When the world lost Marilyn Monroe in 1962, it wasn’t just her starlight that dimmed. Her tragic death from an overdose left behind a legacy that stretched beyond her career. Among those affected was her mother, Gladys Baker, who received a $5,000-a-year trust to ensure her financial stability. This act of kindness from Marilyn was more than just money—it was a lifeline for a woman who had faced unimaginable challenges in her own life.
For Marilyn, the fear of inheriting her mother's mental health struggles was ever-present. "Marilyn was always afraid that she would genetically inherit her mother’s madness," explains author J. Randy Taraborrelli, who wrote The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe. In an exclusive interview with Closer, Taraborrelli dives deep into the complexities of their relationship. "Both Marilyn and Gladys were incredibly complicated women," he adds. Their lives were intertwined by more than just blood; they were bound by shared hardships and emotional burdens.
While countless biographers have examined Marilyn’s rise and fall, the role her mother played in shaping her life is often overlooked. "To some extent, her mental health issues were inherited, but I also believe they were exacerbated by her tumultuous upbringing," Taraborrelli reflects. "It’s not one or the other—it’s both." Understanding the roots of Marilyn’s struggles requires delving into the life of Gladys, a woman whose own hardships set the stage for her daughter’s challenges.
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Growing up, Gladys faced a childhood marked by instability. Born in 1902, she endured a home life shattered by her father’s alcoholism and mental illness. When he passed away in 1909, her mother embarked on a series of troubled relationships. At just 14 years old, Gladys married Jasper Baker, a man her mother worked for, and soon became a mother herself. However, her marriage was fraught with abuse, leading her to file for divorce at 21. But the battle wasn’t over—Jasper abducted their children, Jackie and Berniece, taking them to Kentucky where his mother raised them. "It was a terrible marriage. He was horribly abusive," Taraborrelli recounts. The loss of her children would haunt Gladys for the rest of her life.
A Mother's Heartbreak
After losing her children, Gladys spiraled into alcoholism and severe mood swings. Her life became a rollercoaster of emotional highs and crushing lows. By the 1920s, she found herself in Hollywood, working as a film negative cutter. It was here that she met Martin Edward Mortensen, a gas company meter reader, and married him. But this union was also short-lived. When their daughter Norma Jean was born in 1926, Mortensen’s name appeared on the birth certificate, but the child never knew him. Recent DNA testing in 2022 revealed that Norma Jean’s biological father was actually Charles Stanley Gifford, Gladys’ boss at RKO Pictures.
Gladys’ postpartum depression following Norma Jean’s birth was so severe that she contemplated ending both their lives. Unable to care for her infant, Norma Jean was placed in foster care, moving from home to home. "Norma Jean went from foster home to foster home," Taraborrelli explains. "She kept being shuffled around until she married at 16 just to escape the system." This chaotic upbringing left an indelible mark on the future Marilyn Monroe.
A Star's Compassion
As Norma Jean transformed into the world-famous Marilyn Monroe, the studio tried to bury her troubled past by portraying her as an orphan. But Marilyn never abandoned her mother. "Gladys was in and out of Marilyn’s life for years," Taraborrelli notes. Despite the studio’s efforts, Marilyn maintained a close relationship with her mother, paying for her hospital stays and providing her with financial support. "After Gladys was released from an institution, she came to live with Marilyn—this was when Marilyn was already a major star," he adds. "Gladys was always part of Marilyn’s life, whether it was for better or, more often, for worse."
Marilyn’s generosity toward her mother extended beyond mere financial assistance. She established a trust fund to ensure Gladys' well-being even after her death. This act of kindness speaks volumes about Marilyn’s character and her enduring love for her mother, despite their complicated history. Through it all, Marilyn remained deeply connected to her roots, carrying the weight of her family’s struggles while shining brightly on the world stage.
