Drama, Date Nights and Divorces: 7 Rare Photos From Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio’s Marriage

Despite their rocky relationship, the two remained very close friends up until the actress' death

By Carissa Mosness Updated: July 11, 2025

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That’s because despite their divorce, the pair remained close throughout the rest of Monroe’s life. The actress often relied on her ex-husband when her troubles with mental health began spiraling out of her control. In fact, DiMaggio would go on to make all of the funeral arrangements after her tragic passing in 1962. Take a look below to remember more about Marilyn and Joe’s bittersweet love story as told by these extremely rare photos.

You may now kiss the bride!

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In this photo, Monroe and DiMaggio are seen posing for reporters on their wedding day in 1954, appearing as in love as a couple could be. Notice his protective arm around her waist and how he clutches her hand in his, foreshadowing how protective he was of her—a trait that soon made DiMaggio aggressive and hostile toward Monroe.
Let the honeymoon begin!

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Of course, Monroe and DiMaggio were swamped by reporters outside the San Francisco City Hall as they made their exit on their wedding day. Their relationship had already been under the close eye of the press, who were constantly following them, which neither was too happy about.
‘Smile, honey, the world is watching’

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Although they seemed happy as ever while out together in public, DiMaggio’s frustration with his wife's career, which often took her away from him, along with her sexy image, caused tension early on in their marriage. This soon led to Dimaggio turning violent in their marriage, a fact that wasn't revealed until after they split up.
Lots of love letters lost

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DiMaggio’s obsession with Monroe, whom he addressed as "Mrs. Joe DiMaggio" in the letter above, could be endearing, but was also a large part of what eventually led to their divorce, since we all know the actress hated being controlled and told what to do.
The ‘Seven Year Itch’ causes quite a stir

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The couple's tumultuous relationship infamously came to a boiling point when DiMaggio was visiting his wife on the set of The Seven Year Itch in 1954 and became consumed with anger while they filmed the skirt-blowing scene over and over again. This eventually led to their divorce. But despite citing "mental cruelty" as her cause for divorce, Marilyn, as noted, remained close to her ex-husband. He was even her date to the premiere of The Seven Year Itch, which you can see above.
Friends or foes?

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Despite the divorce, DiMaggio came to Monroe’s aid when she was admitted into a psychiatric clinic in 1961. He facilitated her release from the clinic and brought her along to the Yankees' spring training camp in Florida to relax. You can see a return to their playful relationship in the photo above, which, of course, sparked rumors of remarriage at the time.
Forever together

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When Monroe passed away on August 5, 1962, DiMaggio immediately flew to California from New York in order to identify her remains and arrange the funeral. He then spent the rest of his life making sure roses were delivered to her resting place multiple times a week. According to reports following his death in 1999, DiMaggio’s final words were, "I’ll finally get to see Marilyn."

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