Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow

Acting

Born March 3, 1911 · Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Died June 7, 1937

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

Filmography

Becoming Marilyn
Becoming Marilyn
2022
Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
2008 · Various Roles (archive footage)
Complicated Women
Complicated Women
2003 · Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III
That's Entertainment! III
1994 · (archive footage)
Death Scenes
Death Scenes
1989 · Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976 · (archive footage)
That's Entertainment!
That's Entertainment!
1974 · (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Golden Age of Comedy
The Golden Age of Comedy
1957 · archive footage
Personal Property
Personal Property
1937 · Crystal Wetherby
Saratoga
Saratoga
1937 · Carol Clayton
Libeled Lady
Libeled Lady
1936 · Gladys Benton
Wife vs. Secretary
Wife vs. Secretary
1936 · Helen 'Whitey' Wilson
Suzy
Suzy
1936 · Suzy
Riffraff
Riffraff
1936 · Hattie
Reckless
Reckless
1935 · Mona Leslie
China Seas
China Seas
1935 · Dolly 'China Doll' Portland
The Girl from Missouri
The Girl from Missouri
1934 · Eadie
Bombshell
Bombshell
1933 · Lola Burns
Dinner at Eight
Dinner at Eight
1933 · Kitty Packard
Hold Your Man
Hold Your Man
1933 · Ruby Adams
The Beast of the City
The Beast of the City
1932 · Daisy Stevens aka Mildred Beaumont
Red Dust
Red Dust
1932 · Vantine Jefferson
Red-Headed Woman
Red-Headed Woman
1932 · Lillian 'Lil' / 'Red' Andrews Legendre
Three Wise Girls
Three Wise Girls
1932 · Cassie Barnes
Scarface
Scarface
1932 · Blonde at Paradise Club
Platinum Blonde
Platinum Blonde
1931 · Ann Schuyler
The Secret Six
The Secret Six
1931 · Anne Courtland
The Public Enemy
The Public Enemy
1931 · Gwen Allen
Iron Man
Iron Man
1931 · Rose Mason
Beau Hunks
Beau Hunks
1931 · Jeanie Weenie - in Photo
Hell's Angels
Hell's Angels
1930 · Helen
Liberty
Liberty
1929 · Woman in cab (as Harlean Carpenter)
Double Whoopee
Double Whoopee
1929 · Swanky blonde
Bacon Grabbers
Bacon Grabbers
1929 · Mrs. Kennedy
The Saturday Night Kid
The Saturday Night Kid
1929 · Hazel
Why Be Good?
Why Be Good?
1929 · Blonde on Rooftop Bench at Junior's Second Party
The Love Parade
The Love Parade
1929 · Woman in Opera Box (uncredited)