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Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow

Acting

Born: March 3, 1911Kansas 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.

Known For
Filmography
The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

Self (archive footage)

2023
Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe

Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe

2022
Becoming Marilyn

Becoming Marilyn

2022
The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes

The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes

2022
Discovering Jean Harlow

Discovering Jean Harlow

Self (archive footage)

2015
Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood

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

Various Roles (archive footage)

2008
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

Self (archive footage)

2007
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

Self (archive footage)

2006
Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

Self (archive footage)

2005
Los Angeles Plays Itself

Los Angeles Plays Itself

Gwen Allen in The Public Enemy (archive footage)

2004
Judy Garland: By Myself

Judy Garland: By Myself

Self (archive footage)

2004

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

Self (archive footage)

2004
Complicated Women

Complicated Women

Self (archive footage)

2003
Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies

Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies

Self (archive footage)

2000
Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl

Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl

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

1999
Sports on the Silver Screen

Sports on the Silver Screen

Self (archive footage)

1997
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

Self (archive footage)

1996
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

Self (archive footage)

1995
That's Entertainment! III

That's Entertainment! III

(archive footage)

1994
Death Scenes

Death Scenes

Self (archive footage)

1989
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

1988
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

Self (archive footage)

1987
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn

The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn

Self (archive footage)

1986
Going Hollywood: The '30s

Going Hollywood: The '30s

(archive footage)

1984
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

1983
That's Entertainment, Part II

That's Entertainment, Part II

(archive footage)

1976
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Self (archive footage)

1975
That's Entertainment!

That's Entertainment!

(archive footage)

1974
Hollywood: The Dream Factory

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

Self (archive footage)

1972
The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy

The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy

1967
The Big Parade of Comedy

The Big Parade of Comedy

Ruby in 'Hold Your Man' (archive footage)

1964
The Golden Age of Comedy

The Golden Age of Comedy

archive footage

1957
Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary

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

Self (archive footage)

1945
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

Self (archive footage)

1942
Saratoga

Saratoga

Carol Clayton

1937
Personal Property

Personal Property

Crystal Wetherby

1937
Libeled Lady

Libeled Lady

Gladys Benton

1936
Suzy

Suzy

Suzy

1936
Wife vs. Secretary

Wife vs. Secretary

Helen 'Whitey' Wilson

1936
Riffraff

Riffraff

Hattie

1936
China Seas

China Seas

Dolly 'China Doll' Portland

1935
Reckless

Reckless

Mona Leslie

1935
The Girl from Missouri

The Girl from Missouri

Eadie

1934
Dinner at Eight

Dinner at Eight

Kitty Packard

1933
Bombshell

Bombshell

Lola Burns

1933
Hold Your Man

Hold Your Man

Ruby Adams

1933
Hollywood on Parade No. A-12

Hollywood on Parade No. A-12

Self

1933
Red Dust

Red Dust

Vantine Jefferson

1932
Red-Headed Woman

Red-Headed Woman

Lillian 'Lil' / 'Red' Andrews Legendre

1932
Scarface

Scarface

Blonde at Paradise Club

1932
The Beast of the City

The Beast of the City

Daisy Stevens aka Mildred Beaumont

1932
Three Wise Girls

Three Wise Girls

Cassie Barnes

1932
Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)

Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)

Self

1931
Beau Hunks

Beau Hunks

Jeanie Weenie - in Photo

1931
Platinum Blonde

Platinum Blonde

Ann Schuyler

1931
Goldie

Goldie

Goldie

1931
Iron Man

Iron Man

Rose Mason

1931
The Public Enemy

The Public Enemy

Gwen Allen

1931
The Secret Six

The Secret Six

Anne Courtland

1931
Hell's Angels

Hell's Angels

Helen

1930
The Love Parade

The Love Parade

Woman in Opera Box (uncredited)

1930
New York Nights

New York Nights

Party Guest

1929
Weak But Willing

Weak But Willing

Blonde Night Club Patron

1929
This Thing Called Love

This Thing Called Love

Extra

1929
The Saturday Night Kid

The Saturday Night Kid

Hazel

1929
Bacon Grabbers

Bacon Grabbers

Mrs. Kennedy

1929
Masquerade

Masquerade

Spectator

1929
Thundering Toupees

Thundering Toupees

1929
Double Whoopee

Double Whoopee

Swanky blonde

1929
The Unkissed Man

The Unkissed Man

Patient

1929
Close Harmony

Close Harmony

Chorus Girl

1929
Why Is a Plumber?

Why Is a Plumber?

1929
Why Be Good?

Why Be Good?

Blonde on Rooftop Bench at Junior's Second Party

1929
Fugitives

Fugitives

Extra (uncredited)

1929
Liberty

Liberty

Woman in cab (as Harlean Carpenter)

1929
Chasing Husbands

Chasing Husbands

Bathing Beauty (uncredited)

1928
Moran of the Marines

Moran of the Marines

Extra (uncredited)

1928
Honor Bound

Honor Bound

Extra

1928