In the 1950s and early '60s, Marilyn Monroe appeared on the cover of
LIFE magazine half a dozen times. Seen all these years later, those covers still say 'superstar.'
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyOybRgIcah2IAcE3fWeBDiil-rMIe0sFxSP_iqdjNt5PcMzQIZenQCnyD8ZOISzfme3LGN0M63hsEvdCJHCitFPeNkIpGoQoQRJbXd4EmtDdJWGXjOVvUYaGBD88hmgXu_Ewh2P2Sps/s1600-rw/marilyn-life-covers-2.jpg) |
LIFE Magazine, April 7, 1952. Marilyn Monroe's debut on the magazine's cover, photographed by Philippe Halsman. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hiBZ_uJY2F7aT9Xgsabr8DlOyZOkheGVNWEIud4gpHRw1CPybLZVmJsQ5zkBA60Cu4gPFXNlUp8mQ4ZlOfjAlH7neOfef2U9GO4rxwgTye3vy3BCuy8FQqQXPjiL0W4P14pnrr-pFKQ/s1600-rw/marilyn-life-covers-3.jpg) |
LIFE Magazine, May 25, 1953. Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell, photographed by Ed Clark. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDYP5kRAIiRxhEt3Ai2Y9MemE28T5zzDs3hUCp_6wgZVuckRUbfBxVh77kKzPykCmGH-9q6X2xB4tGJdtPt-xnrl5m6DHSAwepe52k6QM-Zk5U5Te6imAvEbI-uq7fgbhS_lbvF55ZHA/s1600-rw/marilyn-life-covers-1.jpg) |
LIFE Magazine, April 20, 1959. Marilyn Monroe photographed by Richard Avedon. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1gmohZXAytVxBhYtio0ItoZ0mSYQQ059XeG0UPuq70fy8fzIxDo8mK3sK89vYtbwgjfF6vx3zKYPaX2kZ8cKp8wbAosC74mAOpSk6tw5l-KGxgxuFKUHA15oqK8O6lAIfTC1RMhR85I/s1600-rw/marilyn-life-covers-4.jpg) |
LIFE Magazine, November 9, 1959. Marilyn Monroe, photographed by Philippe Halsman. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_bAx41MyY6OuHs__aagAI1nwrfPFn7ly0OkbcA6S9cO0D4RRBLEs4bJf_GI8Y3ZrK26ehVZ2QSwEck2QMTBlSID-id9vwA4PlI-sQjeRjNnXpojmidD1EvpxVL2KLR2CSP5Pfe9595A/s1600-rw/marilyn-life-covers-5.jpg) |
LIFE Magazine, August 15, 1960. Marilyn Monroe, photographed by John Bryson. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhae3YlioPJbqKdpDrOaCulVjr-jn0ZlV_AE1zpD_30kKQ_jxZBmHbCTs409quG1TKoHBf7g8w6aS6Mt9t5Q18rBd-jwWUa0KBjq9d7P5pMLmjzQLrBHqiLCt_0UImMy2nU_HiaHx8MA/s1600-rw/marilyn-life-covers-6.jpg) |
LIFE Magazine, August 15, 1960. Marilyn Monroe, photographed by Lawrence Schiller. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOU9_hplxFclgnzw3IHRKVrAfSNnTozRWVePKabDqTFdBkz8P04a6nhi1pNEo-UwLBrDe85c92vqDebUEGVJNy_WV2nGphf4uWug7IPFRg2dG4KrSf0s7H9oqKbo8-7rM4KV-xBB-mr9U/s1600-rw/marilyn-life-covers-7.jpg) |
LIFE Magazine, August 17, 1962. Marilyn Monroe, photographed by Lawrence Schiller. |