2

Jean Harlow

Born · March 3, 1911

Died · June 7, 1937 (26 years old)

Known For: Acting

Place of Birth: Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Bio

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

Scarface

Scarface

The Public Enemy

The Public Enemy

Libeled Lady

Libeled Lady

Dinner at Eight

Dinner at Eight

The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

self

2023

Dream Girl: The making of Marilyn Monroe

Self (archive footage)

2022

Discovering Jean Harlow

Self (archive footage)

2015

Paris Hilton, Inc.

Self (archive footage)

2009

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

Various Roles (archive footage)

2008

Girl 27

Self (archive footage)

2007

Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

Self (archive footage)

2007

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

Self (archive footage)

2006

Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

Self (archive footage)

2005

Los Angeles Plays Itself

Gwen Allen in The Public Enemy (archive footage)

2004

Judy Garland: By Myself

Self (archive footage)

2004

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

Self (archive footage)

2004

Complicated Women

Self (archive footage)

2003

Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies

Self (archive footage)

2000

Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl

Self (from The Saturday Night Kid [1929]) (archive footage)

1999

Sports on the Silver Screen

Self (archive footage)

1997

The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful

Self (archive footage)

1996

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

Self (archive footage)

1995

That's Entertainment! III

(archive footage)

1994

Intimate Portrait

Self · (1 episode)

1993

Harlow: The Blonde Bombshell

Self (archive footage)

1993

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

Self (archive footage)

1988

Platinum Bombshell

Self (archive footage)

1987

Hollywood's Hidden Secrets

(archive footage)

1987

Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend

Self (archive footage)

1986

The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn

Self (archive footage)

1986

Going Hollywood: The '30s

(archive footage)

1984

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

1983

That's Entertainment, Part II

(archive footage)

1976

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Self (archive footage)

1975

That's Entertainment!

(archive footage)

1974

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

Self (archive footage)

1972

The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy

1967

The Big Parade of Comedy

Ruby in 'Hold Your Man' (archive footage)

1964

Hollywood: The Selznick Years

'Dinner at Eight' (archive footage) (uncredited)

1961

The Golden Age of Comedy

archive footage

1957

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

Self (archive footage)

1945

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

Self (archive footage)

1942

Saratoga

Carol Clayton

1937

Personal Property

Crystal Wetherby

1937

Libeled Lady

Gladys Benton

1936

Suzy

Suzy

1936

Wife vs. Secretary

Helen 'Whitey' Wilson

1936

Riffraff

Hattie

1936

China Seas

Dolly 'China Doll' Portland

1935

Reckless

Mona Leslie

1935

The Girl from Missouri

Eadie

1934

Dinner at Eight

Kitty Packard

1933

Bombshell

Lola Burns

1933

Hold Your Man

Ruby Adams

1933

Red Dust

Vantine Jefferson

1932

Red-Headed Woman

Lillian 'Lil' / 'Red' Andrews Legendre

1932

Scarface

Blonde at Paradise Club

1932

The Beast of the City

Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont

1932

Three Wise Girls

Cassie Barnes

1932

Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)

Self

1931

Beau Hunks

Jeanie Weenie - in Photo

1931

Platinum Blonde

Ann Schuyler

1931

Goldie

Goldie

1931

Iron Man

Rose Mason

1931

The Public Enemy

Gwen Allen

1931

The Secret Six

Anne Courtland

1931

Hell's Angels

Helen

1930

The Love Parade

Woman in Opera Box

1930

New York Nights

Party Guest

1929

Weak But Willing

Blonde Night Club Patron

1929

This Thing Called Love

Extra

1929

The Saturday Night Kid

Hazel

1929

Bacon Grabbers

Mrs. Kennedy

1929

Masquerade

Spectator

1929

Thundering Toupees

1929

Double Whoopee

Swanky blonde

1929

The Unkissed Man

Patient

1929

Close Harmony

Chorus Girl

1929

Why Is a Plumber?

1929

Why Be Good?

Blonde on Rooftop Bench at Junior's Second Party

1929

Fugitives

Extra (uncredited)

1929

Liberty

Woman in cab (as Harlean Carpenter)

1929

Chasing Husbands

Bathing Beauty (uncredited)

1928

Moran of the Marines

Extra (uncredited)

1928

Honor Bound

Extra

1928