Probably the most celebrated of all actresses, Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles General Hospital. Prior to her birth, Marilyn's father bought a motorcycle and headed north to San Francisco, abandoning the family in Los Angeles. Marilyn grew up not knowing for sure who her father really was. Her mother, Gladys, had entered into several relationships, further confusing her daughter as to who it was who fathered her. Afterward, Gladys gave Norma Jean (Marilyn) the name of Baker, a boyfriend she had before Mortenson. Poverty was a constant companion to Gladys and Norma. Gladys, who was extremely attractive and worked for RKO Studios as a film cutter, suffered from mental illness and was in and out of mental institutions for the rest of her life, and because of that Norma Jean spent time in foster homes. When she was nine she was placed in an orphanage where she was to stay for the next two years. Upon being released from the orphanage, she went to yet another foster home. In 1942, at the age of 16, Norma Jean married 21-year-old aircraft plant worker James Dougherty. The marriage only lasted four years, and they divorced in 1946. By this time Marilyn began to model swimsuits and bleached her hair blonde. Various shots made their way into the public eye, where some were eventually seen by RKO Pictures head Howard Hughes. He offered Marilyn a screen test, but an agent suggested that 20th Century-Fox would be the better choice for her, since it was a much bigger and more prestigious studio. She was signed to a contract at $125 per week for a six-month period and that was increased by $25 per week at the end of that time when her contract was lengthened.
Her first film was in 1947 with a bit part in The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947). Her next production was not much better, a bit in the eminently forgettable Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948). Two of the three brief scenes she appeared wound up on the cutting room floor. Later that same year she was given a somewhat better role as Evie in Dangerous Years (1947). However, Fox declined to renew her contract, so she went back to modeling and acting school.
Columbia Pictures then picked her up to play Peggy Martin in Ladies of the Chorus (1948), where she sang two numbers.
six and participated in beauty pageants and everyone seemed to love her. Burke was cast
She first did various radio shows in the 40s. But her first TV show was on Hollywood in Television in 1949. Whites first produced television show was Life with Elizabeth. "I was one of the first women producers in Hollywood."
In 1929, Eleanor made her Broadway debut in Follow Thru. After being in a Broadway show, her stardom kept rising until she made it to Hollywood. In 1935 she appeared in her first movie, George White's 'Scandals of 1935'.From then on, she just got more and more successful. One of her more memorable performances was in ‘Broadway Melody in 1940’ dancing alongside Fred Astaire to “Begin the Beguine’.
give her good exposure. This led to jobs in the film industry. Though she made
At the age of nineteen she met and married Louis Jones. Together they had two children Gail and Teddy (who later died in 1970 from kidney failure). While trying to get used to raising a family and having a career, she received a call from an agent, who had seen her at the Cotton Club, about a part in a movie. Her controlling husband allowed her to be in “The Duke is Tops” and also the musical revue “Blackbirds of 1939."
debut, however, followed two years later in Dance Me a Song (1950). After debuting on
Marilyn Monroe, Norma Jeane Mortenson. A devious soul but a pure heart, a black past, but a bright future; she became one of the most idolized figures in society. Norma was definitely not born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and she never sugar coated her life to the media. She was straight forward which made her heavily known for her quotes such as “I learned to walk as a baby and I haven’t had a lesson since.” (Marilyn Monroe). This was the beginning to her life story as a hero. This may not seem inspiring or heroic to many by the lack of knowledge a person may have on Norma. In the depths of her quotes lay a deep, heartfelt life though. For this quote may seem sensational and comical to the ear, but Marilyn was transferred to many foster homes not really having a parent that would show her the way. What a good role model would do though, and what Norma courageously has shown society, is that when life knocks you down, get up and hit life back twice as hard. Norma Jeane Mortenson, married Jim Dougherty, and started working. Soon she created the character Marilyn Monroe, she dyed her hair blonde, wore short dresses, and she became the momentous and inspirational character that everyone saw through television, newspapers, and photos. She was one of the greatest actors, singers, and models of the nineteen forties and fifties. But like every hero they suffer and create their own demise. Jeane, Marilyn Monroe, is a shakespearean tragic hero, because like every hero she must fall.
Tyson began acting in Off-Broadway productions in 1957. In 1963, she became the first African-American to star on tv drama in the series East Side/West Side playing the role of secretary Jane Foster. In 1968, she starred as Portia in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. She had small roles in films until she played this role. She is a well-known commitment community involvement. She co-founded the Dance Theater of Harlem. She also taught a master class at the school.
In 1938 Judy Garland had just finished filming her sixth feature film, Listen, Darling, when she began f...
Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Mortenson in Los Angeles on June 1st, 1926 to Gladys Baker. She was illegitimate, so the name Mortenson was assigned by the hospital. At twelve days old, she was taken away from her mother and placed in the care of Ida and Albert Bolender where she would remain for the next seven years. At the age of two, she was nearly smothered to death by a foster grandparent, and at the age of six Monroe was not the only foster child that the Bolender’s took in; there were often three of four other children in the household. During her seven years in the Bolender’s care, Monroe had 13 foster siblings come and go. The Bolender’s we...
Around this time is when she adopted the name Ann Miller, and she kept it her entire career. At the age of 13, Miller became a showgirl at Bal Tabarin. She was hired as a dancer in San Francisco at the “Black Cat Club.” She repeatedly told the club she was 18 years old, so that she was able to work there. She was discovered by Lucille Ball and talent scout Benny Rubin. She was given a contract at the age of 13 with RKO in 1936 and remained there until 1940. She apparently gave RKO a fake birth certificate that said she was 18 years old. It was produced by her father, with the name “Lucy Ann Collier.” She signed with Columbia Pictures in 1941. There she starred in 11 “B-movie musicals” from 1941-1945. Sheended her contract in 1946 with one “A” film. Miller was famed for her speed in tap dancing. Studio publicists wrote in her press releases claiming she could tap 500 times per minute. However, the sound of ultra-fast “500” taps was looped in later. Since the stage floors were waxed and too slick for regular tap shoes, she hadto dance in shoes with rubber
She began her career in the year 1974 working for the television series Apple’s Way. She got her big break from the CBS TV series One Day at a Time in 1975 where she played the role of Barbara Jean Copper. After that in the year 1981, she formed her own film company and later produced the TV movies like Shattered Vows in 1984 and Silent Witness in 1985. She acted in the miniseries I’ll Take Manhattan in 1987. She also appeared in the series Sydney and Café American but the series was canceled after a short run. She was featured in three feature films including C.H.O.M.P.S. in 1979, Ordinary Heroes in 1986, and Number One with a Bullet in 1987. In 2001, she was a part of Touched by an Angel cast for the show’s last two
Her allure even caught the attention of Playboy, where she was featured in the magazine’s “Sex in Cinema” piece in November 1974, followed by a spotlight in the “Sex Stars” segment the following month. Filmography Blazing Saddles (1974) as Miss Stein The Single Girls (1974) by Denise The Last Porno Flick (1974) as Linda Loveman The Rookies episode (1974) as Crystal Police Woman episode “Shoefly” (1974) as Trudy Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975) as Karen Video Vixens (1975) Inga Starsky and Hutch episode “Huggy Bear and Turkey” (1977)
horses and dogs. Acting was one of her interests that she loved. By partnering with her friend Ruth bed
Laura’s first onscreen lead was in the film Congo in 1995. Laura states that this first film "It's where I learned to be on a movie set”. She then later states that is also when she learned to capture people’s attention (2). Not only did she act in films but also in many TV shows like Tales of The City where she played the lead role as Mary Ann Singleton in