Hollywood Legends - Marilyn Monroe $5 Silver Coin - Cook Islands 2011

Marilyn Monroe (1. June 1926 - 5. August 1962) lived through a difficult childhood. As Norma Jeane Baker she partially grew up with foster families and in an orphanage. In 1945 she was discovered as a model and posed as a pin up girl for the US Army.

Thereafter, upon her agent’s advice, she bleached her hair and acquired her legendary stage name Marilyn Monroe. This was a combination of the dancer Marilyn Millers Christian name and the maiden name of her mother Gladys. After a few smaller film roles for 20th Century Fox she received a seven year contract. Her popularity increased consistently. She featured in classics such as „The Seven Year Itch“or „How to Marry a Millionaire“. In the late 50s her manic-depressive phase began. Shelapsed into a medication addiction and died in 1962 on an overdose of tranquillizers and sleeping pills. Up until today she is regarded as the sex symbol of the 20th century.

About Hollywood Legends.

Despite obscurity and lack of funds, Bruno Bernard (1912-1987) set up his first darkroom in the basement of his Hollywood apartment in 1940. Shortly thereafter, he moved his studio to the famous Sunset Strip. “No one knew the name Bernard, but they all knew Hollywood“, and hence the optical trademark signature Bernard of Hollywood, which ensured the image of glamour visually for decades, was created.

Bruno Bernard was considered as “The king of Hollywood glamour” and Marilyn Monroe’s discoverer. In 1984 Bernard was the first still photographer to be honoured with an Oscar at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.