The Enigmatic Connection Between Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe
When we think of the golden age of Hollywood and the birth of Rock and Roll, two names inevitably come to mind: Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. These towering icons of twentieth-century pop culture died tragically young but left behind an indelible mark on the world. Marilyn was just 36 when she died on 4 August 1962, and Elvis passed away aged 42 on 16 August 1977. Today, their stars burn brighter than ever as both continue to captivate new audiences with their talent, charisma, glamour and mystique.
But did these two legends ever cross paths?
According to Joe Esposito, Elvis’ close friend and road manager, Elvis and Marilyn met briefly at Paramount Studios, Hollywood in June 1960. She was 34 years old, trapped in a failing marriage and completing work on the movie, ‘Let’s Make Love.’ He was 25, just released from the US Army and filming the movie, ‘G.I. Blues.’ Their chance encounter in a studio corridor lasted just a few minutes. Esposito later recalled that,
“(Elvis) and I were walking to the dressing room, and she was walking towards us at the same time, and that’s when he met her. It was just a small, nice little conversation. He gave her a hug and all that stuff… probably for about three minutes, and that was it.”
While their conversation that day remains a mystery, it would appear that the Queen of the Silver Screen captivated the King of Rock and Roll with her beauty and charm. Many years later, a handwritten letter by Elvis, expressing his admiration for Marilyn, was discovered. Although certainly not proof of a romantic connection, it does at least suggest that they were on friendly terms. Perhaps each could see elements of their own personal journey in the other.
Living under the harsh glare of constant media attention, Elvis and Marilyn certainly shared a connection that would have given them a unique insight into each other’s worlds. Both had come from humble, working-class backgrounds and experienced significant difficulties before finding fame. Marilyn’s childhood trauma was emotional. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, she spent most of her childhood in foster homes and an orphanage due to her mother’s unstable mental health. This instability and consistent rejection made a lasting impression on her throughout her life. By contrast, Elvis’ childhood hardships were economic. He had the benefit of growing up with supportive parents who encouraged his musical aspirations despite severe financial difficulties. Neither forgot these raw childhood experiences, which shaped their respective paths and helped them to overcome the challenges they faced along the way.
In addition to their good looks, charisma and sex appeal, both experienced rapid fame and public adulation very early in their careers. This led to intense public scrutiny of every aspect of their professional and personal lives, fuelled by gossip columnists and tabloids who traded in salacious rumours and unfounded speculation. Yet, by recognising how far they had come and taking control of their respective destinies, both Elvis and Marilyn kept themselves grounded and worked through their difficulties to become the biggest stars the world has ever seen.
By coincidence, the film careers of both Marilyn and Elvis were managed by the same Hollywood talent agency. In 1949, Johnny Hyde, the Vice President of the William Morris Agency, spotted Marilyn at the Racquet Club in Palm Springs and promptly signed her up. He helped her to secure small parts in films and negotiated a contract with 20th Century Fox. After Hyde died in 1950, the agency continued to manage her television appearances and other professional engagements.
In 1955, Marilyn made the bold decision to start her own film production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, to give herself more control over her career. Unhappy with being constantly typecast in ‘blonde bombshell’ roles, she wanted more artistic freedom over the work she took. This revolutionary move made her a trailblazer for women in a typically misogynistic industry and enabled her to negotiate a better contract with Fox, which made her the most powerful actress in Hollywood.
Despite never writing a song, Elvis’ ability to reinterpret different musical genres and bring them to new audiences made him the best-selling solo artist in history and one of the most successful entertainers of all time. While his music career was managed by the flamboyant and charismatic Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis signed a contract with the William Morris Agency in 1956 to represent him in movies. Like Marilyn, it was also his first contract with a talent agency, and they helped him to make a successful transition into the world of film. He went on to make 31 feature films that grossed millions, which made him the highest-paid actor in Hollywood.
With two of the hottest stars on the planet on their books, it would certainly have benefited the William Morris Agency to have put Elvis and Marilyn together. However, any attempt to do so failed. It has been said that, despite their nine-year age difference, Elvis wanted Marilyn to star as his leading lady in one of his films. This dynamite pairing would have guaranteed box office success as Marilyn had proven herself a versatile singer, dancer and actress in comedies, musicals and dramatic roles. Their sex appeal was the driving force behind their careers, and any on-screen pairing would have only enhanced their already iconic status.
However, for reasons which we will probably never know, Marilyn always declined the opportunity to star alongside Elvis or make any public appearances with him. Nevertheless, it is a testament to their enduring popularity that, even decades after their deaths, the idea that their paths once crossed continues to capture the public imagination and adds to the allure and mystique of their legacies.
