by Donald Spoto
Praise for MARILYN MONROE
“This is a book that wound up teaching me a great deal about Hollywood, the social history of California, the movie business, the trials of female actors in American show business, and the life of a woman who has been so mythologized that often the real woman is obscured from actual view. Donald Spoto has accomplished what I would have thought was impossible: he has made me into a Marilyn Monroe fan after all these years.”
—Erica Jong, Washington Post Book World
“Immensely readable, this book lacks sensationalism and is more scrupulously researched and better written than all those previous hack jobs.”
—New Statesman (London)
“[Spoto] offers a welcome challenge to the muckraking, unsubstantiated tales that have been published in the years since the actress’ demise in 1962.”
—Free Press (Columbus, Ohio)
“Spoto puts new life into the tradition of biography, and his book is fresh and important. His life of Monroe does much to remind us that biography is a branch of history.”
—London Sunday Telegraph
“[Spoto] has researched Monroe’s life quite brilliantly and his riveting book comes up with the facts, pure and simple.”
—Birmingham Post (London)
“[A] well-written and well-researched work.”
—Arkansas Democrat Gazette
“[Marilyn Monroe] digs behind the usual drivel to celebrate a woman of warmth, wit, and considerable resources, all backed up with Spoto’s renowned research, objectivity, and evident admiration. [An] inspired biography that will endure longer than most.”
—Empire (UK)
ALSO BY DONALD SPOTO
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: A Life
Laurence Olivier: A Biography
The Hidden Jesus: A Life
The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock
The Art of Alfred Hitchcock: Fifty Years of His Motion Pictures
Rebel: The Life and Legend of James Dean
Falling in Love Again: Marlene Dietrich (A Photo-Essay)
The Kindness of Strangers: The Life of Tennessee Williams
Stanley Kramer, Film Maker
Camerado: Hollywood and the American Man
Diana: The Last Year
The Decline and Fall of the House of Windsor
Notorious: The Life of Ingrid Bergman
Madcap: The Life of Preston Sturges
A Passion for Life: The Biography of Elizabeth Taylor
Blue Angel: The Life of Marlene Dietrich
Lenya: A Life
MARILYN
MONROE
THE BIOGRAPHY
DONALD SPOTO
Copyright © 1993 by Donald Spoto
(restricted in British Commonwealth, excluding Canada)
First Cooper Square Press edition 2001
The frontispiece and the photograph on page 598 are by Milton H. Greene.
This Cooper Square Press paperback edition of Marilyn Monroe is an unabridged republication of the edition first published in New York in 1993. It is reprinted by arrangement with the author.
Designed by Alma Hochhauser Orenstein
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.
Published by Cooper Square Press
A Member of the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
200 Park Avenue South, Suite 1109
New York, New York 10003-1503
Distributed by National Book Network
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Spoto, Donald, 1941-
Marilyn Monroe: the biography / Donald Spoto.—1st Cooper Square Press ed.
p. cm.
Originally published: New York : Harper Collins, 1993.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN: 978-0-8154-1183-3
1. Monroe, Marilyn, 1926–1962. 2. Motion picture actors and actresses—United States—Biography. I. Title.
PN2287.M69 S66 2001
791.43’028’092—dc21
[B]
2001028721
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
for ELAINE MARKSON
with gratitude and devotion
She brings him good every day of his life,
and when she speaks it is always wisely.
Praise her for all she has accomplished.
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
Contents
Acknowledgments
1 TO JUNE 1926
2 JUNE 1926–JUNE 1934
3 JUNE 1934–NOVEMBER 1937
4 NOVEMBER 1937–JUNE 1942
5 JUNE 1942–NOVEMBER 1945
6 DECEMBER 1945–AUGUST 1946
7 SEPTEMBER 1946–FEBRUARY 1948
8 FEBRUARY 1948–MAY 1949
9 JUNE 1949–DECEMBER 1950
10 JANUARY 1951–MARCH 1952
11 MARCH–DECEMBER 1952
12 1953
13 JANUARY–SEPTEMBER 1954
14 OCTOBER 1954–JANUARY 1955
15 FEBRUARY–DECEMBER 1955
16 1956
17 1957–1959
18 1960
19 1961
20 JANUARY–MAY 1962
21 MAY–JULY 1962
22 AUGUST 1–4, 1962
23 AUGUST 5, 1962
24 AUGUST 6–8, 1962
Afterword
Notes
Bibliography
The Films of Marilyn Monroe
Index
Photographs follow pages 138 and 394.
It is glory—to have been tested,
to have had our little quality and cast our little spell . . .
to have made somebody care.
HENRY JAMES,
The Middle Years
If one tells the truth, one is sure,
sooner or later,
to be found out.
OSCAR WILDE,
Phrases and Philosophies
for the Use of the Young
Acknowledgments
THE KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY of many people made this book a reality.
Lisa Callamaro, in the offices of my agent Elaine Markson, introduced me to Gordon Freedman, a film and television producer of admirable integrity and intelligence. He first suggested this book and introduced me to the family of Milton H. Greene and the representatives of Greene’s Estate. As Marilyn Monroe’s friend, photographer and business partner, Greene had kept massive and detailed archives covering much of Marilyn’s life—materials that include her production and legal files as well as various personal documents, tapes and letters. I owe Gordon Freedman enormous gratitude for providing access to those who made this historic cache available to me.
Equally so, Joshua Greene and Anthony Greene were more than helpful, providing tangible assistance and amiable encouragement at every stage, as well as access to their father’s photographs of Marilyn—especially that which graces the jacket. Amy Greene, their mother, opened her home and extended her family to include Marilyn for several years; candidly and generously, Amy shared unique and unprecedented memories, impressions and anecdotes with me. Knowing her and her sons (and, through them, more about Milton Greene himself), it is easy to understand how Marilyn matured so much in their company.
* * *
The writer Elaine Dundy, always a helpful colleague, put me in t
ouch with the archivist and genealogist Roy Turner, who arranged for me to have exclusive access to documents gathered by him and Marilyn Gemme over almost two decades. Much nonsense has been written about my subject’s early history and family background, but Roy Turner and Marilyn Gemme first pursued the facts with an honorable passion for truth. My research was immeasurably enriched by theirs.
Through my colleague James Spada, I met one of the most helpful people for this book: from the very beginning, I was assisted (almost daily) by Greg Schreiner, a gifted musician and composer who is also the co-founder and president of Marilyn Remembered. This association—more than a fan club—is composed of talented people, some of whom knew and worked with Monroe, all of whom are devoted to celebrating her talents. Greg provided me with crucial introductions to many people I might otherwise have overlooked; he pointed me to important bibliographies; and he was ever ready to answer questions and provide concrete help.
Likewise, I owe very much to Roman Hryniszak and Michelle Justice, who direct a similar group called All About Marilyn and who regularly publish a magazine that helps set the record straight on many matters pertinent to our subject. They could not have been more generous with their time and efforts in helping me reach people for major interviews.
Patrick Miller, whose encyclopedic knowledge of Hollywood history in general and of Marilyn Monroe’s life and career in particular are remarkable, has for years hoped that a true and full account of her life would one day be published. This book would have suffered enormously without Patrick’s extraordinary help and advice.
Marilyn Monroe’s three husbands survive. James Dougherty cheerfully clarified much and provided more than a glimpse into his married life with Marilyn when she was Norma Jeane. On the matter of his brief marriage to Marilyn, their divorce and moving reunion, Joe DiMaggio’s intact silence is well known and can only be respected. Arthur Miller pointed me to his own extended memoirs on his years with Marilyn and confirmed several important points I put to him in writing.
Eleanor Goddard—known as Bebe to her friends—is the step-daughter of Norma Jeane’s foster mother, Grace Goddard. Bebe spent part of her adolescence with Norma Jeane and has a clear understanding of how she became Marilyn. In tracing this dynamic, Bebe was unstintingly forthcoming in replying to my many questions.
Similarly, a special kind of relationship to Marilyn Monroe was enjoyed by her stand-in and good friend Evelyn Moriarty, who from 1960 to 1962 was very close to her indeed. Evelyn’s detailed recounting of behind-the-scenes drama, her understanding of Marilyn, her important contributions during many interviews with me and her constant and warm encouragement were precious assets during the writing of this book.
Patricia Newcomb, Marilyn’s last publicist and loyal friend, offered me unprecedented confidence and detailed many of the fine points of Marilyn’s last two years. Rightly respected for her discretion, loyalty and veracity, Pat spoke at length and with admirable frankness: her signal contributions to this book are everywhere evident.
The late Rupert Allan was Marilyn’s first publicist and her constant confidant. Loved and esteemed during his almost fifty years in Hollywood, Rupert encouraged me from the start, providing important introductions and offering me several lengthy, richly detailed interviews even when he was in failing health.
Jane Wilkie, a reporter, writer and editor who covered Hollywood for years, kept drafts of lengthy, revealing and unpublished conversations with James Dougherty and with Natasha Lytess—interviews she conducted during the 1950s. Jane welcomed me to her home and transferred to me the exclusive rights to these rich, hitherto unseen manuscripts.
John Miner was deputy district attorney of Los Angeles County and chief of its Medical Legal Section when Marilyn died, and in this capacity he was present during the autopsy. He pointed out details that enabled me to resolve at last one of the most disturbing and mysterious cases in modern history. Likewise, Arnold Abrams, M.D., director of the Department of Pathology at St. John’s Hospital, Santa Monica, guided me through the thickets of medical and chemical terminology and clarified important points of the coroner’s report.
David Zeidberg and the staff of the Department of Special Collections at the University of California, Los Angeles, helped me to pore through cartons of the Ralph Greenson Papers.
Susan D’Entremont, at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library in Dorchester, Massachusetts, provided direction in locating the Robert F. Kennedy Papers during his term as attorney general.
In the Archives of Performing Arts at the University of Southern California, Ned Comstock was as usual a cheerful and thoughtful guide, pointing out several significant items in the Warner Bros., Jerry Wald and Constance McCormick collections.
Bob Dauner, Archivist in Special Collections at the Albuquerque Public Library, provided data relative to the life of John Murray.
The papers of Ben Hecht, who anonymously wrote major portions of Marilyn’s early autobiography, are kept in Special Collections at the Newberry Library in Chicago. There, I was ably assisted by Margaret Kulis, Meg Bolger and Elizabeth Freebairn.
Just so, Pamela Dunn, in Special Collections at Stanford University, helped me make my way through the letters and papers of Spyros Skouras, president of Twentieth Century–Fox.
Myra T. Grenier, at Seek Information Service, helped cull files in the Los Angeles Times.
Mona Newcomer, in the Office of Alumni Affairs at Urbana University, Urbana, Ohio, provided important documents regarding the family background of Eunice Joerndt (later Murray).
Doug McKinney, Director of Archives at CBS News, provided critical access to documents and to a tape of the historic interview Mike Wallace conducted with Norman Mailer on 60 Minutes in 1973. Doug also provided special technical machinery with which I was able to hear antique dictabelt recordings from the Greene archives.
Diana L. Summerhayes, Deputy District Attorney in the Appellate Division of the District Attorney’s Office, County of Los Angeles, cleared the way for examination of materials assembled by that office relative to the 1982 Investigator’s Report on the death of Marilyn Monroe.
At the Discovery Unit of the Los Angeles Police Department, Larry Wulterin enabled me to obtain the official police report and ancillary documents on the death of Marilyn Monroe.
In the Louis B. Mayer Library at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, Alan Braun and Gladys Irvis dashed from floor to floor locating boxes that disclosed the rich matter relevant to Marilyn’s years as a client of agent and producer Charles K. Feldman. Similarly, the staff at the Billy Rose Theatre Collection at the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts in New York was swift and efficient in locating clippings and secondary source materials.
Interviews with those who knew Marilyn Monroe were of course key elements in preparing this biography. In addition to those named above, the following people enlightened me on various unique aspects of her life and work, and I am grateful to them all: Bill Alexander, William Asher, George Axelrod, Milton Berle, Walter Bernstein, Mervin Block, David Brown, Jack Cardiff, Lucille Ryman Carroll, Ted Cieszynski, Mart Crowley, Alex D’Arcy, Ken DuMain, Milton Ebbins, George Erengis, Michael Gurdin, M.D., Edwin Guthman, Joe Hyams, Natalie Trundy Jacobs, Joseph Jasgur, Adele Jergens, Jay Kanter, Douglas Kirkland, Ernest Lehman, Peter Levathes, Jean Louis, Esther Maltz, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, George Masters, Albert Maysles, Robert Mitchum, John Moore, Dolores Naar, Joseph Naar, Sherle North, Ron Nyman, Lydia Bodrero Reed, Vanessa Reis, Ralph Roberts, Milton Rudin, Jane Russell, Hal Schaefer, Michael Selsman, Sam Shaw, Max Showalter, Arnold Shulman, Allan and Marjorie Snyder, Mickey Song, Steffi Sidney Splaver, John Springer, Maureen Stapleton, Bert Stern, Susan Strasberg, Jule Styne, Henry Weinstein, Billy Wilder, Gladys Phillips Wilson, William Woodfield and Paul Wurtzel.
Others, although they did not know Marilyn personally, also provided interviews or practical assistance that clarified important points relative to her life and death: Sheldon Abend, Martin Baum, Gordon W. Blackmer, John
Bates, John Bates, Jr., Nancy Bates, Rick Carl, Ronald H. Carroll, Kay Eicher, George and Diane Fain, Will Fowler, Richard Goodwin, Milton Gould, Betsy Duncan Hammes, Margaret Hohenberg, M.D., Hilary Knight, Michael Korda, Phillip LaClair, Ted Landreth, Robert Litman, M.D., Don Marshall (Los Angeles Police Department, Ret.), John Milklian, Dan Moldea, Benson Schaeffer, Ph.D., Henry Schipper, Roland Snyder, Richard Stanley and Edith Turner.
Those who shared with me their private collections of photographs have a special claim on my gratitude, too: Chris Basinger, Ted Cieszynski, T. R. Fogli, Eleanor Goddard, Sabin Grey, Evelyn Moriarty, Vanessa Reis, Greg Schreiner, Allan Snyder, Mickey Song and Gary Wares.
At HarperCollins in New York, there is a veritable litany of good souls for me to honor.
I am fortunate indeed to enjoy the friendship and unswerving loyalty of my editor, Gladys Justin Carr, Vice-President and Associate Publisher. With passionate dedication, sharp insights and constant good humor, Gladys guided this book at every stage, from contract to first copy; I am thus ever in her debt. Her assistants, Tracy Devine and Ari Hoogenboom, dispatched numerous daily tasks with trusty good cheer, making many rough ways smooth.
William Shinker, Group Vice-President, was from the start an enthusiastic supporter of the book, demonstrating an especially personal interest and introducing me to those in-house whose friendliness and commitment to the project enriched the process—James Fox, Brenda Marsh, Susan Moldow, Joseph Montebello, Brenda Segel, Steven Sorrentino and Martin Weaver.
At Chatto & Windus in London, Carmen Callil and Jonathan Burnham could not have been more gracious and sensitive editors, offering friendship in the bargain. Of more than a dozen of my foreign language publishers, I have had the pleasure of meeting only two: Hans-Peter Ubleis of Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, Munich; and Renaud Bombard at Presses de la Cité, Paris. Like their colleagues in England and America, they have accepted me and my work in amity and have offered very welcome suggestions. I cannot imagine a more fortunate writer than myself.