The Sudden Death of Marilyn Monroe and Its Repercussions. Marilyn Monroe passed away in her Brentwood, California, home at the age of just 36. Her legendary career has left a lasting impression on Hollywood, but her final hours were heartbreaking in every way. Although the actress, real name Norma Jeane Mortenson, won the hearts of millions during her brief time in the spotlight, she was in pain. She spent time in a mental health facility in 1961, which had a “very terrible effect” on her.
August 4, 1962, the day of Marilyn Monroe’s death, is still a mystery. At the time, Monroe was constantly under the care of a doctor and a psychiatrist, who had given her many prescription drugs to treat both her insomnia and her mental health problems. Unfortunately, despite the attention given to the actress, she overdosed on a prescription drug and passed away far too soon. What transpired to Marilyn Monroe then? Here are all the specifics of her unexpected demise.
How did Marilyn Monroe die?
In a car driven by her lawyer, Jerry Giesler, Marilyn Monroe departs the house she momentarily occupied with Joe DiMaggio. Due to “mental cruelty,” Monroe had just declared her intention to divorce Di Maggio. The cause of death for Monroe was given as an overdose and “possible suicide.” The coroner’s toxicology report determined that acute barbiturate poisoning was the cause of death. The toxicologist found that Monroe consumed a deadly dosage of the anxiety medication nembutal as well as a significant amount of the sedative chloral hydrate.
Despite the fact that Monroe’s death was determined to be the result of an overdose, the enigmatic circumstances surrounding her passing have given rise to rumors of foul play. Monroe was rumored to be having an affair with both President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who some claim paid her a visit the night before she passed away. This raises questions about Monroe’s relationship with the Kennedy family. Some investigators have even argued that the CIA was complicit in her demise.
Others have questioned why hours elapsed before her body was turned over to medical examiners and the whereabouts of not-yet-tested tissue samples.
The Los Angeles Police Department revived Monroe’s investigation two decades after her passing because the debate surrounding her death was so great. Despite further inquiry, the district attorney concluded that her death was still considered to be the result of a drug overdose. The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes, which was eventually made public, was the product of journalist Anthony Summers’ subsequent investigation, which yielded 650 taped interviews.
Summers told PEOPLE, “There is no good proof she was murdered.” She probably overdosed on medications rather than trying to commit suicide, in my opinion.
When did Marilyn Monroe die?
Monroe is presumed to have passed away on Aug. 4, 1962, in the late hours of the evening. However, her official time of death was 3:50 a.m. on Aug. 5, 1962.
Where did Marilyn Monroe die?
She was found unresponsive in her bedroom at her home in Brentwood, California. At the time, Eunice Murray, her housekeeper, was on the property and grew concerned when she noticed Monroe’s bedroom light was on in the early hours of the morning on Aug. 5.
When Monroe did not answer Murray’s calls and she discovered the bedroom door was locked, the housekeeper alerted Monroe’s psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson. Around 3:30 a.m., he broke into the room through a window. The movie star was found nude and face down on her bed with a telephone in one hand. Empty pill bottles were scattered around the room. The actress was 36 years old at the time of her passing.
What final words did Marilyn Monroe utter?
Summer claims that one of Monroe’s final phone calls was with Sydney Guilaroff, her hairstylist, on August 4 at 9:30 p.m. According to Guilaroff, the actress said that Bobby Kennedy had visited her house earlier in the day and “threatened” her. Kennedy’s visit, however, has been contested because Attorney John Bates told reporters that the Attorney General spent the whole weekend in Northern California with his family.
Peter Lawford, an actor who was married to socialite and Kennedy sister Pat Lawford, also allegedly spoke to Monroe on Aug. 4. The actor invited Monroe to join the couple for dinner and when Monroe did not arrive, he called her again, explaining that she was “despondent” about career and personal issues. Lawford says that in “slurred” speech Monroe told him she was “tired and would not be coming” to dinner. Then, as her voice became less audible, she told him, “Say goodbye to Pat. Say goodbye to Jack [President Kennedy]. And say goodbye to yourself, because you’re a nice guy.”
The actor later admitted he had a “gut feeling” that something was wrong and that “he still blames himself for not going to her home himself,” according to a police report.
How did the public react to Marilyn Monroe’s death?
The public was devastated by the death of the iconic actress, with the news of her passing making the front page of newspapers around the world. Ahead of her funeral at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery on Aug. 8, her ex-husband Joe DiMaggio, half-sister Berniece Baker Miracle and business manager Inez Melson released the following statement: “We sincerely hope that the many friends of Marilyn will understand that we are deeply appreciative of their desire to pay last respects to Marilyn whom we all loved.
They continued, “We hope that each person will understand that last rites must of great necessity be as private as possible so that she can go to her final resting place in the quiet she has always sought. We could not in conscience ask one personality to attend without perhaps offending many, many others and for this reason alone, we have kept the number of persons to a minimum. Please — all of you — remember the gay, sweet Marilyn and say a prayer of farewell within the confines of your home or your church.”
What legacy did Marilyn Monroe leave behind?
Monroe is widely considered one of the greatest sex symbols of the 20th century. Even 60 years after her passing, she is still highly regarded in the entertainment industry — inspiring movies and documentaries. Her beauty and glamour remain an important part of pop culture and her image can often be found in apparel, posters and other merchandise.