Jean Harlow
Born: 1911-03-03 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Died: 1937-06-07
Known For: Acting
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.
Filmography
2023
- The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell as Self (archive footage)
2015
- Discovering Jean Harlow as Self (archive footage)
2009
- Paris Hilton, Inc. as Self (archive footage)
2008
- Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood as Various Roles (archive footage)
2007
- Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema as Self (archive footage)
2006
- 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage as Self (archive footage)
2005
- Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public as Self (archive footage)
2004
- Checking Out: Grand Hotel as Self (archive footage)
- Los Angeles Plays Itself as Gwen Allen in The Public Enemy (archive footage)
- Judy Garland: By Myself as Self (archive footage)
2003
- Complicated Women as Self (archive footage)
2000
- Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies as Self (archive footage)
1999
- Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl as Self (from The Saturday Night Kid [1929]) (archive footage)
1997
- Sports on the Silver Screen as Self (archive footage)
1996
- Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell as Self (archive footage)
1995
- Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons as Self (archive footage)
1994
- That's Entertainment! III as (archive footage)
1993
- Intimate Portrait as Self
1989
- Death Scenes as Self (archive footage)
1987
- James Stewart: A Wonderful Life as Self (archive footage)
1986
- The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn as Self (archive footage)
1984
- Going Hollywood: The '30s as (archive footage)
1983
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1976
- That's Entertainment, Part II as (archive footage)
1975
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? as Self (archive footage)
1974
- That's Entertainment! as (archive footage)
1972
- Hollywood: The Dream Factory as Self (archive footage)
1964
- The Big Parade of Comedy as Ruby in 'Hold Your Man' (archive footage)
1957
- The Golden Age of Comedy as archive footage
1945
- Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary as Self (archive footage)
1942
- Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) as Self (archive footage)
1937
- Personal Property as Crystal Wetherby
- Saratoga as Carol Clayton
1936
- Suzy as Suzy
- Riffraff as Hattie
- Libeled Lady as Gladys Benton
- Wife vs. Secretary as Helen 'Whitey' Wilson
1935
- China Seas as Dolly 'China Doll' Portland
- Reckless as Mona Leslie
1934
- The Girl from Missouri as Eadie
1933
- Bombshell as Lola Burns
- Dinner at Eight as Kitty Packard
- Hold Your Man as Ruby Adams
1932
- Scarface as Blonde at Paradise Club
- Red-Headed Woman as Lillian 'Lil' / 'Red' Andrews Legendre
- The Beast of the City as Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont
- Red Dust as Vantine Jefferson
- Three Wise Girls as Cassie Barnes
1931
- Goldie as Goldie
- Iron Man as Rose Mason
- The Public Enemy as Gwen Allen
- Platinum Blonde as Ann Schuyler
- Beau Hunks as Jeanie Weenie - in Photo
- The Secret Six as Anne Courtland
- Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3) as Self
1930
- Hell's Angels as Helen
- The Love Parade as Woman in Opera Box (uncredited)
1929
- Why Is a Plumber?
- Liberty as Woman in cab (as Harlean Carpenter)
- Close Harmony as Chorus Girl
- Masquerade as Spectator
- Bacon Grabbers as Mrs. Kennedy
- Why Be Good? as Blonde on Rooftop Bench at Junior's Second Party
- The Saturday Night Kid as Hazel
- New York Nights as Party Guest
- This Thing Called Love as Extra
- Double Whoopee as Swanky blonde
- Weak But Willing as Blonde Night Club Patron
- The Unkissed Man as Patient
- Fugitives as Extra (uncredited)
- Thundering Toupees
1928
- Chasing Husbands as Bathing Beauty (uncredited)
- Honor Bound as Extra
- Moran of the Marines as Extra (uncredited)