Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 – August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as well as an emblem of the era's revolution. She was a top-billed actress for a decade, and her films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2025) by her death in 1962. Monroe became one of the most marketable Hollywood stars in 1953. She had leading roles in the film noir Niagara and the comedies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire, which established her star image.
