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 proposal that the actress couldn’t refuse.
“[My father] took her to a tv program referred to as ‘Lights, Digital camera, Motion,’ which was a showcase for up-and-coming expertise,” Norman’s son Joel Brokaw instructed Fox Information Digital. “[It was] a reside present in Hollywood that every one the casting brokers would tune in to look at. They went and did this tv present, after which he stated, ‘Let’s go down the road and go to The Hollywood Brown Derby and have a meal.’ It was the place to be seen.”
“It didn’t take lengthy earlier than they had been observed,” Joel shared. “William Frawley … came to visit to the desk and he stated … ‘I’m having dinner with Joe D. He wish to meet the younger woman. We’ll cease by your desk after we’re achieved.’
“Marilyn turned to my dad and stated, ‘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.”
Brokaw, who represented Elvis Presley, Clint Eastwood and lots 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 changing into its CEO.
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 convey the 2 collectively.
“[My father and Marilyn] completed their meal first,” stated Joel. “They went over to the desk, and the remaining is historical past.”
Joel stated his father met Monroe by his uncle, Hollywood expertise agent Johnny Hyde. In her guide “My Story,” Monroe stated that Hyde was in love together with her and had requested her to marry him.
“If you happen to have a look at all of the tales which have been written about Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Hyde is a distinguished chapter,” Joel defined. “He was the big-shot superagent who believed in Marilyn. He was additionally residing together with her as effectively. He staked his whole fame on advancing her profession.”
“On the time, plenty 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 obtained her a contract with twentieth Century Fox. At that time, my father had simply been promoted to be a junior agent.”
Joel stated that Hyde had “a really unhealthy coronary heart situation,” which prevented him from taking his dream consumer 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 obtained to spend so much of time together with her.
“From what he instructed me about her, they actually hit it off very effectively. He actually appreciated her. He thought that she was extremely clever. They only had an awesome relationship.”
Hyde handed away in 1950. He was 55.
It was in 1952 when Brokaw and Monroe walked over to DiMaggio’s desk to say good day. DiMaggio and Monroe went on up to now for practically two years earlier than getting hitched at San Francisco Metropolis Corridor in 1954.
A number of months after the couple stated, “I do,” Brokaw obtained a cellphone name. It was from DiMaggio. Based on the guide, Monroe was now not his consumer on the time.
“Joe DiMaggio obtained a chunk of recommendation from my dad that got here at a really essential time of their marriage,” stated Joel. “Joe actually needed Marilyn to be a stay-at-home housewife. He was getting increasingly upset about Marilyn’s increased profile and being out in public.
“And so, my father stated to him, ‘I don’t know of a girl who might persuade you to not go as much as bat to hit for the 56th straight recreation. And I don’t know of a person who might 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,” stated Joel. “He credited that recommendation for preserving the wedding alive a bit longer. . . . It additionally cemented a lifelong friendship that my father had with Joe DiMaggio.”
The ability couple’s marriage lasted solely 9 months. Monroe filed for divorce from DiMaggio, citing “psychological cruelty.”
Brokaw and Monroe crossed paths in a novel means 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, urged housekeeper Eunice Murray.
“She was an individual whom he positioned with plenty of his sufferers to assist them deal with their day-to-day obligations and to have a watchful eye over them,” Joel defined. “A number of weeks earlier, Eunice Murray had walked in and located Marilyn Monroe useless. That was a extremely unusual episode in my life.”
“I actually appreciated Mrs. Murray,” stated Joel. “However I additionally felt just like the power was unusual about her. . . . That was a part of rising up in Hollywood – plenty 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.
DiMaggio had contemporary roses delivered to Monroe’s grave twice per week for 20 years. He outlived his ex-wife by nearly 4 many years. He handed away in 1999 at age 84.
DiMaggio’s legal professional later stated that his reported final phrases had been, “I’ll lastly get to see Marilyn.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.