Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson, had a complex family background, and while she often claimed to have no living relatives, she did have a sister, Berniece Baker Miracle, who was the only sibling she maintained a relationship with.
Berniece Baker Miracle
Berniece, born in 1919, was Monroe’s older sister, sharing the same mother, Gladys Baker. The sisters did not meet until 1944, when Monroe was 18. Despite their tumultuous childhoods, they developed a close bond, with Berniece later serving as Monroe’s authorized biographer. After Monroe’s death in 1962, Berniece played a significant role in arranging her funeral and preserving her legacy through her memoir, My Sister Marilyn .
Berniece lived until May 25, 2014, passing away at the age of 94. At the time of her death, she was one of the last living people to have known Monroe personally .
Other Relatives
In addition to Berniece, Monroe had half-siblings. Her mother had another daughter, Jackie, who died young, and Monroe’s father, Charles Stanley Gifford, had other children. This means Monroe may have living relatives through her father’s lineage, although specific details about these relatives are less documented .