Marilyn Monroe acted.
Marilyn Monroe ( born Norma Jeane Mortenson ; June 1 , 1926 -- August 5 , 1962 ) was an American actress and model . Her last completed film was the drama The Misfits ( 1961 ) . The Misfits is a 1961 American drama film written by Arthur Miller , directed by John Huston , and starring Clark Gable , Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift . The Seven Year Itch is a 1955 American romantic comedy film based on a three-act play with the same name by George Axelrod .