LOS ANGELES, U.S. – June 1, 2026 marks what would have been the 100th birth anniversary of Marilyn Monroe, the most recognizable face of Hollywood’s golden age, and the global entertainment capital pulled out all the stops to honor the star whose magnetic mystique has not dimmed more than 61 years after her tragic early death. From fan-led tributes at historic landmarks to major museum exhibitions and special memorabilia auctions, the city was filled with celebrations of the actress who redefined 20th century stardom.
On the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where Monroe’s star draws crowds of tourists daily, tour guide Lacey Noel framed her enduring place in pop culture simply: “When you think of Hollywood, you think of Marilyn. There’s some sort of beautiful, mysterious, and captivating aura that she has that will never go away.” That aura drew dozens of fans to the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman’s Chinese Theatre), where Monroe’s hand and footprints have been preserved in concrete since 1953, alongside her Gentlemen Prefer Blondes co-star Jane Russell. There, the crowd sang a breathy Happy Birthday to the late icon, an intentional echo of Monroe’s legendary sultry serenade to then-President John F. Kennedy ahead of his 1962 birthday. Organizers placed 100 red roses and a commemorative cake at the site, a nod to both the centennial and Monroe’s status as the defining symbol of mid-century Hollywood glamour.
Tributes kicked off a day early at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which opened a new long-term exhibition titled “Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon” that chronicles both her decades-long film career and the too-short life that made her a cultural touchstone. Running through February 2027, the exhibition features more than hundreds of never-before-seen and rarely displayed personal and professional items, headlined by the iconic pink gown Monroe wore for her legendary “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” number in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Throughout June, the museum will also host a series of special screenings of Monroe’s most celebrated films, spanning her early breakout role in 1950’s The Asphalt Jungle to 1953’s thriller Niagara, 1955’s The Seven Year Itch, her critically acclaimed comedic turn in 1959’s Some Like It Hot, and her final completed feature 1961’s The Misfits.
Later this week, on June 4, Julien’s Auctions will continue the centennial celebrations with a dedicated “100 Years of Marilyn” auction featuring nearly 200 pieces of Monroe-owned memorabilia. The lots up for bid include never-published candid photographs of the star, an annotated script from her unfinished final production Something’s Got to Give, and deeply personal items ranging from handwritten home recipes to a tube of her signature Elizabeth Arden lipstick.
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles on June 1, 1926, Monroe’s path to stardom was far from easy. She spent a turbulent childhood bouncing between foster homes and local orphanages, and entered her first marriage at just 16 years old to avoid returning to state care. Her first introduction to the entertainment industry came by chance in 1944, while she worked in a Los Angeles factory supporting the World War II war effort; a military photographer arrived to shoot photos of female war workers, spotted Monroe, and set her on a path to a modeling career.
Shortly after signing her first modeling contract, she made the bold career choice that would become her signature: she dyed her natural brown hair platinum blonde, divorced her first husband, and set out to pursue film work. She landed her first studio contract with 20th Century Fox, and by the age of 30, she had become one of the biggest global movie stars in the world. Unlike many stars of the studio system era, Monroe challenged the status quo: she founded her own independent production company, trained at New York’s prestigious Actors Studio to refine her craft, and openly pushed back against unfair studio practices. In the 1950s, while under contract with Fox, she famously refused to star in the film adaptation of the musical The Girl in Pink Tights, arguing the script was low quality and her pay – three times less than co-star Frank Sinatra’s salary – was unfair. The standoff cemented her reputation as a trailblazer for actor autonomy in Hollywood.
Over her career, Monroe created some of the most iconic images in cinema history, none more famous than the shot from The Seven Year Itch where she laughs as a New York City subway breeze blows her white halter dress upward around her hips. Beyond her on-screen work, Monroe’s complicated private life turned her into the archetype of the modern celebrity, feeding constant tabloid coverage that kept her name in headlines and stoked endless public fascination. After her first teenage marriage, she had a high-profile, short-lived marriage to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, followed by a five-year marriage to Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Arthur Miller. Rumors of romantic ties to President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and other A-list Hollywood stars like Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra further fueled public interest in her life.
Monroe’s life ended tragically in August 1962, when she died of an accidental drug overdose at her Los Angeles home at just 36 years old. Decades later, her legacy as a symbol of glamour, vulnerability, and Hollywood ambition remains unshaken, with centennial celebrations proving that the world has not lost its fascination for the girl from Los Angeles who became an icon.