Jean Harlow

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

76

Gender

Female

Birthday

1911-03-03

Day of death

1937-06-07 (26 years old)

Place of Birth

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Jean Harlow

Biography

Jean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter; March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) was an American actress. Known for her portrayal of "bad girl" characters, she was the leading sex symbol of the early 1930s and one of the defining figures of the pre-Code era of American cinema. Often nicknamed the "Blonde Bombshell" and the "Platinum Blonde", Harlow was popular for her "Laughing Vamp" screen persona. Though her screen persona changed dramatically during her career, one constant was her sense of humor. She was given superior movie roles to show off her looks and nascent comedic talent. Harlow was in the film industry for only nine years, but she became one of the biggest stars in the US, whose image in the public eye has endured. Harlow was consistently voted one of the strongest box office draws in the United States from 1933 onward, often surpassing that of MGM's top leading ladies, such as Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer. Her movies also continued to make huge profits at the box office even during the middle of the Depression. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Harlow No. 22 on its greatest female screen legends of classical Hollywood cinema list.

Known For

  • Intimate Portrait

    Intimate Portrait

  • Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

    Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

  • The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

    The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

  • Personal Property

    Personal Property

  • Goldie

    Goldie

  • Why Is a Plumber?

    Why Is a Plumber?

  • Liberty

    Liberty

  • Iron Man

    Iron Man

  • Death Scenes

    Death Scenes

  • China Seas

    China Seas

  • Bombshell

    Bombshell

  • Close Harmony

    Close Harmony

  • Reckless

    Reckless

  • Masquerade

    Masquerade

  • Suzy

    Suzy

  • Bacon Grabbers

    Bacon Grabbers

  • Riffraff

    Riffraff

  • Chasing Husbands

    Chasing Husbands

  • Why Be Good?

    Why Be Good?

  • Libeled Lady

    Libeled Lady

  • Honor Bound

    Honor Bound

  • The Public Enemy

    The Public Enemy

  • The Girl from Missouri

    The Girl from Missouri

  • Scarface

    Scarface

  • Hell's Angels

    Hell's Angels

  • Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood

    Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood

  • Red-Headed Woman

    Red-Headed Woman

  • The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn

    The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn

  • Platinum Blonde

    Platinum Blonde

  • Checking Out: Grand Hotel

    Checking Out: Grand Hotel

  • Dinner at Eight

    Dinner at Eight

  • The Saturday Night Kid

    The Saturday Night Kid

  • Hold Your Man

    Hold Your Man

  • The Golden Age of Comedy

    The Golden Age of Comedy

  • Los Angeles Plays Itself

    Los Angeles Plays Itself

  • The Beast of the City

    The Beast of the City

  • Moran of the Marines

    Moran of the Marines

  • Beau Hunks

    Beau Hunks

  • Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

    Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

  • The Love Parade

    The Love Parade

  • The Secret Six

    The Secret Six

  • New York Nights

    New York Nights

  • That's Entertainment!

    That's Entertainment!

  • This Thing Called Love

    This Thing Called Love

  • Double Whoopee

    Double Whoopee

  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

  • Paris Hilton, Inc.

    Paris Hilton, Inc.

  • The Big Parade of Comedy

    The Big Parade of Comedy

  • Hollywood: The Dream Factory

    Hollywood: The Dream Factory

  • Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary

    Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary

  • The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy

    The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy

  • Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl

    Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl

  • Judy Garland: By Myself

    Judy Garland: By Myself

  • That's Entertainment, Part II

    That's Entertainment, Part II

  • James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

    James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

  • That's Entertainment! III

    That's Entertainment! III

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s

    Going Hollywood: The '30s

  • Wife vs. Secretary

    Wife vs. Secretary

  • Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

    Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

  • Weak But Willing

    Weak But Willing

  • Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

    Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

  • Red Dust

    Red Dust

  • The Unkissed Man

    The Unkissed Man

  • Three Wise Girls

    Three Wise Girls

  • Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

    Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

  • Complicated Women

    Complicated Women

  • Saratoga

    Saratoga

  • Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

    Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

  • Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies

    Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies

  • Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

    Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

  • Sports on the Silver Screen

    Sports on the Silver Screen

  • Fugitives

    Fugitives

  • 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

    42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

  • Thundering Toupees

    Thundering Toupees

  • Discovering Jean Harlow

    Discovering Jean Harlow

  • Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)

    Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)