Happy Birthday, Marilyn Monroe

She was born Norma Jeane Mortenson, but she left her mark as Marilyn Monroe—the sinuous blonde bombshell who cast a spell on all those she encountered. Among her admirers were Andy Warhol and John F. Kennedy, the latter whom she sang to at his 45th birthday party (watch the video at right and see her song accompanied by his five-foot birthday cake). But today, the birthday wishes all go to Marilyn. “Imperfection is beauty,” she once notoriously said. “Madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”