Marilyn Monroe was introduced to the second husband through an unexpected intermediary – the star of “I Love Lucy.”
The 25-year-old was having dinner with her agent, Norman Brokaw, when they were approached by William Frawley, who played Fred Mertz in the sitcom. He had an offer the actress couldn't refuse.
“(My father) took her to a TV show called 'Lights, Camera, Action,' which was a showcase for up-and-coming talent,” Norman's son, Joel Brokaw, told Fox News Digital. “(It was) a live show in Hollywood that all the casting agents could tune in to watch. They went and did this TV show, and then he said, 'Let's get down the street and go to The Hollywood Brown Derby and have a TV show meal.' It was the place to be seen.”
Marilyn Monroe had no idea who Joe DiMaggio was when they met in 1952. (Getty Images)
“It didn't take long before they were noticed,” Joel said. “William Frawley… came to the table and said… 'I'm having dinner with Joe D. He would like to meet the young lady. “We'll stop by your table after we're done.”
“Marilyn turned to my father and said, 'Who is Joe Dee?' She had no idea Who was Joe DiMaggio? She was clearly not a baseball fan. So, he had to give her a quick history on the importance of Joe DiMaggio.”
According to Hollywood lore, Joe DiMaggio was reading the newspaper when he saw a photo of Marilyn Monroe wearing a baseball uniform. He was smitten. (Getty Images)
Brokaw, who represented Elvis Presley, Clint Eastwood and many other major stars, died in 2016 at the age of 89. Joel has written a new memoir about the late patriarch, “Marilyn's leadership” Which details how he went from working in the mailroom of the William Morris Agency to becoming its CEO.
Joel Brokaw's book “Marilyn's Leadership” is out now. (Lyons Press)
DiMaggio, who was 12 years Monroe's senior, had just retired from the New York Yankees. He was out to eat with his best friend when he found himself entranced by the blonde beauty.
Brokaw did not miss his opportunity to help bring the two together.
“(My father and Marilyn) finished their meal first,” Joel said. “They went to the table, and the rest is history.”
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William Frawley played Fred Mertz in the 1950s sitcom “I Love Lucy.” (CBS via Getty Images)
Joel said his father met Monroe through his uncle, Hollywood talent agent Johnny Hyde. In her book “My Story” Monroe said Hyde was in love with her and asked her to marry him.
“If you look at all the stories that have been written about Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Hyde is a standout chapter,” Joel explained. “He was the top agent who believed in Marilyn. He lived with her, too. He staked his entire reputation on developing her career.”
Hollywood agent Johnny Hyde wanted to marry his client, rising star Marilyn Monroe. (worldwide)
“At the time, a lot of his peers' attitudes were, 'This is his girlfriend, and she's blonde this year,'” Joel said. “A lot of people didn't see anything really special in her. But finally, at the end of his life, he got her a contract with 20th Century Fox. At that point, my father had just been promoted to junior agent.”
Marilyn Monroe with her agent Johnny Hyde, circa 1949. (worldwide)
Joel said Hyde had a “really bad heart condition,” which prevented him from taking his dream client to his jobs. That's when Brokaw intervened.
“He had to take her to her auditions, which were $55 a job, which was the SAG minimum,” Joel explained. “He took her to acting classes, went to premieres and TV shows she was doing. He spent a lot of time with her.
Watch: 'I Love Lucy' star who played matchmaker between Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio: author
“From what he told me about her, they handled it very well. He really liked her. He thought she was incredibly smart. They had a great relationship.”
Norman Brokaw went on to represent Marilyn Monroe. (Brokaw family)
Hyde died in 1950 at the age of 55.
It was 1952 when Brokaw and Monroe walked up to DiMaggio's table to say hello. DiMaggio and Monroe continued to date for about two years before getting hitched at San Francisco City Hall in 1954.
Several months After the couple said “I do” Brokaw received a phone call. It was from DiMaggio. According to the book, Monroe was no longer his client at that time.
Joe DiMaggio hoped Marilyn Monroe would become a housewife. She had other plans. (AFP via Getty Images)
“Joe DiMaggio got advice from my father that came at a very critical time in their marriage,” Joel said. “Joe really wanted Marilyn to be a housewife in the house. He was getting more and more disturbed by Marilyn's fame and presence in public.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio's marriage was said to be tumultuous before they finally ended it. (Underwood Archive/Getty Images)
“So my father said to him, ‘I don’t know a woman who can convince you not to go out and bat for the fifty-sixth game in a row. “And I don't know a man who could convince a young actress not to star in a movie with Clark Gable or Spencer Tracy.”
“He made that light bulb go on in Joe DiMaggio's mind,” Joel said. “I credit this advice with keeping the marriage a little longer…and it also cemented the lifelong friendship between my father and Joe DiMaggio.”
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Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio's marriage lasted nine months. (New York Daily News archive via Getty Images.)
The power couple's marriage lasted only nine months. Monroe filed for divorce from DiMaggioCiting “mental cruelty”.
Brokaw and Monroe met in a unique way back in 1962.
At that time, Joel's mother was hospitalized for schizophrenia. Brokaw needed someone to help him care for his children. He suggested Monroe's psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson, who also worked with Joel's mother, housekeeper Eunice Murray.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio reconnected in 1961, a year before her death. (Getty Images)
“She was someone he put with a lot of his patients to help them deal with their daily responsibilities and monitor them,” Joel explained. “A few weeks ago, Eunice Murray walked in and found Marilyn Monroe dead. That was a really strange episode in my life.”
Dame Eunice Murray, the late Marilyn Monroe's housekeeper, told reporters that the actress did not appear suicidal. (Getty Images)
“I really liked Ms. Murray,” Joel said. “But I also felt like the energy was foreign to her… That was part of my upbringing in Hollywood — a lot of strange things.”
Monroe died of a barbiturate overdose in 1962. She was 36 years old. It was DiMaggio, who reentered her life in 1961, who planned her funeral.
“He had an undying love for her his whole life,” Joel said.
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Joe DiMaggio's last words were: “I'll finally get to see Marilyn.” (Getty Images)
DiMaggio delivered fresh flowers to Monroe's grave twice a week for 20 years. He outlived his ex-wife by nearly four decades. He died in 1999 At the age of 84.
DiMaggio's lawyer later said that his last reported words were: “I will finally be able to see Marilyn.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
