Marilyn Monroe Had a Long-Lost Sister, and Here’s What Actually Happened Between Them

You may be surprised to learn that Marilyn Monroe had a half-sister, Berniece Baker Miracle. In 1944, they crossed paths, and their extraordinary bond is beautifully captured in Berniece’s memoir, “My Sister Marilyn.” Let’s delve into the heartwarming tale of these two sisters and their enduring connection.

Berniece didn’t know she had a sister.

Berniece Baker Miracle, born on July 30, 1919, had a tumultuous childhood. Her parents, Gladys Pearl Monroe and Jasper Newton “Jap” Baker, divorced when she was just a child. Berniece and her brother Robert were taken by their father to Kentucky, far from their mother. Tragically, Robert passed away when he was just 15, leaving Berniece with unanswered questions about her family.

The truth was relieved.

In 1938, when Berniece was 19, her world changed with a letter from her estranged mother, Gladys. The letter revealed a life-altering secret: Berniece had a 12-year-old sister, Norma Jeane, who would one day become the iconic Marilyn Monroe. This revelation ignited a desire in both sisters to meet, to know each other.

In 1944, the momentous meeting finally happened. Norma Jeane, not yet known as Marilyn Monroe, traveled to Detroit to meet Berniece and her husband, Paris. They were initially nervous about recognizing each other, but as soon as they met, there was no mistaking the connection. Both sisters were struck by their physical resemblance and the immediate bond that formed.

“There was no chance of missing her. None of the passengers looked anything like [her]: tall, so pretty and fresh, and wearing what she had described, a cobalt wool suit and a hat with a heart shape dip in the brim.”

The bond between the two sisters was unbreakable.

Despite Marilyn’s rise to stardom as she adopted her stage name in 1946, the sisters remained close. They confided in each other during challenging times, with Berniece even visiting Marilyn in New York during her surgery. Their sisterly bond was unbreakable.

Even when Marilyn Monroe’s marriage with Arthur Miller faced difficulties, she reached out to her half-sister for a heart-to-heart conversation.

Berniece loses her sister.

Tragically, Marilyn Monroe passed away on August 4, 1962, at the age of 36. Berniece played a crucial role in arranging her sister’s funeral. While Marilyn’s death was officially ruled as suicide, Berniece believed it could have been an accident, as she had recently spoken to her and knew of her future plans. Monroe left Miracle $10,000 in her final will.

Berniece and her daughter, Mona Rae, decided to tell Marilyn’s story themselves, resulting in the touching 1994 memoir, “My Sister Marilyn: A Memoir of Marilyn Monroe.” Despite many others seeking to tell Marilyn’s story, Berniece wanted to ensure her sister’s legacy was depicted truthfully and with love.

Berniece passed away in 2014, 52 years after her half-sister.

To many, Marilyn Monroe is an enduring icon. However, to Berniece Baker Miracle, she was simply a beloved sister who left this world too soon. The remarkable story of these two sisters reminds us of the power of family bonds and love.