Marilyn Monroe 100

+ Dad

The late/great actress Marilyn Monroe turns 100 on June 1st, 2026.

My father, James Haspiel, met Marilyn when he was 16-years old. At their first meeting he asked for a kiss on the cheek and the rest is history. A fan who became a friend, Dad knew Marilyn the last eight years of her life and has written three books on her. His first book, Marilyn - The Ultimate Look at the Legend, tells the story of their relationship and her life and tragic death.

Even though Marilyn became an icon, Dad dedicated a lot of his life defending and honoring her humanity. There’s a lot more I can say about Dad and all the cool people he encountered and knew. Being in the right place at the right time. But most of his stories have been published and/or televised. He is THE authority on MM. You can look him up.

On May 21, 2026, I visited my father in his home and asked if we could spontaneously chat about his old pal, Marilyn, and record it on my smart phone. He agreed.

Here’s a 30+ minute interview with my father talking about his old pal Marilyn regarding her 100th birthday.

Happy 100, Marilyn!

love, Dean

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