The August day 55 years ago when Marilyn Monroe died
The film star and sex symbol was found dead in bed from a barbiturates overdose in August 1962
“Marilyn Monroe Found Dead,” ran the headline in the South China Morning Post on August 6, 1962.
“Miss Marilyn Monroe, the film star, died today from an apparent overdose of barbiturates,” the news story continued. “[Her] housekeeper, Mrs Eunice Murray, told police she saw a light shining under her mistress’s bedroom door at midnight. When she saw the same light three hours later, she tried the door and found it locked.”
Monroe’s physicians were called and, on gaining entry through a bedroom window, found the actress “nude in bed with the sheets pulled up around her neck”.
A doctor had given Monroe a prescription for pills the day before, the Post continued, and the bottle was found empty. “Police were working on the assumption Miss Monroe had taken an overdose. Police officers who went to Miss Monroe’s apartment after her death said that her hand was clutching the receiver of her telephone. No notes were found.”