
The life and career of Marilyn Monroe —
Marilyn Monroe, then 24, is photograhed in Los Angeles' Griffith Park in 1950. Sunday, August 5, marked the 50th anniversary of Monroe's death at age 36. See more from this series on LIFE.com.

The life and career of Marilyn Monroe —
Marilyn Monroe's debut on the cover of LIFE Magazine, photographed by Philippe Halsman. See more from this series on LIFE.com.

The life and career of Marilyn Monroe —
Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell on the set of 1953's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." See more from this series at LIFE.com.

The life and career of Marilyn Monroe —
Marilyn Monroe at age 22 in Hollywood during 1949. See more from this series on LIFE.com.

The life and career of Marilyn Monroe —
Marilyn Monroe at home in Hollywood, 1953. See more from this series on LIFE.com.

The life and career of Marilyn Monroe —
Marilyn Monroe at the time she filed for divorce from Joe DiMaggio in October 1954. See more from this series on LIFE.com.