Marilyn Monroe was launched to husband quantity two by an unlikely matchmaker – an “I Love Lucy” star.
The 25-year-old was eating out together with her agent, Norman Brokaw, when William Frawley, who performed Fred Mertz within the sitcom, approached them. He had a suggestion that the actress couldn’t refuse.
“[My father] took her to a tv program known as ‘Lights, Digicam, Motion,’ which was a showcase for up-and-coming expertise,” Norman’s son Joel Brokaw informed Fox Information Digital. “[It was] a stay present in Hollywood that each one the casting brokers would tune in to observe. They went and did this tv present, after which he mentioned, ‘Let’s go down the road and go to The Hollywood Brown Derby and have a meal.’ It was the place to be seen.”
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Marilyn Monroe had no thought who Joe DiMaggio was once they met in 1952. (Getty Photographs)
“It didn’t take lengthy earlier than they had been observed,” Joel shared. “William Frawley … came visiting to the desk and he mentioned … ‘I’m having dinner with Joe D. He wish to meet the younger girl. We’ll cease by your desk after we’re carried out.’
“Marilyn turned to my dad and mentioned, ‘Who’s Joe D?’ She had no thought who Joe DiMaggio was. She clearly wasn’t a baseball fan. So, he needed to give her a fast historical past of the significance of Joe DiMaggio.”
In line with Hollywood lore, Joe DiMaggio was studying the newspaper when he noticed a photograph of Marilyn Monroe carrying a baseball uniform. He was smitten. (Getty Photographs)
Brokaw, who represented Elvis Presley, Clint Eastwood and plenty of different prime stars, died in 2016 at age 89. Joel has written a brand new memoir in regards to the late patriarch, “Driving Marilyn,” which particulars how he went from working within the mailroom of William Morris Company to turning into its CEO.
Joel Brokaw’s e-book, “Driving Marilyn,” is out now. (Lyons Press )
DiMaggio, who was 12 years Monroe’s senior, had simply retired from the New York Yankees. He was out eating along with his shut pal when he discovered himself captivated by the blonde magnificence.
And Brokaw didn’t miss his likelihood to assist deliver the 2 collectively.
“[My father and Marilyn] completed their meal first,” mentioned Joel. “They went over to the desk, and the remaining is historical past.”
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William Frawley starred as Fred Mertz within the ’50s sitcom “I Love Lucy.” (CBS by way of Getty Photographs)
Joel mentioned his father met Monroe by means of his uncle, Hollywood expertise agent Johnny Hyde. In her book “My Story,” Monroe mentioned that Hyde was in love together with her and had requested her to marry him.
“When you have a look at all of the tales which have been written about Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Hyde is a outstanding chapter,” Joel defined. “He was the big-shot superagent who believed in Marilyn. He was additionally dwelling together with her as properly. He staked his whole status on advancing her profession.”
Hollywood agent Johnny Hyde wished to marry his shopper, up-and-coming starlet Marilyn Monroe. (ALAMY)
“On the time, a whole lot of the attitudes of his friends had been, ‘That’s his lover, and she or he’s this yr’s blonde,’” Joel shared. “Lots of people didn’t see something actually particular in her. However lastly, in direction of the tip of his life, he received her a contract with twentieth Century Fox. At that time, my father had simply been promoted to be a junior agent.”
Marilyn Monroe together with her agent Johnny Hyde, circa 1949. (ALAMY)
Joel mentioned that Hyde had “a really unhealthy coronary heart situation,” which prevented him from taking his dream shopper to capabilities. That’s when Brokaw stepped in.
“He needed to take her to her auditions, which had been for $55 a job, SAG minimal,” Joel defined. “He took her to performing classes, went to premieres and tv reveals that she was doing. He received to spend so much of time together with her.
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“From what he informed me about her, they actually hit it off very properly. He actually favored her. He thought that she was extremely clever. They only had a terrific relationship.”
Norman Brokaw went on to symbolize Marilyn Monroe. (Brokaw Household)
Hyde handed away in 1950. He was 55.
It was in 1952 when Brokaw and Monroe walked over to DiMaggio’s desk to say whats up. DiMaggio and Monroe went on so far for practically two years earlier than getting hitched at San Francisco Metropolis Corridor in 1954.
A number of months after the couple said, “I do,” Brokaw obtained a telephone name. It was from DiMaggio. In line with the e-book, Monroe was not his shopper on the time.
Joe DiMaggio hoped Marilyn Monroe would grow to be a housewife. She had different plans. (AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
“Joe DiMaggio received a chunk of recommendation from my dad that got here at a really essential time of their marriage,” mentioned Joel. “Joe actually wished Marilyn to be a stay-at-home housewife. He was getting increasingly more upset about Marilyn’s greater profile and being out in public.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio’s marriage was mentioned to be tumultuous earlier than they lastly known as it quits. (Underwood Archives/Getty Photographs)
“And so, my father mentioned to him, ‘I don’t know of a girl who may persuade you to not go as much as bat to hit for the 56th straight sport. And I don’t know of a person who may persuade a younger actress to not star in a film with Clark Gable or Spencer Tracy.'”
“That made [a] lightbulb go on in Joe DiMaggio’s thoughts,” mentioned Joel. “He credited that recommendation for protecting the wedding alive a bit longer. . . . It additionally cemented a lifelong friendship that my father had with Joe DiMaggio.”
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Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio’s marriage lasted 9 months. (NY Every day Information Archive by way of Getty Photographs.)
The facility couple’s marriage lasted solely 9 months. Monroe filed for divorce from DiMaggio, citing “psychological cruelty.”
Brokaw and Monroe crossed paths in a novel manner as soon as extra in 1962.
On the time, Joel’s mom was hospitalized with schizophrenia. Brokaw wanted somebody to assist watch over his sons. Monroe’s psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson, who had additionally labored with Joel’s mom, advised housekeeper Eunice Murray.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio reconnected in 1961, a yr earlier than her loss of life. (Getty Photographs)
“She was an individual whom he positioned with a whole lot of his sufferers to assist them deal with their day-to-day duties and to have a watchful eye over them,” Joel defined. “Just a few weeks earlier, Eunice Murray had walked in and located Marilyn Monroe lifeless. That was a extremely unusual episode in my life.”
Mrs. Eunice Murray, housekeeper of the late Marilyn Monroe, tells reporters that the actress had not appeared suicidal to her. (Getty Photographs)
“I actually favored Mrs. Murray,” mentioned Joel. “However I additionally felt just like the vitality was unusual about her. . . . That was a part of rising up in Hollywood – a whole lot of unusual stuff.”
Monroe handed away from a barbiturate overdose in 1962. She was 36. It was DiMaggio, who had reentered her life in 1961, who deliberate her funeral.
“It was an timeless love that he had for her for the remainder of his life,” Joel remarked.
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Joe DiMaggio’s reported final phrases had been, “I am going to lastly get to see Marilyn.” (Getty Photographs)
DiMaggio had recent roses delivered to Monroe’s grave twice per week for 20 years. He outlived his ex-wife by virtually 4 many years. He passed away in 1999 at age 84.
DiMaggio’s legal professional later mentioned that his reported final phrases had been, “I’ll lastly get to see Marilyn.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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