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

  • The Public Enemy

    The Public Enemy

  • Checking Out: Grand Hotel

    Checking Out: Grand Hotel

  • The Big Parade of Comedy

    The Big Parade of Comedy

  • The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn

    The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn

  • The Saturday Night Kid

    The Saturday Night Kid

  • Liberty

    Liberty

  • Personal Property

    Personal Property

  • Paris Hilton, Inc.

    Paris Hilton, Inc.

  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

  • Why Be Good?

    Why Be Good?

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

    Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

  • Red-Headed Woman

    Red-Headed Woman

  • Hold Your Man

    Hold Your Man

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

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

  • Scarface

    Scarface

  • The Girl from Missouri

    The Girl from Missouri

  • Saratoga

    Saratoga

  • James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

    James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

  • Reckless

    Reckless

  • The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy

    The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy

  • Sports on the Silver Screen

    Sports on the Silver Screen

  • The Unkissed Man

    The Unkissed Man

  • Death Scenes

    Death Scenes

  • New York Nights

    New York Nights

  • Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

    Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

  • Dinner at Eight

    Dinner at Eight

  • China Seas

    China Seas

  • Why Is a Plumber?

    Why Is a Plumber?

  • Close Harmony

    Close Harmony

  • The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

    The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

  • The Beast of the City

    The Beast of the City

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s

    Going Hollywood: The '30s

  • Riffraff

    Riffraff

  • Iron Man

    Iron Man

  • Hollywood: The Dream Factory

    Hollywood: The Dream Factory

  • The Love Parade

    The Love Parade

  • This Thing Called Love

    This Thing Called Love

  • Judy Garland: By Myself

    Judy Garland: By Myself

  • Bombshell

    Bombshell

  • Hell's Angels

    Hell's Angels

  • Los Angeles Plays Itself

    Los Angeles Plays Itself

  • Suzy

    Suzy

  • Masquerade

    Masquerade

  • The Golden Age of Comedy

    The Golden Age of Comedy

  • The Secret Six

    The Secret Six

  • Moran of the Marines

    Moran of the Marines

  • That's Entertainment, Part II

    That's Entertainment, Part II

  • Platinum Blonde

    Platinum Blonde

  • Thundering Toupees

    Thundering Toupees

  • Libeled Lady

    Libeled Lady

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

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

  • Bacon Grabbers

    Bacon Grabbers

  • Goldie

    Goldie

  • That's Entertainment!

    That's Entertainment!

  • Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl

    Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl

  • Wife vs. Secretary

    Wife vs. Secretary

  • Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

    Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

  • Double Whoopee

    Double Whoopee

  • Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

    Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

  • That's Entertainment! III

    That's Entertainment! III

  • Discovering Jean Harlow

    Discovering Jean Harlow

  • Weak But Willing

    Weak But Willing

  • Fugitives

    Fugitives

  • Red Dust

    Red Dust

  • Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

    Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

  • Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

    Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

  • 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

  • Beau Hunks

    Beau Hunks

  • Three Wise Girls

    Three Wise Girls

  • Honor Bound

    Honor Bound

  • Complicated Women

    Complicated Women

  • 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

    42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

  • Chasing Husbands

    Chasing Husbands

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

    Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)