it. Marilyn did have frequent bouts of major manic and depressive
episodes throughout her life, and some mental health experts suggest she may
have had BPD (borderline personality disorder), although nothing today can be
confirmed because she was never diagnosed with any form of mental illness while
she was alive, and we can only speculate. You cannot diagnose an individual who
is deceased.
8.
Did
she receive a nose job/any cosmetic surgery?
There is no substantial evidence to suggest that Marilyn got a nose job. Sure,
you can compare photos side by side, but that isn’t proof. With the right
lighting and contouring, you can make any nose look different. As far as
cosmetic surgery goes, the only procedure she had done was a small chin implant
in her starlet days, paid for by then boyfriend Johnny Hyde. X-rays conducted
on a doctor’s visit suggest that the implant had been dissolved by 1958.
9.
Did
she have a favorite photo session?
Yes. A favorite photo, that is. Her
favorite self-portrait was taken by Cecil Beaton in 1956, shown below. She kept
several copies of it at home to autograph and send to fans.

10.
Did
she have any children/was she planning on having children?
Yes, however this dream was never realized.
Marilyn never had any children. She suffered an ectopic pregnancy in 1957, and
a miscarriage in 1958. All her life she had said she wanted a baby, and I
believe that, had she lived longer, she may have started considering adoption.
11.
Was
she planning on remarrying Joe DiMaggio at the time of her death?
There is nothing to prove this. By that
time, Joe was back in her life strictly as a close friend to confide in. He
really made himself available to her whenever she needed him. Marilyn was not
trying to pursue a romantic relationship with him, and Joe was not pressuring
her to.
![]() |
Marilyn and Joe in 1961 |
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Hi! I love how informative and great your articles are. Can you recommend any other Soul Healing blogs that go over the same topics? Thanks a lot!
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