Marilyn Monroe & Anna Nicole Smith

Two iconic sexy blonde sex symbols that rocked Playboy.

By Gladys W. MuturiPublished 4 years ago • 10 min read

Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith

Norma Jeane Mortenson and Vickie Lynn Hogan born from different states and different times would later be renamed as Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith. Hollywoods Famous Blondes sex symbols. Marilyn Monroe, a beautiful blonde bombshell from 1950s and early 60s. Anna Nicole Smith, another blonde bombshell from the 90s living in Monroe's shadow. Both have modeled in portraits and magazines and both are Playmates of the Year and both passed away in the same circumstances in their late 30s.

Humble Beginnings

Monroe

Born as Norma Jeane Mortenson later bapitized as Norma Jeane Baker on June 1, 1926 at the Los Angeles County Hospital in Los Angeles, California.Her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker (née Monroe) was from a poor Midwestern family who had migrated to California at the turn of the century. Norma spent much of her time in foster care and in an orphanage. In 1937, a family friend and her husband, Grace and Doc Goddard, took care of Mortenson for a few years. The Goddards were paid $25 weekly by Monroe's mother to raise her. The couple was very strict, deeply religious and followed fundamentalist doctrines; among other prohibited activities, Mortenson was not allowed to go to the movies. But when Doc's job was transferred to the East Coast, the couple could not afford to bring Monroe with them. Throughout her childhood, Mortenson had faced rape and she dropped out of high school by age 15. Mortenson had a way out through marriage, she wed her boyfriend merchant marine James "Jimmy" Dougherty in 1942, at the age of 16. Their marriage wouldn't last. The two would later divorce in 1946.

Monroe age 16 and her first husband James Dougherty

Smith

Born as Vickie Lynn Hogan on November 28, 1967, in Houston, Texas, the only daughter of Virgie (née Tabers) Arthur and Donald Hogan. She had five half-siblings on her father's side. Smith was primarily raised by her mother and her aunt. She attended Durkee Elementary School and Aldine High School in Houston. When she was in the ninth grade, she was sent to live with her maternal aunt in Mexia, Texas and attended high school. While she was in high school, girls would bully her because of her appearance. Hogan dropped out of high at age 15 and started working at a fast food restaurant. She started met fry cook Billy Wayne Smith. The two married on April 4, 1985 when she was seventeen. Hogan gets pregnant and gives birth to her son Daniel Wayne Smith. The two would later broke up. Hogan would later sought employment at Wal-Mart and Red Lobster. Then later would work as stripper.

Rise to Fame

Monroe

Monroe spent her first six months at Fox learning acting, singing, and dancing, and in observing the filmmaking process.

Her contract was renewed in February 1947, and she was given her first film roles, bit parts in Dangerous Years (1947) and Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948). At the time, she dyed her hair blonde and changed her new name. Monroe was her mother's maiden name while Lyon came up with Marilyn because she reminded him of Marilyn Miller, the Ziegfeld Follies Broadway musical star who starred with him and W.C and changed her name.

From Norma Jeane Mortenson to "Marilyn Monroe"

In 1950 Monroe played a small uncredited role in The Asphalt Jungle that reaped a mountain of fan mail. An appearance in All About Eve (1950) won her another contract from Fox and much recognition. In a succession of movies, including Let’s Make It Legal (1951), Love Nest (1951), Clash by Night (1952), and Niagara (1953), she advanced to star billing on the strength of her studio-fostered image as a “love goddess.” With performances in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), and There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954), her fame grew steadily and spread throughout the world, and she became the object of unprecedented popular adulation. When Hugh Hefner launched Playboy in 1953, Hefner decided to use a nude, color photo of Monroe as his inaugural “Sweetheart of the Month,” the predecessor to Playmate.

Smith

After her time working as a stripper, a photographer noticed Hogan at a club. Smith reached a career milestone the following year, joining a select group of beauties who have been named "Playmate of the Year" by Playboy magazine. Unlike Monroe, Hogan uses her ex-husband surname "Smith" and changed her name to "Anna Nicole".

From Vickie Hogan to "Anna Nicole Smith"

While Smith was successful as a model, she never found the same recognition or success as an actress. She made her screen debut in the 1994 screwball comedy film The Hudsucker Proxy as Za-Za, a flirtatious celebrity who flirts with the lead character, played by Tim Robbins, in a barbershop scene. Smith was next given a larger role as Tanya Peters in Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994), which was released seven days after her initial film debut. Her role as a pivotal contact to a crime earned her favorable reviews and the film enjoyed box office success. Despite the publicity for her performance in both films, neither did much to advance her acting career. Smith's persona of a ditzy dumb blonde was featured heavily in her film roles, which sought only to market her physical assets. In an attempt to earn acting respect, Smith agreed to appear in To the Limit (1995), her first starring role. Smith appeared as herself in the 1995 pilot episode of The Naked Truth, then attempted to revitalize her film career with a leading role in Skyscraper in 1996. The low-budget, direct-to-video film offered Smith no more than "soft-core exploitation" and her movie career again stalled. In 1998, Smith appeared on the variety series Sin City Spectacular. That same year, Smith appeared in the tell-all self-promoting film, Anna Nicole Smith: Exposed, which was based on several photo sessions during her Playboy career. She appeared as Donna, the friend of Veronica Chase Kirstie Alley, on the sitcom Veronica's Closet in 1999. Smith guest-starred as Myra Jacobs in a 1999 episode of the series Ally McBeal.

High Profile Marriages

After her separation with her former husband Billy Smith, Vickie met next future husband 89-year old J. Howard Marshall, a filthy rich tycoon who just lost his wife and his mistress. It was at that moment that J. Howard laid eyes on Vickie Lynn. While Smith was working as a stripper, J. Howard and asked if he wanted a lap dance. She gave him a lap dance, J.Howard continues to go back to see Smith and later begged her to leave the strip club. So she did. The two began a relationship and Marshall would spend money and lavish gifts on her.

Smith would give him the nickname "Pawpaw". Marshall asked Smith for her hand in marriage numerous times but refused his proposal until she finally said yes. They got married in 1994 in a private ceremony with limited friends and no family members at the event since the public didn't approve of their relationship and believes Smith is with Marshall because he is rich. Smith denies being married to Marshall for his money. In every interviews, Smith have said Marshall had promise to Smith that he would take of her and her son. Their marriage lasted until 14 months later Marshall was gravely ill and he died on August 4, 1995.Since his death, Smith's name wasn't mentioned on Marshall's will even though he promised Smith verbally that he will take care of her and her son Daniel. Marshall's sons E.Pierce and J. Howard Marshall III took over the estate despite that they were left out in his will. Smith had to file for bankruptcies. After Monroe's divorce with her first husband, she met retired baseball player Joe DiMaggio. Monroe wasn't interested in dating baseball players until they had a instant connection and fell in love. Monroe and DiMaggio got married in January 14, 1954 at the San Francisco City Hall.

Monroe and her second husband Joe DiMaggio

Monroe and DiMaggio had expressed on having children until nine months in their marriage DiMaggio became controlling and abusive towards Monroe. Monroe grew tired of him and filed for divorce in October 1954. Around the time she was going with DiMaggio, she dated actor Marlon Brando, then playwright Arthur Miller. Around the time they were dating, Miller was already married. The affair between Monroe and Miller became increasingly serious after October 1955, when her divorce was finalized and he separated from his wife.

Monroe and her third husband Arthur Miller

The two wed in 1956, then would later divorce in January 1961.

Alleged Affairs

There were some alleged affairs that went on with Smith and Monroe. According to People magazine, Smith took off for Greece without her groom shortly after the wedding for a photo shoot while she was there she had an affair with a bodyguard. Some rumors fueled that Smith is bisexual and had some affairs with men and women but none were confirmed.

After Monroe divorce with Arthur, rumors circulating that Monroe was having an affair with President John F. Kennedy. The story behind this rumor was when Monroe dressed in a Jean Louis-designed, flesh-colored embedded gown sang "Happy Birthday" to President Kennedy in a sexy, breathy voice.

But that's not the only rumor.....

According to Marilyn Monroe: My Little Secret it alleges that the Some Like It Hot beauty had an intimate lesbian relationship with actress Joan Crawford.

Fight for Fortune, The Reality Series and Anna's Weight Gain

With no luck, Smith inheriting her husband's fortunate. Smith have been continuing taking drugs, getting hospitalized for overdose and and she was constantly gaining weight.

Her agent and friend Howard K. Stern would help her find a gig for her. In 2002, Anna Nicole Show premiered on the E network. The show lasted for two seasons until its cancellation in 2003.

After the cancellation of her reality show, Anna Nicole made some changes for herself. She stopped taking drinking, taking prescription drugs and she slimmed down to her slim size. She even secretly started dating photographer Larry Birkhead who would later be the father of Anna's babyShe kept her pregnancy a secret from the public for a while until she finally confirmed her pregnancy. During her pregnancy, she battling in court to fight with Marshall's son E. Pierce and J for her husband's estate but lost the battle again. On August 12, 2006, a video of pregnant Anna Nicole wearing clown makeup with a family friends daughter painting her face while filmed by Howard K. Stern. Smith acting strangely confused, started acting like the baby doll toy is her baby, and her baby bump is just "gas".

On September 7, 2006, Smith gave birth at a hospital in Nassau, Bahamas.

Smith, her daughter Dannilynn and attorney Howard K. Stern

The Death of Daniel

After the birth of Dannielynn, Anna's oldest son Daniel visits his mother and his new baby sister at the hospital.

Anna and her son Daniel holding her baby sister Dannilynn

The next morning, Smith wakes up and sees Daniel sleeping on the chair in a position. Smith tries to wake up Daniel but he was not waking up. Daniel and lips were blue. Smith screams. A nurse heard Anna's cry and tended to Daniel. They tried everything to revive Daniel but it was too late. Daniel Smith died at the hospital where Dannilynn was born.

He was 20.

His death was ruled of a drug overdose.

Final Moments

Smith went through a downward spiral since she lost Daniel. After she buried her son, Smith was continuing to take drugs and has been sued by Trim Spa. As for Monroe, she had box office disappointments in her film career. Since her divorce, she was trying to pull her life together. She had just bought her first house in California’s Brentwood neighborhood for $75,000, she was on the cover of Life magazine and she had just been rehired on the film Something’s Got to Give.

August 4, 1962

Her housekeeper Eunice Murray was staying overnight at the home on the evening of August 4, 1962. Murray awoke at 3:00 a.m. on August 5 sensed that something was wrong. She saw light from under Monroe's bedroom door but was unable to get a response and found the door locked. Murray then called Monroe's psychiatrist, Ralph Greenson, who arrived at the house shortly after and broke into the bedroom through a window to find Monroe dead in her bed. Monroe's physician, Hyman Engelberg, arrived at around 3:50 a.m. and pronounced her dead at the scene. At 4:25 a.m., the LAPD was notified. Marilyn Monroe died between 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on August 4. Her death was ruled an overdose.

She was 36.

February 8, 2007

The day before February 7, Smith wasn't feeling well, when . Smith's entourage took her to the hotel room. Her temperature was high.

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida

A friend of Anna's sees Smith in the bed. She noticed that Anna's eyes are open believing she is awake but wasn't looking at her. Tasma, wife of Smith's bodyguard, who was an emergency registered nurse, tries wake her up but Smith wasn't responding. Tasma performed CPR for 15 minutes until Maurice "Big Moe" Brighthaupt, Anna's bodyguard entered the hotel room and took over. The employee at the front desk in turn called the hotel security guard, who then called 911. At 1:45 p.m., the bodyguard administered CPR until paramedics arrived. At 2:10 p.m., Smith was rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital. At 2:49 p.m, Anna Nicole Smith was pronounced dead upon arrival.

She was 39.

Her death was ruled as an accidental drug overdose.

Legacies

Since their deaths, Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith had cultural phenomenal icons. Anna leaves behind her daughter Dannilynn living for her legacy. Larry Birkhead, Anna's ex and Dannilyn's biological father has taken custody of Dannilynn and fights the on the behalf of Anna and Dannilynn for Marshall's estate. Two years after Smith's death, Smith's father, Donald Hogan, died in 2009 from cancer at the age of 62 leaving behind her mother until 2018 she succumb to her cancer at the age of 66. Monroe's estate has gained money and success since her death. These two womens stories have been told in films, tv shows, documentaries, crime docuseries, musicals, stage plays, and of course their names and movies have been mentioned.