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The Mysteries Surrounding Marilyn Monroe's Death 100 Years After Her Birth
🇬🇹 Guatemala /Culture & Society

The Mysteries Surrounding Marilyn Monroe's Death 100 Years After Her Birth

From Prensa Libre · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A British journalist investigated the enduring mysteries surrounding Marilyn Monroe's death 100 years after her birth.
  • Anthony Summers interviewed over 700 people for his 1985 book, "Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe," exploring theories involving sex, politics, and powerful families.
  • The article touches on Monroe's troubled life, her contrasting public image and private struggles, and the official classification of her death as probable suicide.

One hundred years after her birth, the death of Marilyn Monroe continues to be shrouded in mystery and speculation. The iconic actress, born Norma Jeane Baker, died at 36, officially classified as a "probable suicide." However, her death in August 1962 ignited a firestorm of rumors and conspiracy theories that persist to this day, fueled by the dramatic elements of her life: fame, psychological struggles, and alleged connections to powerful figures.

How do you write a life story? The truth rarely comes to light, falsehoods normally circulate. But it is difficult to know where to start if you do not start with the truth.

— Marilyn MonroeFrom Marilyn Monroe's last interview before her death, reflecting on the nature of truth and storytelling.

British journalist and writer Anthony Summers embarked on an extensive investigation in the 1980s, aiming to uncover the truth behind Monroe's demise. Initially planning a short report for the 20th anniversary of her death in 1982, Summers found himself drawn into a complex narrative that demanded more than two years of dedicated research in Los Angeles. He discovered that much of the press coverage of her life had been inaccurate, compelling him to delve deeper.

Marilyn had not been one of my favorite actresses; I liked Natalie Wood and other artists of that era more.

— Anthony SummersRecalling his initial professional distance from Marilyn Monroe's work before his investigation.

Summers' meticulous work involved interviewing over 700 individuals, including those close to Monroe in her final days, such as her housekeeper Eunice Murray and her psychiatrist's family. The resistance and evasiveness he encountered from many sources underscored the lingering fears and suspicions surrounding the case, even decades later. This deep dive into her life and death formed the basis of his 1985 book, "Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe."

I went to Los Angeles and started looking at what the district attorney was doing. Very soon I realized that the story was much broader and more complicated than I thought.

— Anthony SummersExplaining his realization of the depth and complexity of the investigation into Monroe's death.

The book, which has been updated and reissued, served as the foundation for the Netflix documentary "The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes." These investigations delve into the perfect storm of elements that make Monroe's story so compelling: alleged involvement of the mafia, connections to the Kennedy family, and the stark contrast between her global stardom and her personal battles with emotional and psychological issues, which she often linked to her difficult childhood.

I also realized that her entire life had been poorly covered by the press, except in two or three biographies. There was much to learn.

— Anthony SummersDescribing the extent of misinformation and lack of thorough reporting on Marilyn Monroe's life.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Prensa Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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