Famous Marilyn Monroe Photos – Images of the Beautiful Blonde

Few pop cultural figures have managed to stay as relevant as the iconic Marilyn Monroe. While the movies she starred in may not be known to all that many today, her image has remained popular through the decades. Her style and beauty were captured in the many pictures of Marilyn Monroe, and that is what we are going to examine today. We are going to look at ten of the most iconic Marilyn Monroe photos, learn a little about them, and try to understand why they have become such famous photos of an immensely notable figure in world history!

Famous Marilyn Monroe Photos

Marilyn Monroe is considered to be one of the most iconic pop culture figures of the mid-20th century. She was perhaps best known as an American actress, but she was also a model and singer, and she became known throughout the Western world for her films. However, her films have not managed to retain the kind of attention that they once held, and Marilyn Monroe has instead become an icon of her own, disconnected from much of what she did with her life.

While she may have been very prolific during her career and appeared in multiple films a year, her lasting appeal has been her image.

She started modeling, and quickly made her way into movies. She found significant success in Hollywood, and her modeling continued throughout that time. Many of the most famous pictures of Marilyn Monroe came from her time in the cinema, but she also engaged in numerous photo shoots and quickly became known throughout the world as a sex symbol.

Marilyn Monroe in 1953; Marilyn Monroe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Her personal life would slow some of her work, and she eventually had a decline in film. Her apparent suicide by barbiturates in 1962 at the age of 36 solidified her place as an icon of the mid-20th century who never left the era. Her tragic and untimely end has fueled a decades-long debate about the suspiciousness of her death, and this has often been tied to her possible relationship with John F. Kennedy, the President of the United States, prior to his assassination.

This list will not look at her movies, but it will occasionally mention them. We are instead going to examine some of the most iconic Marilyn Monroe photos.

It should also be noted that these are not always necessarily single photographs but are often part of larger photoshoots. However, photos tend not to have the same kind of singularity as something like a painting seeing as many can be taken in a short duration. Now that that’s done and dusted, let’s have a look at some of the most famous Marilyn Monroe photos of all time.

Niagara Pin Up (1953) by Eugene Kornman

This particular image of Marilyn Monroe is considered to be one of the most famous Marilyn Monroe photos but for a bit of a strange reason. While the rest of the images in this list are all known because they are famous photos, this one is famous because of something that was done with it.

While the photo itself was taken as part of the promotional material for the film, “Niagara”, it would become far more famous for another reason.

The photo is a rather simple one that simply shows her as the character of Rose Loomis from the film. However, this image would be taken some years later by Andy Warhol, the noted pop artist, and used for one of his most famous art pieces. The Marilyn Diptych artwork from 1962 depicts fifty different images of Marilyn Monroe’s face repeatedly. Half are colorized and half are in black and white.

Publicity portrait of Marilyn Monroe as Rose Loomis in the 1953 film Niagara; Eugene Kornman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The immense fame of this image has made it a particularly fascinating sight to behold. The artwork by Andy Warhol was released after the death of Marilyn Monroe, and it has become one of the most famous and replicated artworks from the 20th century. The style of the artwork is commonly seen in films, but the subject is often replaced by whoever owns the artwork in said film. The original has become a type of artwork and has thus transcended ordinary art forms. Which makes it a rather fascinating thing.

Ballerina Sitting (1954) by Milton H. Greene

This series of photographs of Marilyn Monroe has become one of the most famous of her career. These pictures of Marilyn Monroe feature the famous actress in a ballerina-style dress in a variety of poses. Many of the most famous of these images involve Marilyn Monroe holding the bodice of the dress up, and while this does give the image a good stylistic look, it was actually done for more practical reasons.

The dress that she wore for these iconic Marilyn Monroe photos was actually two sizes too small. The reason for this was a mistake.

They had not attained her size because they had not yet met with her, but rather than waiting for a new dress, they worked with it and produced a series of fantastic images in this photoshoot. Famous photos can often simply be great because of what they depict, but the story behind a good photo can often be just as enlightening as the photo itself. This story has led to one of the most famous Marilyn Monroe photos and one that has been lauded as one of the most well-known images of the 20th century and of Monroe. However, it does not hold the title of the most famous Marilyn Monroe photo of all time, but we’ll get to that photo next.

Seven Year Itch Dress (1954) by Sam Shaw

This photograph is, by far, the most famous and iconic Marilyn Monroe photo. It was taken during the production of her movie, The Seven Year Itch and it shows Marilyn Monroe in the streets of New York City as she stands over a subway grate that blows air upwards.

The famous pose of Marilyn Monroe pushing her dress down as the wind pushes it up has become a staple of popular culture ever since the photo was taken.

This particular image has been replicated repeatedly by all manner of people. Many of those who have replicated the image have done so for comedic reasons, and the number of imitations will likely be impossible to count. The image is likely one of the most famous of all time and a quintessential photograph of the mid-20th century.

Marilyn Monroe posing for photographers in The Seven Year Itch (1954); Published by Corpus Christi Caller-Times-photo from Associated Press, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

The dress itself has also become an incredibly famous clothing item. It was designed by William Travilla. He designed some of the most famous Marilyn Monroe dresses in several of her movies, and a few of those dresses have become considered to be some of the most famous of all time from the 20th century.

Marilyn Monroe Reading Motion Picture Daily (1955) by Ed Feingersh

Most of the famous images of Marilyn Monroe were specifically taken as highly posed photos, and this is common in photography for obvious reasons. We want to present a clean and perfect image of ourselves if at all possible. However, this particular photoshoot was meant to be far more candid in its presentation. It was meant to capture the everyday life of the star in her home.

The most famous image from this collection is likely the one in which she sits and reads a copy of “Motion Picture Daily”. However, there are a number of different images that are part of this collection.

They show her as she gets ready for several appearances that she was going to make and as she goes about her daily routine. One of the other most famous Marilyn Monroe photos from this shoot was a self-portrait photograph of the photographer as he took a picture in the mirror, and Marilyn Monroe can be seen behind him.

These photos have become some of the most well-known pictures of Marilyn Monroe, and while there will always be a certain amount of staging in photographs of this variety, the appearance of something more candid than usual is a great thing to see. However, these images are not the most famous of her career, but they do show a behind-the-scenes side of her that is usually not shown.

Marilyn Monroe in a Red Sweater (1955) by Milton H. Greene

The image of Marilyn Monroe in a red sweater has become one of the most iconic of her career. The red cashmere sweater she wore in this photoshoot was one of Milton H. Greene’s props, and it has come to be strongly associated with the actress and model as various poses were adopted with this red sweater against a light background.

These particular photos have become some of the most notable that Marilyn Monroe ever posed for, and the various poses that are adopted in these images produce a playful and humorous side to the star.

One can see the fun that went into this particular photoshoot by simply looking at the images. In addition, these famous Marilyn Monroe photos have been put on display in galleries. The year these photos were taken would also mark a very important year in the history of many of the most iconic Marilyn Monroe photos as 1955 saw some of the most famous images and films of her career being produced.

Marilyn Monroe in White Fur (1955) by Milton H. Greene

While fur tends to be a clothing material that is frowned upon in the present day, it was considered standard in women’s fashion in the mid-20th century. This particular photoshoot, which is one of the entries in this list that does not focus on a single iconic Marilyn Monroe photo, but rather on a series of them, is a stunning display of the kind of images that Marilyn Monroe and her photographers could produce.

This photoshoot entails Marilyn Monroe in a series of images that involve a fur coat. The image of her in the white fur coat, along with white fur gloves, has become one of the most well-known images of Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn Monroe in a white fur as she appears in the December 1953 issue of Photoplay magazine; Studio publicity still, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The photo was also taken by the photographer Milton H. Greene, who would become one of the photographers best known for his Marilyn Monroe photos. They were also close friends with one another. This photoshoot and its various poses with fur garments may be considered controversial by some in the present day, but at the time, the clothes and her poses with them were meant to evoke a glamorous image. They were also taken before the announcement of Marilyn Monroe Productions, which would be one of the earliest examples of a woman-run production company in Hollywood.

The Black Sitting (1956) by Milton H. Greene

The Black Sitting photos are a collection of absolutely stunning and famous Marilyn Monroe photos. The highly stylized photos have become some of the most recognizable that she ever posed for, and they are a combination of provocative and intentionally sensual images against a black background. The darkness of the background allows Marilyn Monroe’s silhouette to be on full display. The photoshoot entailed the use of a variety of different poses and clothing items. For instance, she posed with a number of different hats, fishnet stockings, and bustiers.

The photos have often been considered to be some of the best that Marilyn Monroe ever produced over the course of her career, but they were never released in her lifetime.

While they were never released, the actual photoshoot appeared to be quite the event. It lasted four hours, there was a lot of wine that was drunk, and increasingly provocative photos were taken. There was even one in which she was topless with black velvet draped around her. The combination of the black background and the black clothing she wore for the photoshoot has made these particular images some of the most famous Marilyn Monroe photos.

Marilyn Monroe Beach Photos (1957) by Sam Shaw

This series of photos of Marilyn Monroe are considered to be some of the best known that were ever produced, and they feature the famous singer and actor on the beach. According to the photographer, he saw her as beautiful with or without makeup, and so these photos may have been meant to illustrate that idea by featuring a less glamorized presentation of the star.

The photoshoot took place on a beach in New York State, and it featured Marilyn Monroe in a one-piece swimsuit. The white swimsuit has become one of the more recognizable items that Monroe wore in her career. 

The photos show a more carefree and natural side to the star, in juxtaposition to the more official-style studio-based photoshoots for which she was typically known. The way that her hair is messier in the wind aids in that general feeling.

Marilyn Monroe at the beach posing as a pin-up model for a postcard photograph (c. 1940s); Teichnor Bros., Boston, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

However, as with many great photographs, there is also a story behind this particular iconic Marilyn Monroe photo. The famous actor and model was pregnant at the time. She was two months pregnant, and the joy of the image stands in stark comparison against the reality that came a month after the photoshoot because Marilyn Monroe had a miscarriage. She would never go on to have any children.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President (1962) by Cecil W. Stoughton

One of the most famous parts of the career of Marilyn Monroe was her singing to John F. Kennedy when he was the President of the United States. The event is one of the defining moments in 20th-century popular culture, and it has been emulated and referenced by so many in the years since the event occurred. The actual day involved Marilyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday to You in an intimate and sensual way and “Mr. President” was used in place of his name.

While the event itself is likely more famous than the photo of it, the image is also notable and has become one of the most famous Marilyn Monroe photos.

The event that was tied to the photo has been what elevated it to important historical status. Her death less than three months later and his death a year later have likely added to the mythological nature of this famous event in American politics and culture.

One of the most notable aspects of the photo has been the sheer dress that she wore that was sown with over 2,500 rhinestones. The tight-fitting dress is also known because she wore nothing else under it to ensure that it was body-conforming. It has become one of the best-known dresses that Marilyn Monroe ever wore.

Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys (1962) by Cecil W. Stoughton

While the “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” song that Marilyn Monroe sang for John F. Kennedy on his birthday was a turning point in American popular culture and one that fueled speculation that she and the president had a relationship of some kind with one another, additional photos of the pair of them together were kept under wraps. However, years after both of their deaths, a photo did surface.

This has gone on to become one of the most famous Marilyn Monroe pictures of all time because it shows Marilyn Monroe in her dress from the happy birthday song while she stands beside and chats with both John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy.

U.S. President John F. Kennedy (with his back to the camera), U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy (far left), and actress Marilyn Monroe, on the occasion of President Kennedy’s 45th birthday celebrations at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 1962; Cecil W. Stoughton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

No one knows what they were talking about or if it was in any way related to a relationship between the two of them, but it has added to the speculation about them. One of the aspects of this iconic Marilyn Monroe photo that has made it such a piece of speculation is that it was kept a secret for decades. The keeping of it as a secret is what led to its explosive reveal when it was finally handed over to the public. However, regardless of the image, there is still no direct evidence of a relationship between the two of them, and speculation continues to this day because of it.

Marilyn Monroe was often seen as one of the most notable celebrities during her lifetime, but the many famous and glamorous pictures of Monroe allowed her to remain well-known long after she had passed away. We have examined ten of the most famous Marilyn Monroe photos today, but there are many other stunning pictures of Marilyn Monroe out there to discover if you decide to go looking. You never know what you might find, after all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Was Marilyn Monroe?

Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, model, and singer who became one of the great pop culture figures of the mid-20th century. She was universally seen as a sex symbol and became known for playing comic characters in the movies she starred in. While she was one of the most successful actresses of her time, she was not without controversy, and her young death has continued to fuel her legendary status into the present day, even though her movies are not as well-known as they once were.

What Is the Most Iconic Marilyn Monroe Photo?

The most iconic Marilyn Monroe photo is, by far, the image of her holding her dress down as it is blown up by a vent while she laughs at the cameras. The photo was part of the publicity for The Seven Year Itch, which was a film she was working on in 1954. The image has since become one of the most famous and reprinted images of all time, and it has also been copied in various pieces of media for decades, generally for comic effect.

What Are Marilyn Monroe’s Most Famous Films?

Marilyn Monroe appeared in a number of famous movies, such as Niagara (1953), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and How to Marry a Millionaire (1953). However, while she made most of her money through her films, she was also a glamorous model. Her image has become one of the most famous in Western media, and while her films are not watched as consistently as they were in the past, her personal fame has continued unabated.

How Did Marilyn Monroe Die?

The death of Marilyn Monroe has remained a controversial topic, as many have tried to dispute the official narrative. Officially, Monroe was found to have overdosed on barbiturates in 1962. She had taken far above the lethal dosage, and so her death was ruled a suicide. However, there has been a large array of conspiracy theories over the years that have tried to claim her death as a homicide or accidental overdose.

What Is the Connection Between Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy?

Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys have been a long-running area of speculation. Monroe sang a very famous rendition of Happy Birthday to You to John F. Kennedy when he was President of the United States in 1962. Additionally, there were rumors that they had been in a relationship with one another, and there was also a rumor that Robert F. Kennedy, the brother of the president, also had a relationship with her. These speculations have likely been fueled by the fact that both of the Kennedys were assassinated, and that Marilyn Monroe overdosed on pills, which was ruled a suicide.

Jordan Anthony( Content Editor, Art Writer, Photographer )

Jordan Anthony is a film photographer, curator, and arts writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. Anthony schooled in Durban and graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, with a Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts. During her studies, she explored additional electives in archaeology and psychology, while focusing on themes such as healing, identity, dreams, and intuitive creation in her Contemporary art practice. She has since worked and collaborated with various professionals in the local art industry, including the KZNSA Gallery in Durban (with Strauss & Co.), Turbine Art Fair (via overheard in the gallery), and the Wits Art Museum.

Anthony’s interests include subjects and themes related to philosophy, memory, and esotericism. Her personal photography archive traces her exploration of film through abstract manipulations of color, portraiture, candid photography, and urban landscapes. Her favorite art movements include Surrealism and Fluxus, as well as art produced by ancient civilizations. Anthony’s earliest encounters with art began in childhood with a book on Salvador Dalí and imagery from old recipe books, medical books, and religious literature. She also enjoys the allure of found objects, brown noise, and constellations.

Learn more about Jordan Anthony and the Art in Context Team.