CineScope
Jean Harlow picture

Jean Harlow

Acting
Known For

26 Years Old

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.

Born

Kansas City, Missouri, USA on 3rd March 1911

Died

7th June 1937

All Credits

Intimate Portrait Image
Intimate Portrait
Self
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life Image
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Self (archive footage)
Reckless Image
Reckless
Mona Leslie
Iron Man Image
Iron Man
Rose Mason
Suzy Image
Suzy
Suzy
Hell's Angels Image
Hell's Angels
Helen
Red-Headed Woman Image
Red-Headed Woman
Lillian 'Lil' / 'Red' Andrews Legendre
Judy Garland: By Myself Image
Judy Garland: By Myself
Self (archive footage)
Masquerade Image
Masquerade
Spectator
Close Harmony Image
Close Harmony
Chorus Girl
New York Nights Image
New York Nights
Party Guest
Los Angeles Plays Itself Image
Los Angeles Plays Itself
Gwen Allen in The Public Enemy (archive footage)
Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl Image
Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl
Self (from The Saturday Night Kid [1929]) (archive footage)
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons Image
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
Self (archive footage)
Bacon Grabbers Image
Bacon Grabbers
Mrs. Kennedy
Double Whoopee Image
Double Whoopee
Swanky blonde
MGM Parade Image
MGM Parade
Self
Death Scenes Image
Death Scenes
Self (archive footage)
Libeled Lady Image
Libeled Lady
Gladys Benton
Goldie Image
Goldie
Goldie
Bombshell Image
Bombshell
Lola Burns
Scarface Image
Scarface
Blonde at Paradise Club
Riffraff Image
Riffraff
Hattie
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell Image
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell
Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III Image
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage)
Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe Image
Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe
Liberty Image
Liberty
Woman in cab (as Harlean Carpenter)
The Unkissed Man Image
The Unkissed Man
Patient
The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy Image
The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy
Wife vs. Secretary Image
Wife vs. Secretary
Helen 'Whitey' Wilson
Chasing Husbands Image
Chasing Husbands
Bathing Beauty (uncredited)
The Public Enemy Image
The Public Enemy
Gwen Allen
Beau Hunks Image
Beau Hunks
Jeanie Weenie - in Photo
Red Dust Image
Red Dust
Vantine Jefferson
Honor Bound Image
Honor Bound
Extra
China Seas Image
China Seas
Dolly 'China Doll' Portland
Hollywood: The Dream Factory Image
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment! Image
That's Entertainment!
(archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage Image
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
That's Entertainment, Part II Image
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage)
The Beast of the City Image
The Beast of the City
Daisy Stevens aka Mildred Beaumont
Platinum Blonde Image
Platinum Blonde
Ann Schuyler
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema Image
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
Self (archive footage)
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) Image
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
Self (archive footage)
Dinner at Eight Image
Dinner at Eight
Kitty Packard
Hold Your Man Image
Hold Your Man
Ruby Adams
Saratoga Image
Saratoga
Carol Clayton
The Girl from Missouri Image
The Girl from Missouri
Eadie
Going Hollywood: The '30s Image
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
Complicated Women Image
Complicated Women
Self (archive footage)
No Image
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Self (archive footage)
Personal Property Image
Personal Property
Crystal Wetherby
Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3) Image
Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)
Self
The Secret Six Image
The Secret Six
Anne Courtland
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn Image
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
Self (archive footage)
Sports on the Silver Screen Image
Sports on the Silver Screen
Self (archive footage)
Moran of the Marines Image
Moran of the Marines
Extra (uncredited)
The Big Parade of Comedy Image
The Big Parade of Comedy
Ruby in 'Hold Your Man' (archive footage)
The Love Parade Image
The Love Parade
Woman in Opera Box (uncredited)
Paris Hilton, Inc. Image
Paris Hilton, Inc.
Self (archive footage)
Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary Image
Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies Image
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
Why Is a Plumber? Image
Why Is a Plumber?
Discovering Jean Harlow Image
Discovering Jean Harlow
Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Image
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies Image
Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies
Self (archive footage)
Three Wise Girls Image
Three Wise Girls
Cassie Barnes
The Golden Age of Comedy Image
The Golden Age of Comedy
archive footage
The Saturday Night Kid Image
The Saturday Night Kid
Hazel
Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood Image
Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
Various Roles (archive footage)
Why Be Good? Image
Why Be Good?
Blonde on Rooftop Bench at Junior's Second Party
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage Image
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood on Parade No. A-12 Image
Hollywood on Parade No. A-12
Self
Fugitives Image
Fugitives
Extra (uncredited)
Thundering Toupees Image
Thundering Toupees
This Thing Called Love Image
This Thing Called Love
Extra
The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell Image
The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell
Self (archive footage)
Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public Image
Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
Self (archive footage)
Weak But Willing Image
Weak But Willing
Blonde Night Club Patron