Marilyn Monroe would have turned 100 on June 1, 2026, and the world is celebrating in a big way. Exhibitions are running in Paris, New York, London and Los Angeles, with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures displaying her film costumes and personal artifacts through February 2027. Meanwhile, fans keep making the Hollywood pilgrimage to her crypt at Westwood Village Memorial Park and her Walk of Fame star at 6774 Hollywood Blvd.
The numbers tell part of the story. Her pink “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” dress sold for $370,000 in 2010, and her image still appears on everything from posters to coffee mugs. But the deeper pull is the story of Norma Jean Baker herself: a difficult childhood in foster care, a rise to global stardom, and a legacy that outlived nearly everyone who knew her. Even Hugh Hefner chose to be buried near her crypt, and her “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” co-star Jane Russell remains part of the Monroe story for fans rediscovering her films.
For Suncoast listeners, the centennial is a good excuse to revisit the classics or plan a museum trip if you’re heading out west. Her star still burns bright a century later, and the exhibits prove it. What’s your favorite Marilyn Monroe film, and does it still hold up today? Let us know in the comments.
