Jean Harlow
Born
March 3, 1911
Died
June 7, 1937 (26 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
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.
The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell
self
2023
Dream Girl: The making of Marilyn Monroe
Self (archive footage)
2022
Haunted Homes of Hollywood
2018
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
Death In Hollywood
(archive footage)
1990
Death Scenes
1989
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
1988
Platinum Bombshell
Self (archive footage)
1987
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
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