Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
March 3, 1911
Place of Birth:
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Social Media
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.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell | self |
| 2022 | Dream Girl: The making of Marilyn Monroe | Self (archive footage) |
| 2015 | Discovering Jean Harlow | Self (archive footage) |
| 2009 | Paris Hilton, Inc. | Self (archive footage) |
| 2008 | Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood | Various Roles (archive footage) |
| 2007 | Girl 27 | Self (archive footage) |
| 2007 | Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema | Self (archive footage) |
| 2006 | 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage | Self (archive footage) |
| 2005 | Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public | Self (archive footage) |
| 2004 | Los Angeles Plays Itself | Gwen Allen in The Public Enemy (archive footage) |
| 2004 | Checking Out: Grand Hotel | Self (archive footage) |
| 2004 | Judy Garland: By Myself | Self (archive footage) |
| 2003 | Complicated Women | Self (archive footage) |
| 2000 | Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies | Self (archive footage) |
| 1999 | Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl | Self (from The Saturday Night Kid [1929]) (archive footage) |
| 1997 | Sports on the Silver Screen | Self (archive footage) |
| 1996 | The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful | Self (archive footage) |
| 1995 | Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons | Self (archive footage) |
| 1994 | That's Entertainment! III | (archive footage) |
| 1993 | Harlow: The Blonde Bombshell | Self (archive footage) |
| 1988 | James Stewart: A Wonderful Life | Self (archive footage) |
| 1987 | Hollywood's Hidden Secrets | (archive footage) |
| 1987 | Platinum Bombshell | Self (archive footage) |
| 1986 | Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend | Self (archive footage) |
| 1986 | The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn | Self (archive footage) |
| 1984 | Going Hollywood: The '30s | (archive footage) |
| 1983 | Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1976 | That's Entertainment, Part II | (archive footage) |
| 1975 | Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? | Self (archive footage) |
| 1974 | That's Entertainment! | (archive footage) |
| 1972 | Hollywood: The Dream Factory | Self (archive footage) |
| 1967 | The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy | |
| 1964 | The Big Parade of Comedy | Ruby in 'Hold Your Man' (archive footage) |
| 1961 | Hollywood: The Selznick Years | 'Dinner at Eight' (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1957 | The Golden Age of Comedy | archive footage |
| 1945 | Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary | Self (archive footage) |
| 1942 | Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) | Self (archive footage) |
| 1937 | Personal Property | Crystal Wetherby |
| 1937 | Saratoga | Carol Clayton |
| 1936 | Libeled Lady | Gladys Benton |
| 1936 | Wife vs. Secretary | Helen 'Whitey' Wilson |
| 1936 | Suzy | Suzy |
| 1936 | Riffraff | Hattie |
| 1935 | Reckless | Mona Leslie |
| 1935 | China Seas | Dolly 'China Doll' Portland |
| 1934 | The Girl from Missouri | Eadie |
| 1933 | Bombshell | Lola Burns |
| 1933 | Dinner at Eight | Kitty Packard |
| 1933 | Hold Your Man | Ruby Adams |
| 1932 | The Beast of the City | Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont |
| 1932 | Red Dust | Vantine Jefferson |
| 1932 | Red-Headed Woman | Lillian 'Lil' / 'Red' Andrews Legendre |
| 1932 | Three Wise Girls | Cassie Barnes |
| 1932 | Scarface | Blonde at Paradise Club |
| 1931 | Platinum Blonde | Ann Schuyler |
| 1931 | The Secret Six | Anne Courtland |
| 1931 | The Public Enemy | Gwen Allen |
| 1931 | Iron Man | Rose Mason |
| 1931 | Goldie | Goldie |
| 1931 | Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3) | Self |
| 1931 | Beau Hunks | Jeanie Weenie - in Photo |
| 1930 | Hell's Angels | Helen |
| 1930 | The Love Parade | Woman in Opera Box |
| 1929 | Liberty | Woman in cab (as Harlean Carpenter) |
| 1929 | Double Whoopee | Swanky blonde |
| 1929 | Bacon Grabbers | Mrs. Kennedy |
| 1929 | New York Nights | Party Guest |
| 1929 | The Saturday Night Kid | Hazel |
| 1929 | Close Harmony | Chorus Girl |
| 1929 | Why Be Good? | Blonde on Rooftop Bench at Junior's Second Party |
| 1929 | Fugitives | Extra (uncredited) |
| 1929 | Why Is a Plumber? | |
| 1929 | The Unkissed Man | Patient |
| 1929 | Thundering Toupees | |
| 1929 | Masquerade | Spectator |
| 1929 | This Thing Called Love | Extra |
| 1929 | Weak But Willing | Blonde Night Club Patron |
| 1928 | Honor Bound | Extra |
| 1928 | Moran of the Marines | Extra (uncredited) |
| 1928 | Chasing Husbands | Bathing Beauty (uncredited) |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Intimate Portrait | Self |