Dr. Hyman Engelberg, Marilyn Monroe’s personal physician, who prescribed her sleeping pills and declared her drug-overdose death a suicide, has died.
Dr. Engelberg, 92, died Monday in a Santa Monica nursing home, said Terry Kahn, a family friend.
In addition to treating Hollywood celebrities, the physician was known for his research and writing on cardiovascular problems, especially the effects of the blood-thinner heparin.
It was Dr. Engelberg who alerted the world four decades ago that the blond actress had been found dead at her home in Brentwood, Calif.
“Marilyn Monroe has died. She’s committed suicide,” the doctor reported at 4:25 a.m. on Aug. 5, 1962, in a phone call to the Los Angeles Police Department. “I’m Dr. Hyman Engelberg, Marilyn Monroe’s physician. I’m at her residence. She’s committed suicide.”
Monroe’s housekeeper had summoned the actress’ psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Greenson, and Dr. Engelberg after seeing Monroe sprawled on her bed.
Survivors include his wife, Colleen, and three sons, all of whom are physicians.
