13 Things You Didn't Know About Marilyn Monroe

Fifty-five years ago the world lost Marilyn Monroe. At the time of her shocking death in 1962, she'd starred in dozens of films and had one of the most scandalous personal lives of her time.

Even then, Monroe was revered as a Hollywood icon — a title that still holds true today. Her glamorous life in the limelight was highly publicized, but have you heard everything about her?

Here are 13 lesser-known facts you might not have heard about Marilyn Monroe.

#1. She'd been changing her name since birth.

Born in Los Angeles on June 1, 1926, Monroe's birth certificate bore the name Norma Jeane Mortensen, but she was baptized Norma Jeane Baker. In her 20s, she modeled under the names Jean Norman and Mona Monroe. Once she became an actress, her initial idea for a screen name was Jean Adair, and she would sign into hotels as Zelda Zonk. She unofficially changed her name to Marilyn Monroe in 1946 but didn’t legally change it until Feb. 23, 1956.

#2. She had three husbands during her lifetime.

In 1942, Monroe married her neighbor and boyfriend, James Dougherty, at the young age of 16. The marriage ended in 1946 as her modeling and acting career began to take off. Once she rose to fame in 1954, having starred in movies like “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “How to Marry a Millionaire,” she married baseball legend Joe DiMaggio after a two-year romance. However, their marriage was short lived, and they ended things after just nine months, reportedly because of DiMaggio's jealousy. Before long, Marilyn found love once again in the arms of playwright Arthur Miller, whom she wed in 1956. Like her previous marriages, this one also fizzled, ending in divorce in 1961.

#3. She had two plastic surgeries in 1950

Monroe's agent, Johnny Hyde, reportedly paid for her to have two plastic surgeries: reshaping the soft cartilage at the end of her nose and a chin implant.

#4. Her natural hair color was light brown.

After testing out nine different shades of blonde, Monroe finally settled on her signature platinum, which she debuted in the 1952 film “Monkey Business” with Cary Grant.

#5. Monroe was no dumb blonde.

In fact, she had an IQ of 168. Despite the way she was typecast, Monroe was actually highly intelligent and a talented producer. She was even one of the first women to head her own production company.

#6. She helped Ella Fitzgerald to become an A-list jazz singer.

In the '50s, Monroe called the owner of popular Hollywood nightclub Mocambo and asked them to book Fizgerald, as she was a big fan of her music. In return, the famous actress promised to take a front table at the club every night — and she did, helping to propel Fitzgerald’s legendary music career.

#7. She had some very unusual eating habits.

For breakfast, Monroe would warm a cup of milk on a hot plate. Once it was hot, she would then break two raw eggs into the milk, whip them up with a fork and drink them. Her dinner diet was a little less strange but definitely specific: broiled steak or lamb chops with four or five raw carrots.

#8. Monroe worked out to maintain her goddess figure.

Her natural athleticism came in handy during her workouts, which she did regularly to maintain her measurements (a 35-inch bust, 22-inch waist and 35- inch hips). In the mornings Monroe's routine included a bust-firming program of lifting 5-pound weights.

#9. Writers adored her.

Monroe was Truman Capote’s first choice for the part of Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (a role that ended up going to Audrey Hepburn). In addition, philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre had her in mind to play the lead in his film “Freud.”

#10. Monroe only received one American acting award.

She was never nominated for an Oscar. However, in 1959 she won a Golden Globe for Lead Actress in a Comedy for her performance in “Some Like It Hot.”

#11. Her most beloved possession was a sentimental one.

Her mother bought a white-lacquered piano and later sold it. However, years later, Monroe bought it back. The musical instrument is now one of the most expensive pianos in the world. At an auction in 1999, Mariah Carey bought it for $662,500.

#12. That infamous “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress sold at auction for $4.8 million.

Monroe's flesh-toned, figure-hugging, Jean Louis gown had 2,500 hand-stitched crystals and was so tight she was said to have been sewn into it. On Aug. 5, 1962, just three months after her performance for President John F. Kennedy (with whom she was rumored to have had an affair), the actress passed away from a drug overdose at the age of 36.

#13. Joe DiMaggio kept a promise to her after she died.

Monroe made DiMaggio promise to leave flowers on her grave every week if she died before him. And her second ex-husband kept his word. For 20 years DiMaggio had a half-dozen red roses delivered three times a week to her crypt. However, he reportedly stopped sending roses after that because fans kept stealing them.

See Also:

• Home Marilyn Monroe Died In Hits LA Market

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Photo credit: Marilyn Monroe in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (20th Century Fox)