Inside Marilyn Monroe’s Former House

Marilyn's House Was Located In The Brentwood Neighbourhood Of Los Angeles

Image Source / Town & CountryHer beloved home is behind a gated perimeter in a cul-de-sac in Brentwood, LA. She bought the house in 1962, at a price between $67,000 to $90,000, as her new bachelorette pad after divorcing husband Arthur Miller. It was her very first house she'd owned alone.

The House Was Built In 1929

Image Source / Town & CountryThe beautiful home was in the Mexican hacienda styling, built in 1929 with around half an acre of land. When Marilyn Monroe was living in the home, it only had two bedrooms, but it now has four, alongside a pool and a grass garden.

The Original Architectural Details Remain

Image Source / Town & CountryThe original architecture of the home is stunning, with its white stucco walls, warm terracotta floor tiling and those arched doorways. The wooden beamed ceilings are all original, too, giving the place a bright and airy yet slightly Gothic look.

The Large Property Includes A Pool And Guest House Where Marilyn Wanted Her Friends To Stay

Image Source / Town & CountryThe guest house was important for Marilyn, as she spoke of it as a place for her friends to stay whenever they needed or "in some kind of trouble", wanting to provide a safe place for her loved ones should they need to escape. And the pool is always a bonus, too.

An Eavesdropping System Was Found In The House In The 1970s

Image Source / Town & CountryMarilyn's life was awash with conspiracy theories, including that she was under surveillance by the Kennedy family for a brief affair with President John F. Kennedy. Playing into these conspiracy theories was the fact that an eavesdropping system was found during a remodel of the house in the 1970s. It was apparently a "government grade eavesdropping and telephone tapping system".

Even Though It's Now Renovated, The Kitchen Keeps Its Original Character

Image Source / Town & CountrySince Marilyn lived in the property, it's passed to a few different owners and been renovated. The updated design includes a skylight and French doors to the garden. But even though renovated, it still keeps that original charming feel with the terracotta tiles and roof beams.

Marilyn Was Living In The House During The Time She Sang The Famous 'Happy Birthday Mr President'

Image Source / Town & CountryMarilyn Monroe only lived in the house for around half a year. During this time, she made one of her last appearances in public - to sing the now-famous Happy Birthday rendition to John F Kennedy, whilst wearing the iconic rhinestone dress (that Kim K began recent controversy with, of course).

Marilyn Had Lived In Around 43 Homes In Her Lifetime - But This One Was Special

Image Source / The SpruceAlways on the move, Marilyn had spent a lifetime living in different properties, including hotel rooms and homes of her husbands. This home in Brentwood was the first home she'd chosen for herself, and bought for herself. Which makes it all the more tragic that she'd die in it around six months after purchasing it.

Monroe Bought The House After Her Marriage To Arthur Miller Ended

Image Source / The SpruceArthur Miller was Marilyn's third husband, and their marriage ended during a difficult time for Marilyn in the months leading up to her death. The beautiful home in Brentwood should have been a fresh start for her. She reportedly paid half in cash and half through a mortgage for the property.

Marilyn Described The House As Her "Fortress Where I Can Feel Safe From The World"

Image Source / The SpruceIt's no surprise that someone like Marilyn, constantly in the public eye, would find a safe haven in this house - especially when surrounded by coverings of trees, tall gates and located in a quiet and peaceful cul-se-sac. The expansive yard would have given her a lot of space to spend time relaxing privately, too.

The Outside Space Included A Freeform Swimming Pool And Fruit Trees

Image Source / The SpruceA popular shape for swimming pools at the time as opposed to a straight rectangle, the freeform swimming pool was included in Monroe's beautifully landscaped garden - one of the most appealing features of this single-level house, which also included several fruit trees.

The House Was Owned By At Least Two Others In The Industry After Marilyn's Death

Image Source / The SpruceNo doubt the house that Marilyn had lived in and died in would draw a lot of attention when it was put back on the market, and it was actually owned by at least two other people in the same industry: actress Veronica Hamel and director Michael Ritchie.

The Living Room In Recent Years

Image Source / House & HistoryThe living room of the house looks a little different here in terms of furniture, but the original features - including the floor, gothic archway and the fireplace - are all the same. The room has a little more furniture than it did in Marilyn's time of living here.

How The Kitchen Looked When Marilyn Lived There

Image Source / House & HistoryThe kitchen has since had a modern update since the time of Marilyn living there, but the original splashback tiling in blue and the dark wood cabinets all reveal an inviting aesthetic - it feels like a homely kitchen that Marilyn undoubtedly hosted many guests in.

The House Now Empty Of Marilyn's Possessions

Image Source / House & HistoryWhile the house still has all its charm even when empty, this is how it looked following Marilyn's death when all her possessions and personal taste had been removed. A home that she should have been able to fill with happy memories for longer than the six months or so she got to live there.

The House Had More Than One Living Area

Image Source / House & HistoryAlongside the main living room with the original fireplace, the house also had this second living area. This photo was taken in the years following Marilyn's death when the house was back up for sale, so Marilyn may have had a different furniture setup when she was living in it.

The Kitchen Looks A Lot Different Compared To When Marilyn Was There

Image Source / House & HistoryGone are the traditional blue tiles and the low-light cosy feel and here is a bright and modern update with a centre kitchen island. Beyond the kitchen, you can also see the doorway leading into the study and out into the garden.

The Study Area

Image Source / House & HistoryThis room was used as a study and office looking out into the garden when marketed back in 2010, but Marilyn may have used it for a different purpose. No doubt it would have been one of the best rooms to spend time in owing to the perfect view out to the garden and pool, as well as the direct access.

One Of The Bathrooms

Image Source / House & HistoryThe property had more than one bathroom, perfect for Marilyn's own privacy and when she wanted to host guests and friends. The bathrooms, like the rest of the house, feel open and bright here with the re-sell photos and no doubt the original character of the bright tiles and dark brown worktops was there when Marilyn was living there.

This Is What The Property Looks Like From The Road

Image Source / House & HistoryOne of the reasons Marilyn loved this property is because it gave her privacy, and this front view just proves that. Even though this is outside the gates, you can still feel how secluded it is and how peaceful outside the main gate is without leading onto a busy street or traffic.

What You See When Stepping Through The Gate

Image Source / House & HistoryThe front of the property and front garden is just as inviting as the back outside area with the pool. The front of the property feels inviting and peaceful, and would be the same layout Marilyn would've enjoyed when coming back home and stepping through her front gate.

The Tiles Which Read 'End Of My Journey'

Image Source / House & HistoryIn a cruel coincidence, the tiles outside the house's front steps reveal the Latin phrase 'Cursum Perficio', which means end of my journey, or to finish a journey. These were the words inscribed in the house that would not only be Marilyn's last house, but the place where her journey would come to an end following her death.

The Original Fireplace

Image Source / House & HistoryYou can immediately tell that this is one of the original features from when Marilyn owned the house based on the Spanish-style tiling in blue around the fireplace. This was the original fireplace in Marilyn's main living room, here untouched and kept for the subsequent owners and renovations.

How Marilyn's Bedroom Looks Now

Image Source / House & HistoryThis is the bedroom where Marilyn sadly died, with a clean modern update, doors leading onto a patio and simple minimalistic style. It looks as though the bed and the room's layout is in the same position as it was in the days that Marilyn slept there.

How Marilyn's Bedroom Looked Where The Actress Was Found Dead

Image Source / House & HistoryMarilyn was found dead in her bedroom - specifically, in her bed - by her psychiatrist in August 1962, around six months after she had first bought the house. Now a famous death case, she died after apparently overdosing on sleeping pills, but there had been a number of conspiracy theories surrounding her death.

After Never Getting Used To A Stable Home, Marilyn's Psychologist Advise She Buy A Home To 'Put Down Roots'

Image Source / The SpruceMarilyn's life was troubled from a young age, and she was used to moving from place to place. Her mother was institutionalized during Monroe's lifetime, and Marilyn had to live in foster homes and orphanages. She bought Brentwood for herself, after her psychologist's advice for a stable home.

How The Property Looked In 1962

Image Source / House & HistoryThis is how the exterior of the property looked when Marilyn bought it in 1962. The great thing about this property and its subsequent buyers is that a lot of the original charm and styling has been kept with most of the layout unchanged. Here you can see the freeform pool.

The Living Room During Marilyn's Time

Image Source / House & HistoryHere you can see the original feature fireplace with the attractive tiling in Marilyn's living room. The space doesn't seem overly filled with seating for guests, so maybe this was a room rarely used or one Marilyn like to use simply to sit with her feet up in her chair infront of the fire.

Marilyn's Dog's Stuffed Toys Can Still Be Seen On The Lawn After Her Death

Image Source / All That's InterestingAfter the actress was found dead in her home, here you can still see the remnants of the life she left behind - her dog's toys still spread across the lawn and everything remaining the same apart from the policemen now stationed at the front of the property.

Police Remove Her Body From The House

Image Source / All That's InterestingAfter noticing a light still on in Marilyn's bedroom in the early hours of the morning, the housekeeper called Dr Greenson, the actress's psychiatrist. Greenson smashed the window to Marilyn's bedroom to get inside. Marilyn was found dead in bed, with the empty bottle of sleeping pills on the nightstand.

Marilyn’s First Home Was In Los Angeles

Image Source / Good HousekeepingBorn as Norma Jeane Mortenson, Marilyn Monroe was born in Los Angeles in 1926 and, after many different homes, would return and tragically die in Los Angeles, too. She was born to Gladys Pearl Baker and would go on to take her mother’s maiden name, Monroe.

She Then Moved To Foster Care

Image Source / Good HousekeepingMarilyn’s other childhood homes would include many different foster care situations. Due to her mother being unable to care for her, Marilyn lived with foster parents in Hawthorna, California, outside of LA. But sometimes Marilyn would still stay in the city with her mother from time to time.

Marilyn Even Called An Orphanage Home At One Point

Image Source / Good HousekeepingDuring her childhood, as well as different foster homes, Marilyn would also live in an orphanage at one point. This came after her mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia after a psychotic episode and then committed to a hospital.

She Moved To Santa Catalina Island During Her First Marriage

Image Source / Good HousekeepingMarilyn’s first husband was James Dougherty, who she married when she was only 16. James was 21, and her next door neighbour. Together, they moved to Santa Catalina Island due to James being stationed there for military training. Their marriage would last 4 years.

Marilyn Would Then Move Around Different Apartments in West Hollywood When Her Career Began

Image Source / Good HousekeepingIn 1950, Marilyn got her first big acting break for small roles in All About Eve and Asphalt Jungle. This meant that she needed to make a move to West Hollywood, where she moved from apartment to apartment and lived with different roommates who were also from the film industry.

She Even Lived In Hotels During Her Early Career

Image Source / Good HousekeepingMoving around so much presumably made Marilyn hesitant about buying one home in one place. She often lived in hotels for extended periods of time, including the Hotel Bel Air, and she usually didn’t stay in one rental home for more than a few months.

She Began Splitting Time Between Different Places When She Started Dating Joe DiMaggio

Image Source / Good HousekeepingMarilyn’s home life would then be split between three different places – New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco – when she began dating New York Yankee’s baseball star Joe DiMaggio. Joe was from San Francisco. The pair also rented a home in the Hollywood Hills together.

Marilyn And Joe lived At The Imperial Hotel In Tokyo For A While

Image Source / www.imperialhotel.co.jpMarilyn and Joe would go on to get married in 1954 in San Francisco. They would then live together at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, which also counted as their honeymoon. Joe DiMaggio would be Marilyn’s second husband – but not her last.

Marilyn Would Live At Joe’s Home In San Francisco While Filming

Image Source / Good HousekeepingDuring the time Marilyn was filming The Seven Year Itch, the place she would call home would be her husband’s home in San Francisco, at the St. Regis Hotel in New York. Even though she lived there during the movie’s filming, it wasn’t her ‘official’ home together with Joe.

Marilyn Leaves Her Beverly Hills Home After Her Marriage Ends

Image Source / Good HousekeepingSadly, Marilyn’s marriage to Joe – and her second marriage – didn’t last. The pair were married 9 months before calling it quits. Here she’s seen leaving her North Palm Drive home in Beverly Hills with her lawyer, Jerry Giesler, after the marriage is over.

Marilyn Then Relocated To New York

Image Source / Good HousekeepingNo doubt looking for a fresh start after her marriage breakdown, Marilyn decided to relocate to New York City. This would be where she’d live for seven years, but her home life was semi-permanent, presumably due to her hectic schedule and barely being at home.

She Lived In Various Hotels And Apartments

Image Source / Good HousekeepingThe relocation would be to live a nomadic lifestyle, with never one property she called home. Whilst in New York, Marilyn would move from hotel to hotel or stay in various apartments during her time there, no doubt switching around based on which movies she was filming at the time.

Marilyn Would Still Rent Places In Los Angeles

Image Source / Good HousekeepingDespite her relocation to New York, Marilyn would still rent hours or apartments in Los Angeles from time to time, splitting her time between the two. She would live in Los Angeles in the places she rented when her career meant she had to spend time there.

Marilyn Would Even Host Press Events In Her Rentals

Image Source / Good HousekeepingCompletely different from her future Brentwood home that would be a piece of privacy and her own personal haven, Marilyn opened up her rentals to the press and would host events in Los Angeles rentals whilst also living in New York. She would host the events to promote her movies.

She Would Then Move To Connecticut With Her New Love

Image Source / Good HousekeepingMarilyn would go on to meet and date playwright Arthur Miller, as her fame and movie career continued to rise. Arthur Miller was a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, and Marilyn herself was an avid reader. She would spend lots of time in Arthur’s home in Roxbury, Connecticut.

After Marrying Arthur, His Home Would Become Her Home

Image Source / Good HousekeepingFor her third wedding to her third husband, Marilyn joined with Arthur at the courthouse in New York in 1956. The ceremony would be followed up by a Jewish one after Marilyn converted, and then the actress would live in her husband’s Connecticut home with Arthur’s dog.

The Couple Would Spend Seasons Living In Different Places

Image Source / Good HousekeepingMarilyn and Arthur enjoyed a honeymoon in Montego Bay in Jamaica, delayed until six months or so after their wedding. They would go on many outings, and also spent a long summer in the Hamptons in New York. During this time, they lived in a converted windmill.

Marilyn Loved Living In The Beverly Hills Hotel During Working Hours

Image Source / Good HousekeepingOne of the many places Marilyn lived during movie filming was the Beverly Hills Hotel, when she regularly had to return to Los Angeles for work. It’s said she loved the hotel, and in particular the hotel’s Bungalow number 1 – a suite the general public can actually stay in today.

Marilyn Went Back To New York After Her Third Marriage Ended

Image Source / Good HousekeepingMarilyn’s third marriage wasn’t to be either. She and playwright Miller would eventually get divorced and Marilyn would make New York City her main home again. Here she’s leaving her apartment in New York after the announcement of her divorce.

Which Would Lead Her To Buy The Brentwood Home

Image Source / Good HousekeepingMarilyn was in hospital for four weeks, allegedly due to ‘emotional exhaustion’ following her divorce, and perhaps due to her career. After this time, she would move back to California, and it was during this time when she would purchase her home in Brentwood, LA, which would sadly be her last.