Editing Joe DiMaggio (section)

=== Marilyn Monroe ===
[[File:Marilyn Monroe Joe DiMaggio January 1954.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|DiMaggio with wife [[Marilyn Monroe]], January 1954]]
According to her autobiography ''My Story'', co-written with [[Ben Hecht]],<ref>[http://www.cursumperficio.net/CD/NJ/Pap/Oth/CBHecht1.jpg "'My Story' Contract" (March 16, 1954)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101753/http://www.cursumperficio.net/CD/NJ/Pap/Oth/CBHecht1.jpg |date=December 24, 2017 }} ''cursumperficio.net'' June 6, 2017</ref> American actress [[Marilyn Monroe]] originally did not want to meet DiMaggio, fearing he was a stereotypically arrogant athlete. However, they did meet in [[Los Angeles]] while on a [[blind date]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Alexandra |first=Rae |date=January 10, 2023 |title=How Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio's Tumultuous Marriage Began in San Francisco |url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13922524/marilyn-monroe-joe-dimaggio-san-francisco-city-hall-wedding-1954 |access-date=June 11, 2024 |website=www.kqed.org |language=en}}</ref> After dating for two years,<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |date=2014-01-14 |title=Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio: The End of a Marriage, 1954 |url=https://www.life.com/people/tearful-photos-from-the-day-marilyn-divorced-dimaggio-in-1954/ |access-date=June 11, 2024 |magazine=LIFE |language=en-US}}</ref> they eloped at [[San Francisco City Hall]] on January 14, 1954.<ref name=":0" /> Although she suffered from [[endometriosis]], Monroe and DiMaggio each expressed to reporters their desire to start a family.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Widjojo |first=Conchita |date=July 28, 2022 |title=Inside Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio's Tumultuous Relationship That Took an Unexpected Turn |url=https://wwd.com/feature/marilyn-monroe-joe-dimaggio-relationship-details-1235264615/ |access-date=June 12, 2024 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}</ref>

The union was troubled from the start by DiMaggio's jealousy, controlling attitude, and him physically abusing Monroe,{{sfnm|1a1=Spoto|1y=2001|1pp=208, 222–223, 262–267, 292|2a1=Churchwell|2y=2004|2pp=243–245|3a1=Banner|3y=2012|3pp=204, 219–221}} as well as her busy life as an actress.<ref name=":3" /> A violent fight entailing physical assault between the couple occurred immediately after Monroe filmed the skirt-blowing scene in ''[[The Seven Year Itch]]'' that was filmed on September 14, 1954, in front of Manhattan's Trans-Lux 52nd Street Theater, as DiMaggio disapproved of the scene.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/sep/15/marilyn-monroe-seven-year-itch-dress|title='That silly little dress': the story behind Marilyn Monroe's iconic scene|first=Anne T.|last=Donahue|newspaper=The Guardian |date=September 15, 2014|access-date=July 21, 2019|via=www.theguardian.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806121617/https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/sep/15/marilyn-monroe-seven-year-itch-dress|archive-date=August 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Then [[20th Century Fox]]'s [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] correspondent Bill Kobrin told the ''[[The Desert Sun|Palm Springs Desert Sun]]'' that it was director [[Billy Wilder]]'s idea to turn the shoot into a media circus. Monroe and DiMaggio then had a "yelling battle" in the theater lobby.<ref>{{cite news|title=Meet Marilyn Monroe photographer Saturday |url=http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060626/UPDATE/60626018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213031710/http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060626%2FUPDATE%2F60626018 |archive-date=December 13, 2007 |first=Denise |last=Goolsby |newspaper=The Desert Sun |date=June 26, 2006 |access-date=August 25, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After returning from [[New York City]] to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] in October 1954, Monroe filed for divorce from DiMaggio after only nine months of marriage.{{sfnm|1a1=Summers|1y=1985|1pp=103–105|2a1=Spoto|2y=2001|2pp=290–295|3a1=Banner|3y=2012|3pp=224–225}} However, she was devastated to leave DiMaggio, and throughout the procedures in court, she could be seen weeping openly.<ref name=":1" />

DiMaggio was also devastated, and wrote to Monroe, saying, "I love you and want to be with you…There is nothing I would like better than to restore your confidence in me…My heart split even wider seeing you cry in front of all those people."<ref name=":0" /> He also wrote, “[I don't] know what your thoughts are about me, but I can tell you I love you sincerely — way deep in my heart, irregardless of anything."<ref name=":0" /> After the divorce, DiMaggio underwent [[therapy]], stopped drinking alcohol, and expanded his interests beyond baseball.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/50-things-you-didnt-know-about-marilyn-monroe-20120803-23kew.html | title=50 things you didn't know about Marilyn Monroe | first=Horatia | last=Harrod | date=August 3, 2012 | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | access-date=February 14, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215075525/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/50-things-you-didnt-know-about-marilyn-monroe-20120803-23kew.html | archive-date=February 15, 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On August 1, 1956, an International News [[wire photo]] of DiMaggio with [[Lee Meriwether]] gave rise to speculation that they were engaged, but DiMaggio biographer [[Richard Ben Cramer]] wrote that it was a rumor started by columnist [[Walter Winchell]]. Monroe biographer [[Donald Spoto]] claimed that DiMaggio was "very close to marrying" [[List of Miss America titleholders|1957 Miss America]] [[Marian McKnight]], who won the crown with a Marilyn Monroe act, but McKnight denied it.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hartsvillemessenger.com/Lifestyles/050520_lifestyles4.php |title=South Carolina's first Miss America, Marian McKnight |newspaper=The Hartsville Messenger |date=May 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060529094422/http://www.hartsvillemessenger.com/Lifestyles/050520_lifestyles4.php |archive-date=May 29, 2006 }}</ref> He was also linked to [[Liz Renay]], [[Cleo Moore]], [[Rita Gam]], [[Marlene Dietrich]], and [[Gloria DeHaven]] during this period, and years later to [[Elizabeth Ray]] and [[Morgan Fairchild]], but he never publicly confirmed any involvement with any woman.

[[File:Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe and Tstsuzo Inumaru.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.9|DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe staying at [[Imperial Hotel, Tokyo|Imperial Hotel]] in Tokyo on their [[honeymoon]]]]
DiMaggio re-entered Monroe's life as her marriage to [[Arthur Miller]] was ending. On February 10, 1961, he secured her release from [[Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic]] in [[Manhattan]]. She joined him in [[Florida]] where he was a batting coach for the [[New York Yankees|Yankees]]. Their "just friends" claim did not stop remarriage rumors from flying. Reporters staked out her Manhattan apartment building. [[Bob Hope]] "dedicated" [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Song]] nominee "[[High Time (film)|The Second Time Around]]" to them at the [[33rd Academy Awards]]. In one of her last interviews, given to [[Redbook]] magazine and published in August 1962, Monroe explained : "I've always been able to count on Joe as a friend after that first bitterness of our parting faded. Believe me, there is no spark to be kindled. I just like being with him and we have a better understanding than we've ever had." <ref>{{Cite news |last=Levy |first=Alan |date=August 1962 |title=Marilyn Monroe : a good, long look at myself |work=Redbook Magazine |pages=76}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Liz |title=Marilyn — 50 years dead but more alive than ever! |url=https://eu.telegram.com/story/news/local/north/2012/08/06/marilyn-8212-50-years-dead/49478691007/ |website=Telegram & Gazette}}</ref>

On August 5, 1962, Monroe was [[Death of Marilyn Monroe|found dead]] in her [[Brentwood, Los Angeles]] home after her housekeeper [[Eunice R. Murray]] telephoned Monroe's psychiatrist, [[Ralph Greenson]]. DiMaggio's son had spoken to Monroe on the phone the night of her death and said she seemed fine.<ref>{{cite magazine | last1=Huber | first1=Robert | date=June 1999 | title=Joe DiMaggio Would Appreciate It Very Much If You'd Leave Him the Hell Alone | magazine=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]}}</ref> Her death was deemed a probable suicide by "Coroner to the Stars" [[Thomas Noguchi]]. It has also been the subject of [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]].

The funeral service was arranged by DiMaggio, Monroe's half-sister [[Berniece Baker Miracle]], and Monroe's business manager Inez Melson.{{sfnm|1a1=Spoto|1y=2001|1pp=594–597|2a1=Banner|2y=2012|2pp=427–428}} He barred Hollywood's elite and members of the [[Kennedy family]] from attending the funeral, including President [[John F. Kennedy]]. He had a half-dozen red roses delivered to her crypt three times a week for 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marriages — The Official Site of Joe DiMaggio |url=https://www.joedimaggio.com/the-man/marriages/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=JoeDiMaggio.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=NYTobit>{{cite news |last=Durso |first=Joseph |title=Joe DiMaggio, Yankee Clipper, Dies at 84 |date=March 9, 1999 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/09/sports/joe-dimaggio-yankee-clipper-dies-at-84.html |access-date=May 25, 2009 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203163318/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/09/sports/joe-dimaggio-yankee-clipper-dies-at-84.html?scp=2&sq |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Oftentimes, he refused to talk about her publicly or otherwise exploit their relationship, and in the rare moments when he did speak to reporters, he was unable to hold back tears. He never married again.<ref name=":0" />

According to DiMaggio's attorney Morris Engelberg, DiMaggio's last words were "I'll finally get to see Marilyn."<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=100802&page=1|title=Report: DiMaggio's Final Words|access-date=September 8, 2014|work=ABC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112194212/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=100802&page=1|archive-date=November 12, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Though DiMaggio's brother [[Dom DiMaggio|Dominic]] challenged Engelberg's version of Joe's final moments and his motives,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/joe-brother-takes-swing-article-1.888177 | title=Joe D's Brother Takes Swing | first=Michael | last=O'Keeffe | work=[[New York Daily News]] | date=August 11, 2000 | access-date=February 14, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215075547/https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/joe-brother-takes-swing-article-1.888177 | archive-date=February 15, 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/joe-morris-final-days-lawyer-crony-isolated-dying-dimaggio-article-1.824484 | title=Joe D & Morris: The Final Days How Lawyer Crony Isolated the Dying DiMaggio | first1=Bill | last1=Madden | author-link1=Bill Madden (sportswriter) | first2=Luke | last2=Cyphers | first3=Michael | last3=O'Keeffe | work=New York Daily News | date=April 25, 1999 | access-date=February 14, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215101106/https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/joe-morris-final-days-lawyer-crony-isolated-dying-dimaggio-article-1.824484 | archive-date=February 15, 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref> Engleberg continuously denied those who questioned DiMaggio's last words, reporting that one night when he and a terminally ill DiMaggio were sitting together, DiMaggio told him, "I don’t feel bad about dying. At least I’ll be with Marilyn again."<ref name=":2" />