What sex symbol was found dead in her L.A. home in 1962?

Marilyn Monroe was the sex symbol found dead in her Los Angeles home in 1962.

Monroe was discovered at her house on Fifth Helena Drive in the Brentwood neighborhood during the early hours of August 5, 1962. She was 36 years old. Her death ended the life of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, whose films included The Seven Year Itch, Some Like It Hot, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

The Los Angeles County coroner determined that Monroe died from an overdose of barbiturates. The official classification was probable suicide, although questions about the circumstances have fueled speculation for decades. Those theories remain disputed and have never displaced the official finding.

Monroe’s public image was shaped by her platinum-blonde appearance, glamorous screen persona, and photographs such as the famous subway-grate scene from The Seven Year Itch. Yet she also worked to be taken seriously as an actress, studying at the Actors Studio and earning a Golden Globe for Some Like It Hot. Her death helped cement her lasting status as a Hollywood icon.