Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Hollywood, and Me
By Terry Karger with Jay Margolis and Forward by Michael Reagan
Marilyn Monroe didn’t have a family to call her own. She didn’t know her father and her mother was institutionalized when Marilyn was seven. Author Terry Karger first met Marilyn in 1948 when the 21-year-old actress arrived at Terry’s house with her father, Frederick Karger Jr. From that day on, Marilyn was a part of Terry’s family and remained that way until Marilyn’s tragic death.
Terry’s grandmother also lived in the household and welcomed Marilyn into the family she longed for. Fred Karger became her singing coach as Maril (she was fondly referred to by Fred and Terry) had just been signed by Columbia Picture’s Harry Cohn. While Fred admitted he loved Maril and she loved him, he knew a romantic relationship would not work. That being said, they remained friends until her life tragically ended.
This memoir is a love story. Terry loved Maril, Maril loved Terry. They kept in touch, even when things got rough for Marilyn. She did take pills and she also drank. But on the night she died, there were many theories, but no conclusions. From the information from those who knew her intimately and as well as some damning information from the coroner’s report makes her death by suicide highly unlikely.
This book is so interesting, no matter which side of the fence you are concerning Marilyn’s death. It is interesting to read about the actors and actresses, affairs and weddings, and subsequent divorces. Accompanying the biography are fabulous pictures from the author’s personal collection as well as others.
I highly recommend My Maril, if you are a film buff it is a must read. It is well written and very interesting on many levels. The inside peek into the lives of the rich and famous is always intriguing. The addition of the personal pictures adds icing to the cake of the who’s who in Hollywood during the 1950s and 1960s.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from publicist Scott Lorenz and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2023 Laura Hartman