Joe DiMaggio was a professional American baseball player. He was married to the Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. 

Andrew Dominik’s Blonde, starring Ana De Armas premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 8. The biopic is a fictionalised account of Monroe’s life, spanning from her childhood to her death. The film is loosely based on Joyce Carol Oates’ 2000 novel, which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

Monroe’s marriages to Joe DiMaggio (Bobby Cannavale) and Arthur Miller (Adrien Brody) are depicted in the book and film as “The Ex-Athlete” and “The Playwright,” respectively. Caspar Phillipson also plays John F. Kennedy, referred to throughout the film as “The President.”

Also Read: 5 best Marilyn Monroe movies

Who was Joe DiMaggio? 

Joe DiMaggio, popularly known as the Yankee Clipper, was born on November 25, 1914, in California to Italian immigrants Giuseppe and Rosalia DiMaggio, who made their living through fishing. 

He dropped out of school at the age of 14 and, at the age of 17, he joined his brother Vincent and learned to play baseball with the minor league San Francisco Seals. Joe’s deal with the San Francisco Giants was purchased by the New York Yankees, who promoted him to the major leagues in 1936. During his rookie season with the Yankees, he batted 323 in the regular season and 346 in the World Series against the New York Giants.

DiMaggio’s personal life

DiMaggio married a budding Hollywood actress Dorothy Arnold on November 19, 1939. Almost 20,000 well-wishers jammed the street to watch the newlyweds. The couple was soon blessed with a beautiful boy- Joseph Paul DiMaggio Jr. However, their marriage did not last for long and the duo separated in 1944.

However, ten years later, the baseball star found love in America’s Dream Girl – Marilyn Monroe. The couple got married in 1954. However, Monroe alleged that DiMaggio’s controlling and abusive behaviour was affecting the star’s career. Despite the fact that their marriage lasted only a year, the couple remained close until her death in 1962.

Also Read: Who was Arthur Miller?

DiMaggio’s career

Between 1936 and 1951, DiMaggio was a key contributor to the Yankees’ nine World Series victories.  During the same time, the Yankees won ten American League titles.  DiMaggio skipped three seasons (1943–45) while serving in the military during WWII.

In 1939, 1941, and 1947, DiMaggio was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. He announced his retirement at the end of the 1951 season. In 1955, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

He passed away on March 8, 1999.