Death of Marilyn Monroe

On August 5, 1962, Marilyn Monroe died of a barbiturate overdose in Los Angeles. She was a major sex symbol and one of the most popular Hollywood stars during the 1950s. She was a top-billed actress for a decade, and her films grossed $200 million by 1962. At the time of her death, Monroe had suffered from mental illness and substance abuse for several years, and had not completed a film since The Misfits, released in 1961.