Mimosa: Memories of Marilyn & the Making of "The Misfits"

by Ralph L Roberts

Ralph Roberts, actor, masseur, and former Pentagon liaison, could frequently be found in the kitchen of Lee Strasberg’s NYC apartment on Central Park West. One pleasant spring morning he by chance met Marilyn. Not the turned-on public persona of Marilyn Monroe he had crossed paths with in the past, but the honest, casual Marilyn who existed outside the public eye. Thus set in motion the beginnings of a deep friendship that forever changed Ralph, and unquestionably altered the course of his life. The next several years saw him in the Nevada desert with Montgomery Clift and Clark Gable, at the NYC apartment of Lester Markel, grilling at Frank Sinatra’s hilltop home, and on the phone with President Kennedy. Ralph saw Marilyn almost daily, and served as a sympathetic ear and a close friend. He was fiercely protective of his friend and her privacy. This book is a collection of Ralph’s recollections, and a rare and intimate view of Marilyn as the person she was when the cameras were off. Years after her untimely passing, fed up with the many falsehoods printed about his friend, and with the encouragement of Lee Strasberg and May Reis, Ralph set out his honest account of Marilyn Monroe’s last years.

This book is Ralph’s chronicle of his time with Marilyn Monroe from 1959 until her untimely death in 1962. Ralph recounts his behind the scenes experiences with Marilyn and her many circles of friends, giving you an inside look at the deeply layered and very busy Marilyn as she prepared for the next phase of her life – a phase that tragically never came. Ralph gives insight into her thinking through good times and bad. He presents an optimistic and talented woman who not only did great things but was poised to do so much more. Ralph attempts to provide clues as to why events happened as they did, not just for the reader but as a means of coping with the untimely loss of his dear friend Marilyn.

The Amazon hard cover edition was released with a slightly larger 14 point font by reader request, the contents of the book are the same in all versions.

Genres: Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2021

Reviews

[Keith Kropp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, a book by someone very close to Marilyn. Since her death there have been so many books writen by people claiming to be close to Marilyn filled with sensational gossip, slander and outright lies. Conspiracy theories claiming she was murdered by various politicians, gangsters and other nefarious characters abound.

This book is a loosely connected series of glimpes into the life of a very private individual who kept her true friends very close. Over the years the people who really knew Marilyn kept silent and did not write books or give interviews to protect her privacy. In retrospect this was admirable, but highly damaging to Marilyn's reputation.

The truth is Marilyn was a kind, compassionate, keenly intelligent, extremely talented, and private individual who was born into very unfortunate circumstances. The fact that she overcome such overwhelming obstactles to achieve such a lasting legacy is hard to comprehend.

I'm grateful to the authors who were able to assemble the very private series of remembrances of Ralph Roberts into a cohesive whole. Marilyn continues to shine, faults and all, as one of the most fascinating, ephemeral individuals to ever live.

[Rabia Kashmiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book when I was re-reading Berniece Miracles 'My Sister Marilyn' and she had mentioned meeting Ralph Roberts in her book and how wonderful he was etc. I then decided to google Ralph as I thought he must have been someone really close to Marilyn, if she had gone so far as to introduce Berniece to him -given that she was very protective of her sister. I stumbled upon this, and what a wonderful read it has been. What stuck out to me was how Ralph was an important and unique thing in her life: a gentlemen she could trust, who didn't want anything from her and yet was with her in some of the most intimate situations. Ralph Roberts brings Marilyn alive. Yes there were tragic moments in her life but as I feel Ralph shows, she was anything but a victim. She wanted to become a master, continuously improve, took her job seriously, had a great sense of humour (assured: you'll have a good laugh when you read how quick her wit was), and did have friends and family (her sister) that cared deeply for her. What also becomes clear, is that Marilyn was not swayed by fame and money/power as much as people wish to make out. This is evident when Ralph states with other singers and politicians, Marilyn clearly said to him, they don't appeal to me/their not my type and if she did get involved for a one night stand, it wasn't a big deal for her to obsess over who it was. After all let's not forget, she was a big deal back in the day, as she is now. Through Ralph Roberts, we are able to see a real personal glimpse of Marilyn, from someone she valued deeply and vice versa. I think all us Marilyn fans are in debt to Ralph Roberts, Chris Jacob and Hap Roberts for this -thank you :)

[Emma Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really nice story of friendship and a glimpse into the life of someone dealing with such a massive level of fame.

Unlike other books about Marilyn Monroe, this doesn't try to paint her as anything other than a friend of the author. Through little pieces of story, the Marilyn he knew comes to life and a friendship that no doubt would have lasted many more years is at the centre of their retelling.

This doesn't feel like a cash in or an attempt to immortalise a star by their tragic death - it is a fairly reluctant insight into the joy of human connection.

A must-read for any fans of Marilyn Monroe.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

only a real fan will enjoy it for the stories and tidbits that ralph shares. but the writing is not the quality of an actual writer and he was clearly such a loyal friend to her that he beats around teh bush and clearly leaves details out to respect her privacy even after her death. as a fan this is frustrating, but also as a fan this is refreshing- so happy someone in her life continued to have her back to the very end, she didnt have much of that.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was gifted to me by a friend. it’s a collection of musings from a close confidante & friend of marilyn’s, so strangely mundane and deeply intimate, while still feeling distant.