Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio: when love is longer than life

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The name Marilyn Monroe is known all over the world. And even half a century after the death of the star, fans carry flowers to her grave. But only one person came to her grave every week for 20 years to leave a huge bouquet of roses. It was the famous baseball player Joe DiMaggio. He outlived his unlucky star wife for many years, but his feelings remained the same as when they first met.

First meeting

DiMaggio and Monroe first met on a blind date in 1952. True, before Joe saw Marilyn in the company of other baseball players. She was wearing openly short shorts and a high stiletto heel. The actress participated in the photo shoot and was incomparable - a young, energetic and charming woman who drove men crazy. Joe had already left the big sport by that time. He made an excellent career with the New York Yankees, so it was not difficult for him to find a way out to the young actress through his acquaintances. The most surprising thing is that Marilyn, who was already famous at that time, agreed to meet with DiMaggio, although he was, to put it mildly, not her type.

Monroe was pushed to this meeting by curiosity. She expected to see a muscular guy who was not too smart, and he hoped that Marilyn's behavior was window dressing, and in private conversation she would become a more domestic and serious girl. Alas, both were deceived that day.

For the first date, Marilyn was several hours late, and only smiled in excuse. Joe, intelligent and educated, came in a formal suit. “He is not like the others,” she said of DiMaggio. "With him, I become special." Joe did not try to drag Marilyn into bed on the first date, as others did, and this, most likely, conquered the actress. After a while, they began to meet. Reporters learned about the novel pretty quickly, because at that time baseball and cinema were the main hobbies of Americans. For fans, Marilyn and Joe became a golden couple.

In relationship

Joe DiMaggio increasingly appeared on the sets where Marilyn Monroe was filmed. And Marilyn tried not to miss a single baseball game in which Joe participated. The difference between the couple was 12 years. DiMaggio was older and wiser, and Marilyn was attracted to such men. She was always looking for protection and found it in the face of Joe. The athlete did not give up hope that Monroe would settle down, become a wife and a housewife. But he perfectly understood that his beloved is an unusual girl, she is an idol, she is admired …

He was ready to endure everything, but if someone around him started talking about Marilyn and her sexuality, he went crazy with jealousy. Every enthusiastic man irritated him, and Marilyn only smiled, she could not do anything about it. Joe DiMaggio dreamed of settling somewhere outside the city and living a measured life with Marilyn. But the actress was only gaining momentum, and leaving the cinema was not in her plans.

Early 50s

The 1950s were successful for Marilyn Monroe, she starred in several comedies, among which were "How to Marry a Millionaire" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." She was finally assigned the status of a sex symbol of American cinema. Joe DiMaggio's career was over by that time. DiMaggio was too attentive and judicious, he was worried about details, once the actress gave him a medallion with an engraving “You can really see only with your heart. The essence of things is invisible to the eye,”Joe was very indignant. Marilyn lived easily, she was greedy for money, she loved to eat in bed, wiping her hands on the sheets. Joe could not stand this behavior of her, but still hoped that she would change.

Wedding

The couple met Christmas at Joe's parents' house, where they announced their intention to get married. Marilyn Monroe was married in a brown suit, she held white orchids in her hands. The bouquet began to dry too quickly, and then Marilyn turned to her husband: “Promise when I I will die, bring fresh flowers to the cemetery weekly. And he promised. They spent two weeks in Palm Springs, Joe was the happiest man, at that time Marilyn was only him, there were no reporters and fans around. But the situation changed after a joint trip to Japan.

As soon as the couple got off the plane, the fans blocked the way for the spouses, they had to leave through the luggage compartment. Joe was very annoyed that Marilyn's fans violated their privacy, in addition to this, Monroe was invited to perform in Korea in front of a large number of soldiers. After the performance, Marilyn was delighted, and DiMaggio was furious, his jealousy became more acute. He was infuriated by the cleavage and other things that were normal for Marilyn. Life for the spouse of the star was becoming unbearable.

The incident on the set of "The Seven Year Itch" was the last straw for Joe DiMaggio. He came to the set while filming a scandalous scene - Marilyn in a white dress that flies over the ventilation grill. DiMaggio almost beat the director, demanding an explanation. Later, at home, Marilyn Monroe was in for a huge scandal. After that, the couple dispersed to different rooms. So they lived for 9 months, and after that they filed for divorce.

Monroe and her men

A year and a half later, Monroe married the writer Arthur Miller. Once talking with Truman Capote, the actress told him: “You know, actually Joe is what you need. If we had one more opportunity, I still love him. He is real. Despite this, Marilyn Monroe still married Miller, and a year and a half before her death, their marriage collapsed. She had several months to live, during this period she and DiMaggio became close again and wanted to get married again. The date was set - August 8, 1962. The wedding was supposed to pass without any fuss. Preparations were underway, and Marilyn's wedding dress was almost ready. But on August 5, Marilyn Monroe passed away.

Her lover never married again. He outlived her for 20 years, every week, as promised, he brought fresh flowers to her grave and loved only her until the end of his days.

Unfortunately, relationships even between loving people are not always cloudless. There are others like the elusive love of Edith Piaf and Marcel Cerdan.