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Remembering Marilyn Monroe on her 100th birthday: ‘She was just Norma Jeane’

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Honoring Marilyn’s big 100

Today would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday. Before The New York Post, I wrote such books as the as-told-to-me autobio of Lee Strasberg, who created the Actors Studio. His pupil and friend: Marilyn. So I knew her. So did her friend James Haspiel, who has written several books about her.

James Haspiel: “Here to film ‘The Seven Year Itch,’ she was at the St. Regis. Hundreds waited to see her. Outside, in front of me, signing autographs, posing for pictures, she got herself toward a taxi cab. At 9, back at the hotel. So was this young fan — me — who, throughout her success, became her go-to, close, devoted friend.

“She got to know me. One day, she opened the taxi door and said, ‘Jimmy, like to drive with me?’ That began our eight years. I discovered Marilyn Monroe didn’t exist. Like a costume on Halloween, it was turn it on, turn it off. Basically she was just Norma Jeane.”

Cindy: Did she ever talk to you, which, I mean, in my view it’s not possible, but did she ever........

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