Marilyn Monroe

Black and white photograph of Marilyn Monroe

One of the most iconic sex symbols of the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe was a Hollywood actress and model who was commonly known for her dumb blonde roles in popular comedies such as "As Young as You Feel" and "Monkey Business." When she had solidified her presence on the silver screen, she decided to take a shot at production, which encouraged her to establish Marilyn Monroe Productions in 1954. "The Prince and the Showgirl" (1957) was one of the first pictures produced under her production company. Although Monroe was a well-known success in the public's eye, behind closed doors, she was battling a drug addiction due to depression; which she unfortunately succumbed to on August 5, 1962 when she was found unresponsive in her Los Angeles residence due to an overdose.