The last ever pictures of Marilyn Monroe, taken the weekend before she died

By Daily Mail Reporter 15:12 BST 10 May 2009, updated 11:38 BST 11 May 2009

It is the face that enraptured the world and here, Marilyn Monroe lights up the camera as she larks around on a weekend with friends.

Relaxed and playful, the superstar looks stunning as she parties with fellow icon Frank Sinatra and jazz pianist Buddy Greco in August 1962.

But unbeknown to the bombshell actress, these would be the last photos of her ever taken because just five days later she would be dead.

Icon: Marilyn Monroe poses happily with pianist Buddy Greco, just days before her death. They are the last ever pictures of the star

The weekend they were taken is now part of history - it was during the trip that Monroe was allegedly urged to keep quiet about her affair with the Kennedy brothers.

Her death, at 36, is still surrounded by conspiracy theories to this day, with many believing she was murdered to make sure she never revealed the liaison.

What makes these pictures even more fascinating is that they also feature Peter Lawford, who has been alleged to have been in a plot to let her die.

According to an FBI report released in 2007, Lawford, a friend of Monroe and brother-in-law to Bobby Kennedy, helped trick the actress into committing suicide.

For sale: Monroe, Mr Greco and an unidentified man on August 5,1962

The report - which was not authenticated but was given to top FBI officers - claimed that this was aimed at preventing her revealing her affair with John F Kennedy and Bobby,

Monroe was said to have been told she would act out a stunt to spark kindly publicity but was left to die after she took an overdose.

The file claims Bobby Kennedy rang Lawford - who was married to his sister Patricia - to check the actress was dead so that his secret was safe.

The pictures were taken in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where Greco and Sinatra had been performing.

There were 36 originally but today just six survive because the rest were kept in a vault in the World Trade Centre and destroyed in the September 11 terror strikes.

Relaxing: Buddy Greco with Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford

Greco, who owns the photos, has put them up for sale after keeping them to himself for more than 40 years.

Lawford and his wife had taken Monroe to the lodge in Nevada to see a Frank Sinatra show. Sinatra was another lover who featured in the actress' life.

Monroe was depressed and apparently told Patricia it was because she had been dumped by Bobby and JFK after their affairs.

She is said to have started bingeing on alcohol and pills once at the villa and was later taken home because she was allegedly in such a state.

Five days later, on August 5, 1962, her dead body was found at her home. She had consumed a huge amount of barbiturates.

Greco, now 82, remembers the actress being in 'good spirits' towards the start of the weekend but later being 'out of sorts'.

Mafia boss Sam Giancana, her former husband, and baseball player Joe DiMaggio, as well as Dean Martin, were all on the trip, the pianist said.

'I remember it was a wonderful weekend. Marilyn turned up wearing a green scarf, green shoes, green slacks and a green blouse, and looking just wonderful.

'She turned up in a limousine and put her arms around me. I was very lucky my manager was there to take the photographs.'

He added: 'I've no idea if Marilyn was put under any pressure, I wasn't privy to that. We were just friends and talked about our friendship.

'I heard she and Joe DiMaggio talked about getting married again but I don't know. It was just a joy to see all those people.'

There has already been huge interest in the photos, for which the starting bid is just $7,500. They are expected to fetch far more at auction due to their subject.

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