Marilyn Monroe was launched to husband quantity two by an unlikely matchmaker – an “I Love Lucy” star.
The 25-year-old was eating out along 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, Camera, Action,’ which was a showcase for up-and-coming expertise,” Norman’s son Joel Brokaw advised Fox News Digital. “[It was] a stay present in Hollywood that every 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 concept who Joe DiMaggio was after they met in 1952. (Getty Images)
“It didn’t take lengthy earlier than they have been seen,” Joel shared. “William Frawley … came to visit 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 accomplished.’
“Marilyn turned to my dad and mentioned, ‘Who’s Joe D?’ She had no concept 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.”
According to Hollywood lore, Joe DiMaggio was studying the newspaper when he noticed a photograph of Marilyn Monroe sporting a baseball uniform. He was smitten. (Getty Images)
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 concerning the late patriarch, “Driving Marilyn,” which particulars how he went from working within the mailroom of William Morris Agency 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 together with his shut pal when he discovered himself captivated by the blonde magnificence.
And Brokaw didn’t miss his probability to assist carry 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 Images)
Joel mentioned his father met Monroe via his uncle, Hollywood expertise agent Johnny Hyde. In her book “My Story,” Monroe mentioned that Hyde was in love along with her and had requested her to marry him.
“If you take a look at all of the tales which were 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 residing along with her as nicely. He staked his whole fame on advancing her profession.”
Hollywood agent Johnny Hyde needed to marry his shopper, up-and-coming starlet Marilyn Monroe. (ALAMY)
“At the time, a variety of the attitudes of his friends have been, ‘That’s his lover, and she or he’s this 12 months’s blonde,’” Joel shared. “Lots of people didn’t see something actually particular in her. But lastly, in the direction of the top 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.”
Marilyn Monroe along 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 have 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 along with her.
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“From what he advised me about her, they actually hit it off very nicely. He actually appreciated her. He thought that she was extremely clever. They simply had an ideal relationship.”
Norman Brokaw went on to signify Marilyn Monroe. (Brokaw Family)
Hyde handed away in 1950. He was 55.
It was in 1952 when Brokaw and Monroe walked over to DiMaggio’s desk to say hiya. DiMaggio and Monroe went on so far for practically two years earlier than getting hitched at San Francisco City Hall in 1954.
Several months after the couple said, “I do,” Brokaw acquired a cellphone name. It was from DiMaggio. According to the e-book, Monroe was not his shopper on the time.
Joe DiMaggio hoped Marilyn Monroe would turn into a housewife. She had different plans. (AFP by way of Getty Images)
“Joe DiMaggio obtained a bit of recommendation from my dad that got here at a really essential time of their marriage,” mentioned Joel. “Joe actually needed Marilyn to be a stay-at-home housewife. He was getting an increasing number of 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 Images)
“And so, my father mentioned to him, ‘I don’t know of a lady who may 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 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 holding 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 Daily News Archive by way of Getty Images.)
The energy couple’s marriage lasted solely 9 months. Monroe filed for divorce from DiMaggio, citing “psychological cruelty.”
Brokaw and Monroe crossed paths in a singular manner as soon as extra in 1962.
At 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, steered housekeeper Eunice Murray.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio reconnected in 1961, a 12 months earlier than her loss of life. (Getty Images)
“She was an individual whom he positioned with a variety 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 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 Images)
“I actually appreciated Mrs. Murray,” mentioned Joel. “But I additionally felt just like the vitality was unusual about her. . . . That was a part of rising up in Hollywood – a variety 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 have been, “I’ll lastly get to see Marilyn.” (Getty Images)
DiMaggio had contemporary 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 lawyer later mentioned that his reported final phrases have been, “I’ll lastly get to see Marilyn.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
