The chilling reason Joe DiMaggio sent flowers to Marilyn Monroe’s grave for 20 years

The famous baseball player Joe DiMaggio and the great Hollywood beauty Marilyn Monroe had a brief but passionate marriage.

Joe’s intense love for Marilyn persisted long after her untimely death in 1962, even after their widely publicized divorce.

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He arranged for roses to be delivered to her grave three times a week for more than twenty years in a heartfelt and enigmatic act.

A year after the Yankees icon retired from professional baseball, in 1952, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio went on a blind date. This was the start of a romance that would quickly become one of Hollywood’s most well-known love stories.

However, because the blonde movie star was so apprehensive to start dating Joltin’ Joe, their paths hardly ever crossed. Marilyn was afraid he was going to be that clichéd, egotistical sportsman. Regretfully, her first concerns regarding DiMaggio turned out to be valid.

However, let’s go back to the beginning.

Chaotic wedding

The romance between Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio is regarded as epic because it united two of the most recognizable personalities of their eras: the best baseball player and the brightest star in Hollywood.

Their 1954 San Francisco wedding, which represented the height of Hollywood glitz and the American Dream, seemed like a dream come true.

“One of America’s ultimate romantic fantasies: the tall, dark, and handsome baseball hero wooing and winning the woman who epitomized Hollywood beauty, glamour, and sexuality,” was how The New York Times put their relationship.

They were simply two regular people who fell in love with each other, despite having two of the most well-known faces in the world.

She was a free-spirited woman whose background had been sculpted by foster homes, and Joe was a devout Roman Catholic Italian guy who loved the security of his small family and home. Though she didn’t understand baseball and he didn’t care for Hollywood’s glitzy lifestyle, their paths nevertheless intersected, and passions burned.

In Spoto’s 1993 biography of Marilyn, she stated of DiMaggio, “I expected a flashy New York sports type, and instead I met this reserved guy who didn’t make a pass at me right away.” “He showed me that I was unique.”

Marilyn was viewed as “a beautiful blonde showgirl who might double as a devoted mother and homemaker” by the well-known former New York Yankee slugger.

Since they were both from prior marriages, not everyone was enthralled with Marilyn and DiMaggio’s relationship. Specifically, the church had a lot to say. Their wedding was therefore a little more low-key than it may have been if it had been their first time getting married.

Being the wife of a terrific man was something I had never imagined or intended on doing. More than Joe had ever considered being married to a lady who appeared to be all publicity. The fact is, we had a lot in common. Like Joe’s brilliance, my publicity comes from the outside. It is devoid of anything.

”I don’t want to rush you..”

The couple’s wedding plans had been the subject of weeks of curiosity back in 1954, with the media speculating about possible venues. Many thought the couple would say their vows in the flashy environs of Las Vegas.

Nonetheless, the pair decided to get married at Judge Charles S. Peery’s City Hall in San Francisco, Joe DiMaggio’s hometown. Journalists gathered outside the premises far in advance of the couple’s arrival, despite the venue’s best efforts to remain hidden.

When Monroe and DiMaggio did make an appearance, a crush of photographers and reporters met them. Marilyn, ever the professional, responded to their inquiries. Conversely, the renownedly private DiMaggio maintained his composure and made few remarks to the excited media.

DiMaggio said, “All right guys, I don’t want to rush you, but we have to get started with the ceremony.”

The celebs exchanged vows in a private ceremony that was attended by a select few. The true test, though, was when they attempted to exit City Hall.

In the hallways, throngs of people surrounded the newlyweds, and outside, more than 300 fans flocked to get a picture or a signature from the famous pair. In addition, reporters were itching to find out where DiMaggio and Monroe would be spending their honeymoon. But the Yankees star responded in a mysterious way, and the duo jumped into a waiting Cadillac.

“East, west, south, and north,” DiMaggio answered.

It was later discovered that the pair first went to Japan after spending their honeymoon in Idyllwild, California.

Even as newlyweds, they were unable to put their jobs on hold entirely. DiMaggio helped train Japanese baseball players while they were there. Marilyn Monroe, meanwhile, took a plane to Korea, where she entertained 100,000 U.S. Marines with a concert and song. For the first time, Joe understood how much Marilyn’s celebrity eclipsed his own.

He was used to being the focus of attention as an American hero and sports icon, but he was surprised to discover that Marilyn was the one who piqued everyone’s curiosity.

She told DiMaggio with excitement when she got back from Korea.

It was fantastic, Joe. You’ve never heard support like this.

“Yeah, I have,” he answered.

Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe children

DiMaggio was very clear from the beginning of their marriage that he wanted to avoid the spotlight. The stars desired to start a family, but Marilyn never considered herself to be a housewife.

Despite having endometriosis, Monroe revealed in her memoirs that she and DiMaggio had a few interests, including a wish to have children.

After coming back to the United States, the couple made a home in Beverly Hills and made an effort to live a typical life. But early indicators pointed to the fact that their circumstances were anything but ideal or typical. DiMaggio was a very private person who never felt completely at home in Los Angeles, but that wasn’t the main problem in the marriage.

Ultimately, however, DiMaggio’s drinking, jealousy, and incapacity to deal with Monroe’s notoriety caused their marriage to fall apart. He also mistreated Marilyn physically, which only made things worse.

Sportswriter Jim Cannon famously called DiMaggio “the shyest public man I ever met,” and it was said that he desired a stay-at-home wife.

He found Marilyn’s burgeoning celebrity difficult to deal with, and he detested being questioned or photographed. However, Monroe desired to broaden her cultural horizons with a spouse who shared her passion in her career.

The Seven Year Itch, a comedy directed by Billy Wilder in which Monroe plays a lady who becomes the focus of her married neighbor’s (Tom Ewell) sexual fantasies, was the culmination of the story, which began production in September 1954. The movie was filmed in Hollywood, but the studio constructed a well-known sequence on Manhattan’s Lexington Avenue to gain additional publicity.

Marilyn stood above a subway grate, her white dress billowing upward in the wind from the passing trains. The legendary shoot gathered close to 2,000 viewers over the course of many hours. When The Seven Year Itch debuted in June 1955, it became one of the biggest box office hits of the year and one of Marilyn Monroe’s most well-known scenes, along with the subway grate scene.

The last straw

But her spouse found the famous moment to be extremely unsettling. Witnesses from that era claimed DiMaggio watched from the sidelines as fans stared in awe at Monroe’s renowned legs. It was eventually disclosed by his friends that he detested the entire thing.

The legendary baseball player “had the look of death,” according to director Billy Wilder, despite some claims that he displayed no public emotion during the shooting

He was evidently troubled by the scene of the skirt-blowing. Because Joltin’ Joe totally lost his cool moments after the filming was over. A furious dispute broke out in the theater foyer, resulting in a ferocious yelling duel between Monroe and DiMaggio.

Monroe subsequently revealed, “He said that exposing my legs, thighs, and even my crotch was the last straw.”

Reason for divorce

Their outward portrayal of a lavish lifestyle contrasted sharply with their inner suffering following the shooting of The Seven Year Itch. Except for the two parties involved, nobody truly knows what transpired later that evening. However, Monroe was spotted the following day with bruises on her arms, which led to reports that DiMaggio had turned aggressive.

On October 6, 1954, Monroe announced her separation from DiMaggio as she left her Beverly Hills home on North Palm Drive. She was obviously distraught and sad.

Citing “mental cruelty,” she filed for divorce from the former baseball star. By then, she was 27 and he was 39.

A few weeks later, the famous blonde, whose voice frequently broke with emotion, complained to Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Orlando Rhodes about the moodiness of the former New York Yankee star, even going so far as to forbid her from entertaining friends.

Witnesses, members of the press, and lawyers who had traveled from various parts of the courthouse filled the courtroom to watch the 29-year-old movie star testify. Tears stained her makeup as she spoke.

Monroe said, “I voluntarily offered to give up my work in hopes that it would solve our problems—but it didn’t change his attitude.” Monroe was wearing a form-fitting black wool suit with a plunging neckline.

Judge Rhodes heard testimony for barely fifteen minutes before granting the divorce.

”He was cold”

Although “The Yankee Clipper” didn’t challenge the divorce, he was heartbroken and apologized to Monroe in letters, expressing his unwavering love for her.

“I want to be with you and I adore you. Regaining your trust is the only thing I could possibly want. DiMaggio wrote, “Watching you cry in front of all those people made my heart break even more.”

“I don’t know what you think of me, but I can assure you that I truly love you, deep down, regardless of anything.”

Marilyn Monroe was questioned about her true motivation for divorcing sometime after the divorce.

For the justifications I stated in court. Many women I know, when they file for divorce, give reasons that aren’t really there. However, I spoke the truth.

He didn’t converse with me. He felt chilly. He didn’t care about me as a person or an artist. He was against me making pals of my own. HR was against me finishing my task. Rather than conversing with me, he watched television,” she stated to The Sacramento Union in 1960.

Personal crisis

Marilyn Monroe had a personal crisis after her divorce. She started going through psychoanalysis, quit Fox, and was tired of “the same old sex roles.”

In an attempt to start again, she relocated to Manhattan in 1955.

She stayed in contact with DiMaggio in spite of the turmoil. She also dated playwright Arthur Miller and actor Marlon Brando around this time; the two would get married in 1956.

Marilyn appeared disoriented and melancholy following her 1961 divorce from Arthur Miller. She dealt with a number of health issues, maybe bipolar disorder and drug addiction. She also suffered health problems like gallbladder disease and endometriosis in addition to these hardships.

DiMaggio reappeared in Monroe’s life during this turbulent period, and their relationship only got closer with time. DiMaggio assisted Marilyn in getting back on her feet after she was admitted to the hospital in 1961 following a nervous breakdown.

That same year, he was there for her as she awoke following an urgent gallbladder operation. Monroe dated his friend Frank Sinatra, despite his steadfast support during her lowest points.

In DiMaggio’s life, no woman ever took Marilyn’s place.

DiMaggio reconnected with Marilyn prior to her untimely death. DiMaggio reportedly revealed their intention to be married again to close friends. Jerry Coleman, a former teammate, even remembered seeing them together in Marilyn’s latter years.

“I was walking down Park Avenue to get to my car while I was performing in New York.” And as I saw them descend, Joe had his arm around Marilyn and his head held high. And they haven’t even seen me; they’re just daydreaming. I therefore did not pause to say “hello.” Coleman remarked, “I thought he was happy as he was, leave him alone.”

Marilyn dies

Marilyn Monroe was only 36 years old when the news of her passing broke and traveled over the world, shocking everyone. However, no one was more upset than Joe DiMaggio, her ex-husband, who received the devastating news with the greatest of sadness.

Her death’s circumstances were a little enigmatic, which has given rise to many conspiracy theories. Authorities at the time determined that her death was most likely a suicide.

Marilyn’s psychiatrist and housekeeper found out later that she had died alone. With her hand lying on the phone, she was discovered dead in her bed. A little pharmacy filled with opiates, sedatives, tranquilizers, “speed pills,” and sleeping pills lay jumbled on the nightstand, an eerie reminder of her troubles.

There was no family for the pop culture icon to inform. They had no idea who to call when the cops arrived. Finally, they gave DiMaggio a call.

The baseball great assumed responsibility for Marilyn Monroe’s last plans, claiming her body and planning the burial with the assistance of her manager and half-sister.

Barred Sinatra and The Kennedys

DiMaggio planned a small, private service in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, inviting just 33 guests in an effort to keep the event intimate and private. He wished to divert attention from her popularity, which he felt was what had finally brought her down, at the funeral.

Despite DiMaggio’s insistence that only members of Hollywood’s upper classes would be permitted to attend, numerous people in the business attempted to secure permission to attend. DiMaggio stood firm and responded in spite of the pressure.

“Tell them that she would still be here if it weren’t for them,” DiMaggio commanded.

DiMaggio forbade the Kennedy family from being present at the funeral as well. Since Monroe’s mother was in a sanatorium at the time and was unaware of her daughter’s passing, she didDiMaggio decided not to let his old buddy Frank Sinatra attend the funeral as well, believing that Sinatra had contributed irresponsibly to Marilyn’s decline.

“Joe’s funeral arrangements for Marilyn served as a signal to the world that he and Marilyn were still a couple,” stated Rock Positano, the author of Dinner With DiMaggio, to History.com.

Strong feelings came to the surface during the event when Joe DiMaggio started crying. He was the last person to leave the tiny chapel, overcome with grief.

The New York Yankee slugger stooped down to kiss his ex-wife on the lips and said, “I love you, I love you.”

His painful farewell closed a poignant chapter on the unfortunate life of the blonde bombshell and movie icon.

Why he sent fresh, red roses

It’s obvious that DiMaggio was troubled by Marilyn’s passing for the remainder of his life.

As stated in Dinner With DiMaggio, “I’ll go to my grave regretting and blaming myself for what happened to her.”

“Afterwards, Sinatra informed me that Marilyn loved me, even in the end.”

He hardly talked about her and never got married again. DiMaggio made it plain that Marilyn’s name was never to be brought up when he did date other women.

DiMaggio placed flowers on Marilyn’s tomb for 20 years in remembrance of her. Three times a week, roses were delivered to Monroe’s tomb at Pierce Brothers Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

DiMaggio gave clear directions to the florist who fulfilled his 1962 order: “Three times a week… forever.”

Marilyn Monroe’s close friend and actor Brad Dexter has his own idea about why DiMaggio never really let go of her.

“I genuinely think that throughout the years that [DiMaggio] paid those flower-laying visits to her grave site, he was still in love with her, but he also [did it] out of a great sense of guilt,” Brad Dexter stated to PBS. Because, in my opinion, he played a part in her death. I genuinely believe that they would have had a happy marriage if he had acted differently. He felt guilty for destroying it.

DiMaggio’s last words

In March 1999, Joe DiMaggio, who smoked three packs of cigarettes a day, passed away at the age of 84 from lung cancer.

Morris Engelberg, DiMaggio’s attorney, claimed that the baseball player passed away speaking Marilyn Monroe’s name.

As he lay on his deathbed, he muttered:

“I’ll get to see Marilyn at last.”

It was disclosed by Morris Engelberg in Vanity Fair that DiMaggio had previously spoken out about his affections for Marilyn.

One evening, as we were discussing his sickness on the patio, he said, “I don’t feel guilty about dying. I’ll see Marilyn again, at least.

Additionally, Engelberg disregarded a report from the New York Daily News, which quoted a hospice worker to assert that DiMaggio had no final words.