Although Hollywood has been in existence for over a century, there are very few actors or actresses who can boast of having an effect on popular culture as much as Marilyn Monroe. Not only was she a successful movie actress, but she was also one of the most popular sex symbols in the world during her lifetime. Plenty has been said about Marilyn Monroe’s career and impact on pop culture, but in this article, we look at her personal life, including her children and family.

Who is Marilyn Monroe?

Before diving into details about Marilyn Monroe’s children and family, let’s remind ourselves of who she is. She was born on the 1st of June 1926 in Los Angeles, California and was raised in the city where she grew up to dominate for decades.

Marilyn Monroe began her career after she was introduced to a photographer as part of her war effort during World War II. She started as a pin-up model before securing film contracts from the movie studios, Twentieth Century-Fox, and Columbia Pictures. She appeared in 33 movies and TV shows between 1947 and 1962, starting with Dangerous Years where she played Evie and ending with the short film, Something’s Got to Give, where she played Ellen Arden.

Her career was mostly on TV and she appeared in only one TV show during her career, an episode of The Jack Benny Program in 1952. For her work, she received a total of 10 award nominations, winning eight of them, including the Golden Globes, BAFTA Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

On the 5th of August, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Although her death sparked several conspiracy theories, including murder and accidental overdose, it was ruled a suicide. She was buried on the 8th of August in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

Did Marilyn Monroe Have Any Children?

Marilyn Monroe never had any children although she was married three times. Her first marriage was to James Dougherty between 1942 and 1946. Her second, to Joe DiMaggio, between 1954 and 1955. Monroe’s last marriage was to Arthur Miller, between 1956 and 1961.

Marilyn didn’t have any children because she suffered from endometriosis. As a result, although she got pregnant a couple of times, precisely three times, she suffered miscarriages.

While she did not have any children of her own, Marilyn Monroe did have stepchildren she acquired through her marriages, one through her marriage to Joe DiMaggio and two through her marriage to Arthur Miller.

Facts About Her Family

Marilyn Monroe did not have any children, but her family is one of the defining factors of her iconic status and here are a few facts you should know.

Her Mother Suffered from Mental Illness

Marilyn Monroe’s mother, Gladys Pearl Baker suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. As a result, she gave up Monroe to be raised by a foster family, Albert and Ida Bolender. Despite a few attempts at raising Monroe herself, her health deteriorated and she was committed to the Metropolitan State Hospital where she spent the rest of her life, barely in contact with her daughter.

She Has a Sister

Of the three children born to Marilyn Monroe’s mother, Monroe was the third child. She has two older siblings – Robert and Berniece who were born in 1917 and 1919, respectively. Her siblings came off her mother’s marriage to her father, John Newton Baker at the age of 15. Her mother and John Newton got divorced in 1921 and he left with both children. Monroe did not know she had a sister until she was 12 years old and she never met her until she was an adult.

She was raised in a Foster Home

Following the admission of her mother in a mental home, Marilyn was placed in the foster care system after she was raised by her mother’s friend, Grace McKee Goddard for a few years. In foster homes, particularly at the Atkinsons, she was sexually abused.

Aside from her foster families, Marilyn Monroe also lived in orphanage homes for a couple of years before Grace Goddard legally became her guardian.

Her Father’s Identity is Unknown

Though her mother named her second husband, Martin Edward Mortensen as her father in her birth certificate, it is believed that it is false as they were separated at the time of conception. Opinions are divided on who her father is, with certain biographers believing her father was Charles Stanley Gifford while others think it is another.