The History
In January 1962, Marilyn Monroe purchased a modest hacienda-style house at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles for $75,000. It was the only home she ever owned. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house was built in 1929 in a Spanish Colonial style with a red tile roof and a small courtyard.
By mid-1962, Monroe was at a crossroads. She had been fired from the film "Something's Got to Give" due to absences, then rehired at double her salary. She had recently sung "Happy Birthday" to President Kennedy at Madison Square Garden, fueling rumors of an affair with both the President and his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy. She was 36 years old.
What Happened
On the evening of August 4, 1962, Monroe spoke on the phone with several people, including Peter Lawford, who later said she sounded drowsy and slurred. Her housekeeper, Eunice Murray, noticed a light under Monroe's bedroom door during the night but didn't investigate immediately.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. on August 5, Monroe's psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson, was called to the house. He broke a window to enter her locked bedroom and found her dead, lying face-down on the bed with a telephone receiver in her hand. An empty bottle of Nembutal (a barbiturate sedative) was on the nightstand.
The Los Angeles County coroner ruled her death a "probable suicide" from acute barbiturate poisoning. However, the timeline of events that night has been widely disputed, and conspiracy theories involving the Kennedy brothers, the FBI, and the CIA persist to this day.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Connection
Monroe's relationships with President JFK and Attorney General RFK have been extensively documented. Phone records from her final night were reportedly seized by authorities and have never been released.
The Only Home
Despite being one of the biggest movie stars in history, the $75,000 Brentwood house was the only property Monroe ever purchased. She chose it for its privacy and Mexican-inspired design.
Historic Landmark
In 2023, the Los Angeles City Council designated the house a historic-cultural monument, protecting it from demolition after a developer attempted to tear it down.
What's There Now
The House Today
Address: 12305 Fifth Helena Drive, Los Angeles, CA (Brentwood)
Status: Private residence, designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2023.
Note: The house is on a quiet cul-de-sac and is not open to the public. The historic designation means it cannot be demolished, preserving it for future generations.
Memorial: Monroe's crypt at Westwood Village Memorial Park (1218 Glendon Avenue) is open to the public and receives daily visitors who leave lipstick kisses and flowers.
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