ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Arthur Miller's Tapes Reveal Marriage to Marilyn Monroe

publication · 2026-05-07

Previously unreleased tapes of playwright Arthur Miller, recorded between the mid-1970s and 2005, reveal poignant discussions with his biographer, Christopher Bigsby. Miller reflects candidly on his tumultuous marriage to Marilyn Monroe, whom he regarded as a deeply troubled partner. He poignantly stated that Monroe's tragic death in 1962 felt unavoidable, attributing it to her struggles with emotional stability. The recordings also delve into Miller’s earlier marriage to Mary Slattery, his creative challenges with "Death of a Salesman," his political beliefs, and the fallout from his testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Bigsby's compilation, "The Arthur Miller Tapes: A Life in His Own Words," has been published by Cambridge University Press.

Key facts

  • Arthur Miller's taped conversations with Christopher Bigsby span nearly 30 years, from mid-1970s to early 2000s.
  • Miller married Marilyn Monroe in 1956 after an extramarital affair beginning in 1955.
  • Monroe died from a barbiturate overdose in 1962 at age 36.
  • Miller said Monroe wanted a father, lover, friend, and agent, and lacked inner resources.
  • The couple sought medical help after Monroe had a miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
  • Their marriage effectively ended during the filming of The Misfits in 1960.
  • Miller's play Death of a Salesman won a Critics' Circle award, a Tony, and a Pulitzer in 1949.
  • Miller refused to name communist writers before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1956.
  • The Crucible was inspired by the McCarthy era and set during the Salem witch trials.
  • The Arthur Miller Tapes: A Life in His Own Words was published by Cambridge University Press.

Entities

Artists

  • Arthur Miller
  • Marilyn Monroe
  • Christopher Bigsby
  • Mary Slattery
  • Inge Morath
  • Laurence Olivier

Institutions

  • Cambridge University Press
  • House Un-American Activities Committee
  • University of East Anglia

Locations

  • Roxbury
  • Connecticut
  • United States
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Hollywood
  • Salem

Sources