Marilyn Monroe (1926 – 1962)   
    
    
   

Norma Jeane Mortenson—who would later become better
known around the world as the glamorous actress and sex
symbol Marilyn Monroe—was born on June 1, 1926, in Los
Angeles, California. She was later given her mother’s name,
and baptized Norma Jeane Baker.

After a tumultuous childhood—both maternal grandparents
and her mother were committed to mental institutions, and
she lived with a string of foster families. Norma Jeane married
one of her neighbors, James Dougherty, when she was 16. He
later joined the Merchant Marines and was sent to the South
Pacific during World War II. A photographer “discovered” the
naturally photogenic Norma Jeane while she was working in
a California munitions factory, and she was soon launched
into a successful modeling career. She divorced Dougherty
in June 1946 and soon after signed a film contract with 20th
Century Fox.

1961

The Seven Year Itch, a 1955 romantic comedy film
directed by Billy Wilder.

Actor John Beasley, who played a kindly school bus driver
on the TV drama "Everwood" and appeared in dozens of
films dating back to the 1980s, died Tuesday after a "brief
and unexpected illness" at a hospital in his hometown of
Omaha.  

Beasley was born on June 26, 1943 in Omaha, Nebraska 
and started acting at the age of 44 after working with the 
railroad as a clerk. He was 79.

Prolific actor and director Clint Eastwood was born on this day,
May 31, 1930, in San Francisco, California.

He and his family moved a number of times before settling in
Piedmont, California. reports

Eastwood was drafted during the Korean War and stationed
in California — and upon his discharge from the Army in 1953,
Eastwood moved to Hollywood.

Likely best-known for portraying police Inspector "Dirty" Harry
Callahan, the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker started his
noteworthy career with a screen test with Universal in 1954 —
which netted him a 40-week contract. 

1971

1966

1992

On this day in history, May 30, 1868, the first Decoration Day —
a precursor to Memorial Day — was celebrated.

Originally known as Decoration Day, from early traditions of
decorating graves with flags, flowers and wreaths, Memorial
Day is a day for remembrance to honor those who have died
in service to our country.