Leigh Wiener, an American photographer, achieved the remarkable feat of gaining access to the morgue where Marilyn Monroe's lifeless body was held after her death.
In a shocking revelation, it's been disclosed that he took approximately five rolls of photographs of the iconic actress's corpse.
A new documentary delves into the circumstances surrounding Wiener's controversial photos of Marilyn Monroe, many of which have never seen the light of day.
According to Devik Wiener, the son of the renowned celebrity photographer, his father resorted to using alcohol to bribe the morgue guards, allowing him entry just hours after Monroe's lifeless body was discovered in her bed on August 4, 1962.
Devik sheds light on his father's methods, noting that this wasn't the first time he'd employed whiskey as a tool to access restricted areas. Leigh Wiener, on this occasion, sent three rolls of photographs to LIFE magazine, one of which displayed the identification tag on Monroe's toe, a poignant and haunting image. However, Devik emphasizes that this image was far from the most shocking among his father's collection.
Reportedly, Leigh had two additional rolls containing photographs of Monroe's unclothed body. Devik shares that the last two rolls, which included images beyond the toe tag, were taken to his father's personal studio. There, Leigh claimed to have developed and reviewed them before promptly placing them in a secure deposit box, guarding them from public view.
Remarkably, Leigh Wiener had strong convictions against making these photos public. He took this sentiment to his grave when he passed away in 1993, never disclosing the whereabouts of the controversial images that could fetch a significant sum if ever revealed.
However, shortly after Marilyn Monroe's death, a photograph, not captured by Wiener, emerged. This particular image, which showed the actress's lifeless body with a white sheet covering her, was leaked, providing a somber glimpse of the beloved artist's tragic end.
