Talk:Mark Bellinghaus/Mark Bellinghaus (collector)

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Mark Bellinghaus (born July 20, 1963) is notable as a collector of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, who successfully contested the authenticity of a major Monroe exhibition[citation needed]. He is also an actor who has appeared in German films and on German TV, and is a photojournalist in Southern California.

1 Marilyn Monroe controversy
2 Early life
3 References as Collector
4 References as Actor
5 Articles By Bellinghaus

[edit] Marilyn Monroe controversy

In 1995 Bellinghaus emigrated from Germany to the United States, where he met Anna Strasberg, the owner of the estate of Marilyn Monroe. He studied Monroe's life and legacy, and collected memorabilia.

In 2005, as a photographer for the Beverly Hills Courier, he attended the press opening of Marilyn Monroe — the exhibit, staged by CMG Worldwide (which manages Monroe's estate) and promoted as the "biggest and best collection of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia on display, ever." The value of the exhibit was announced as $10 million.

Bellinghaus observed that a set of plastic electric hair curlers, was not authentic memorabilia, as it was made by Clairol in 1974 twelve years after Monroe’s death in 1962. He also asserted that over 95% of the memorabilia on display was not authentic, and estimated the real value under $30,000. He published his views on Blogcritics on February 6, 2006. The curlers and other items were removed from the exhibition. The exhibitor explained the removals as "refreshing the exhibit." Two months later, Bellinghaus published his second blog, this time with co-author Ernest Cunningham, titled "Marilyn Monroe Exhibit Exposed As $8.75 Million Lie". KCAL TV news interviewed Bellinghaus about his claims.

On May 26, 2006, a class action lawsuit was filed by Ernest Cunningham (a Monroe author) and Emily Sadjady (a Monroe collector), claiming damages for purchasers of the exhibition tickets. The suit, which is scheduled to take place at Los Angeles Superior Court on May 7, 2007, alleges that the exhibition curator was aware of the fraud. The exhibition has been canceled.

Bellinghaus and Cunningham have also questioned the authenticity of Marilyn, Joe and Me, a book and prospective movie by June DiMaggio and Mary Jane Popp, who deny they were involved in the Queen Mary exhibition.

[edit] Early life

Bellinghaus was born in Germany; his father died two years later. At age 16, he began acting. Two years later moved to Munich to study at the Acting Academy for three years. During this time he supported himself with modelling and minor acting in commercials, on stage and in movie.[citation needed].

By 1990 he had secured several TV roles. In 1991 he played actress Meret Becker's brother Kurti, in the multiple award-winning Fremde, liebe Fremde (Foreigner, Dear Foreigner). In 1993, he played Malte Borrell in the TV show SOKO 5113. He played Knut Sonntag in the hit TV show Immer wieder Sonntag, written by Herbert Lichtenfeld.