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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (49)
The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell
as Self (archive footage)
2023
Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe
2022
Discovering Jean Harlow
as Self (archive footage)
2015
Paris Hilton, Inc.
as Self (archive footage)
2009
Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
as Various Roles (archive footage)
2008
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
as Self (archive footage)
2007
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
as Self (archive footage)
2006
Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
as Self (archive footage)
2005
Los Angeles Plays Itself
as Gwen Allen in The Public Enemy (archive footage)
2004
Judy Garland: By Myself
as Self (archive footage)
2004
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
as Self (archive footage)
2004
Complicated Women
as Self (archive footage)
2003
Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies
as Self (archive footage)
2000
Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl
as Self (from The Saturday Night Kid [1929]) (archive footage)
1999
Sports on the Silver Screen
as Self (archive footage)
1997
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell
as Self (archive footage)
1996
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
as Self (archive footage)
1995
That's Entertainment! III
as (archive footage)
1994
Death Scenes
as Self (archive footage)
1989
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
1988
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
as Self (archive footage)
1987
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
as Self (archive footage)
1986
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
1984
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
1976
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
1975
That's Entertainment!
as (archive footage)
1974
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
as Self (archive footage)
1972
The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy
1967
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Ruby in 'Hold Your Man' (archive footage)
1964
The Golden Age of Comedy
as archive footage
1957
Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary
as Self (archive footage)
1945
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
as Self (archive footage)
1942
Saratoga
as Carol Clayton
1937
Personal Property
as Crystal Wetherby
1937
Libeled Lady
as Gladys Benton
1936
Suzy
as Suzy
1936
Wife vs. Secretary
as Helen 'Whitey' Wilson
1936
Riffraff
as Hattie
1936
China Seas
as Dolly 'China Doll' Portland
1935
Reckless
as Mona Leslie
1935
The Girl from Missouri
as Eadie
1934
Dinner at Eight
as Kitty Packard
1933
Bombshell
as Lola Burns
1933
Hold Your Man
as Ruby Adams
1933
Red Dust
as Vantine Jefferson
1932
Red-Headed Woman
as Lillian 'Lil' / 'Red' Andrews Legendre
1932
Scarface
as Blonde at Paradise Club
1932
The Beast of the City
as Daisy Stevens aka Mildred Beaumont
1932
