Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Dandridge were great friends. However, NO biography of Marilyn Monroe mentions her friendship with this great black actress.
After Dandridge would finish performing with the Desi Arnez band in Hollywood, she would call Monroe, they would talk for hours about their career, problems with men and racism in Hollywood. Dorothy, Marilyn, and Ava Gardener partied together.
Marilyn never tried to hide her friendship with Dorothy. It was simply unpopular for whites to have black friends during segregation. So white media outlets refused to report on their friendship.This may be why Marilyn Monroe biographers are “unaware” of the great friendship these two shared.
Dandridge was also a good friend’s of actor James Dean, she considered Dean a ‘play brother.’ Monroe and Dean tried to shield Dandridge from racism.
Actor Marlon Brando was extremely attracted to Dorothy Dandridge and shocked an audience when he kissed Dandridge on the mouth during an awards ceremony. Interracial mixing in Hollywood; was unheard of in the 1950’s and was looked down upon.
Marilyn Monroe was very ‘black friendly’ and it’s rumored that she tried to talk President John F. Kennedy into doing more for civil rights before her death.
Ironically, Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Dandridge would die in a similiar fashion. Both died of accidental pill overdoses.
- 1 month ago







