Marilyn Monroe died on August 4, 1962. Her death was officially recorded as an acute barbiturate overdose, and the Los Angeles County coroner’s report lists her time of death as approximately 4:25 a.m. Pacific Time on that date. In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement treated the scene as a probable suicide, and no felony charges were filed. This verified explainer clarifies the established timeline, the key medical and investigative findings, and why later speculation has not changed the official status of her death.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of Death | August 4, 1962 | Coroner’s Certificate & Police Reports |
| Time of Death (approx.) | 4:25 a.m. Pacific Time, August 4, 1662 | Investigative records & coroner narrative |
| Location | Los Angeles, California, residence (12305 Fifth Helena Drive) | Los Angeles Police Department logs |
| Official Cause | Acute barbiturate intoxication, undetermined as suicide vs. accidental | Los Angeles County Coroner’s Report |
| Pronounced By | Dr. Ralph F. Greenson, psychiatrist present that morning | Investigative notes & court filings |
| Age at Death | 36 years old | Birth and death certificates |
Timeline of Events on August 3–4, 1962
- Late evening, August 3: Monroe is last seen alive interacting with housekeeper and later with psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Greenson.
- After midnight, 911 call places an unresponsive Monroe on a residential street; officers find her deceased at the scene.
- Early morning, August 4: Coroner’s office arrives and pronounces death at the scene, documenting the proximate cause as barbiturate overdose.
- Subsequent toxicology and narrative reports reinforce the diagnosis of an acute overdose with no clear indication of how the drug was administered.
Medical and Investigative Findings
Toxicology reports indicate a significant level of barbiturates in Monroe’s system, consistent with a lethal oral ingestion. Scene evidence showed pill bottles in the home, and the overall context did not suggest signs of forced entry or foul play. Investigators weighed a range of possibilities, including prescription misadventure and unwitnessed self-administration, but no conclusive evidence pointed to a criminal act. Because the death was inconsistent with, yet not impossible to explain as, a deliberate act, it remained officially undetermined beyond probable suicide in many summaries.
Common Toxicological Details
- Drug class involved: barbiturates (specific compound not always specified in public summaries).
- Blood and gastric content findings supported acute intoxication as the proximate cause.
- No corroborative evidence of additional substances causing synergistic toxicity was reported in mainstream investigative summaries.
The Coroner’s Report and Legal Status
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Certificate recorded Monroe as 36 years old, residing at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive, and listed the manner as undetermined with an underlying cause of acute barbiturate intoxication. In practice, many summaries treat the case as probable suicide based on context, notes, and absence of contrary evidence. However, the formal records do not convert this into a definitive legal conclusion, and the official status in many jurisdictions remains undetermined or classified as suicide by medical examiner judgment rather than criminal adjudication.
Document Titles and Key Lines
- Coroner’s Certificate: Date, time, age, residence, cause.
- Police Log: 911 call, on-scene observation, initial ruling.
- Toxicology Report: Barbiturate levels and interpretation.
Why the Question Persists: Common Points of Confusion
Confusion arises because later books, films, and claims have described alternate theories, including homicide, CIA involvement, and scenarios inconsistent with the original evidence. Repeated speculation can create a perception of unresolved official uncertainty, while the core factual record—date, location, cause, and probable interpretation—has remained consistent across mainstream investigative summaries. Without new, court-admissible evidence, the status of her death remains anchored in the 1962 medical and investigative findings.
Impact and Legacy After the Verified Facts
Monroe’s death on August 4, 1962, intensified public fascination with her life and work and prompted widespread discussion about mental health, prescription drug risks, and the pressures of celebrity. In the decades since, cultural memory has sometimes blurred factual timelines with dramatized narratives. Understanding what is verified—date, cause, and context—helps distinguish enduring public interest from speculative reinterpretations that do not alter the established record.
Summary
Marilyn Monroe died on August 4, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, from an acute barbiturate overdose recorded as undetermined in manner. The coroner, police, and toxicology reports from that period form the basis of the official status, and while speculation has continued, the core facts have remained consistent. Recognizing the verified details clarifies the status of her death and contextualizes ongoing discussion.