Discovering My Family Connection to Marilyn Monroe: A Surprising Genealogy Journey

When you’ve spent years digging through your family tree, famous names tend to pop up from time to time. Royals, celebrities, even a few notorious figures—I’ve seen them all. Still, the day that I discovered that I share a paternal bloodline with the legendary Marilyn Monroe was memorable.

​

Tracing My Connection to Marilyn Monroe

My genealogical link to Marilyn Monroe runs deep into English nobility. Through my 22nd great-grandparents, Humphrey de Bohun (4th Earl of Hereford) and Elizabeth Plantagenet, I found a direct paternal connection. Interestingly, these same ancestors were Marilyn Monroe’s 20th paternal great-grandparents.

This connection was confirmed through DNA analysis performed on a verified strand of Marilyn’s hair (preserved by her funeral director) and a sample provided by the granddaughter of Charles Stanley Gifford—the man widely believed to be Marilyn’s biological father.

If that sounds complicated, it’s par for the course in genealogy. DNA testing and historical records have helped me uncover paternity mysteries within my own family before—sometimes I think I missed my calling as a CSI investigator!

​

The Early Life of Marilyn Monroe

The Hollywood icon we know as Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, listed her estranged husband, Martin E. Mortensen, as the father on her birth certificate—though the spelling was later changed to “Mortenson.”

By most historical accounts, however, Marilyn’s biological father was Charles Stanley Gifford, a co-worker of Gladys’s at a Hollywood film lab. Though Marilyn never met him, she reportedly learned of her father’s identity later in life.

​

A Challenging Childhood

Gladys struggled with severe mental illness, later diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia, which led to long-term institutionalization. During her early years, Norma Jeane lived with foster parents Albert and Ida Bolender, who provided a stable home until Gladys briefly reunited with her daughter in 1933.

Unfortunately, Gladys’s relapse the following year led to Norma Jeane becoming a ward of the state, under the care of family friend Grace Goddard.

For a detailed biography of Marilyn’s early years and career, I recommend visiting her Wikipedia page. My focus here is more personal—the perspective of someone who now knows they share a distant bloodline with one of Hollywood’s most fascinating figures.

​

The Woman Behind the Legend

Like millions of others, I’ve always been captivated by Marilyn Monroe—the woman, the myth, and the misunderstood icon. While Hollywood often painted her as the “dumb blonde,” those who study her life know that she was intelligent, introspective, and deeply ambitious.

In many ways, Marilyn reminds me of another famous distant cousin of mine, Lucille Ball. Both women crafted powerful on-screen personas that masked their intellect, creativity, and strength behind the scenes.

​

Marilyn Monroe vs. The Hollywood Studio System

Marilyn has often been described as “difficult” or “unstable” by studio executives and co-stars. But I believe much of this reputation stemmed from her refusal to be controlled by the rigid studio system that dominated mid-century Hollywood.

Studios dictated everything—from roles and salaries to personal lives and body image. Actors had little autonomy, and rebellion often meant career suicide. Yet, Marilyn dared to stand up for herself, renegotiating contracts and demanding creative control long before it was common for any actor to do so, let alone a woman actor. Her so-called “defiance” might well have been courage in disguise.

​

Remembering Marilyn: Stories and Speculation

A celebrity friend of mine once visited Marilyn’s former Los Angeles home and had the rare chance to speak with her former neighbor—someone who had known her personally. When asked what Marilyn was really like, his answer was simple:

“She was lovely—kind, polite, and every bit as beautiful in person as she was on screen.”

That comment has always stayed with me, especially when thinking about the mystery surrounding her tragic death. Since my friend was someone who had interviewed hundreds, or even thousands of celebrities, I trust the story that I was told to be 100% true.

​

Was Marilyn Monroe’s Death a Suicide?

To this day, I remain unconvinced that Marilyn took her own life. The inconsistencies and unanswered questions surrounding the night of August 4, 1962, leave room for doubt. While I don’t subscribe to wild conspiracy theories, I do believe that something about her death doesn’t add up.

Marilyn’s personal and professional struggles were well documented—her battles with the studios, her high-profile affairs, and her ongoing quest for respect as an actress. Yet, everything I’ve learned about her suggests a woman who was tired, not hopeless; vulnerable, but not defeated.

​

A Legacy That Lives On

Whether viewed through the lens of Hollywood glamour or family genealogy, Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most enduring icons of the 20th century. To think that I share even the faintest connection to her story is both humbling and surreal.

Marilyn wasn’t perfect—none of us are—but she was real, complex, and unforgettable. Like many other distant cousins that I have discovered, I would have liked to have had the chance to sit down and have a quiet, private conversation with them to get to know the real person behind the public image; I think that Marilyn Monroe would prove even more intriguing in private. 

​

Maybe one day I'll be able to track down her missing 1954 Cadillac convertible and then I'll have a cherished piece of this famous cousin that I would admire almost as much as the legend herself. Rest in peace Marilyn.

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​