Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow

Acting
Born 1911-03-03 - Died 1937-06-07Kansas City, Missouri, USA

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.

Movies (85)

Scarface
7.4

Scarface

1932Movie7.4
Wife vs. Secretary
6.7

Wife vs. Secretary

1936Movie6.7
Dinner at Eight
6.8

Dinner at Eight

1933Movie6.8
Beau Hunks
6.9

Beau Hunks

1931Movie6.9
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful
10.0

The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful

1996Movie10.0
Hell's Angels
6.6

Hell's Angels

1930Movie6.6
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
7.4

Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend

1986Movie7.4
Red Dust
6.9

Red Dust

1932Movie6.9
The Public Enemy
7.2

The Public Enemy

1931Movie7.2
Complicated Women
6.9

Complicated Women

2003Movie6.9
Libeled Lady
7.3

Libeled Lady

1936Movie7.3
That's Entertainment!
7.4

That's Entertainment!

1974Movie7.4
That's Entertainment! III
7.1

That's Entertainment! III

1994Movie7.1
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
7.2

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

1972Movie7.2
China Seas
6.3

China Seas

1935Movie6.3
Double Whoopee
6.8

Double Whoopee

1929Movie6.8
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
7.0

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983Movie7.0
Death In Hollywood
6.8

Death In Hollywood

1990Movie6.8
Red-Headed Woman
6.6

Red-Headed Woman

1932Movie6.6
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
6.5

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

1987Movie6.5
Reckless
5.1

Reckless

1935Movie5.1
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

1942Movie
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
4.3

Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

2007Movie4.3
The Golden Age of Comedy
7.1

The Golden Age of Comedy

1957Movie7.1
Goldie
5.6

Goldie

1931Movie5.6
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
7.5

Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth

2020Movie7.5
Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell
2.0

Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell

1995Movie2.0
That's Entertainment, Part II
7.0

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976Movie7.0
Going Hollywood: The '30s
9.0

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984Movie9.0
Honor Bound
9.0

Honor Bound

1928Movie9.0
Bacon Grabbers
6.4

Bacon Grabbers

1929Movie6.4
Bombshell
6.5

Bombshell

1933Movie6.5
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
8.0

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

1995Movie8.0
Why Be Good?
6.8

Why Be Good?

1929Movie6.8
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
8.3

The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn

1986Movie8.3
Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies
9.0

Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies

2000Movie9.0
Riffraff
5.4

Riffraff

1936Movie5.4
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel

Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel

2001Movie
Chasing Husbands
7.0

Chasing Husbands

1928Movie7.0
Saratoga
6.5

Saratoga

1937Movie6.5
The Big Parade of Comedy
7.2

The Big Parade of Comedy

1964Movie7.2
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
6.3

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975Movie6.3
The Love Parade
6.6

The Love Parade

1929Movie6.6
The Beast of the City
5.9

The Beast of the City

1932Movie5.9
Suzy
5.9

Suzy

1936Movie5.9
Sports on the Silver Screen
9.0

Sports on the Silver Screen

1997Movie9.0
Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl
8.3

Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl

1999Movie8.3
Platinum Blonde
6.7

Platinum Blonde

1931Movie6.7
Becoming Marilyn
7.3

Becoming Marilyn

2022Movie7.3
Marilyn Monroe
10.0

Marilyn Monroe

1986Movie10.0
The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

2023Movie
The Casting Couch
8.3

The Casting Couch

1995Movie8.3
Hollywood: The Selznick Years
4.4

Hollywood: The Selznick Years

1961Movie4.4
Three Wise Girls
5.7

Three Wise Girls

1932Movie5.7
Two Tragic Blondes - Marilyn Monroe And Jean Harlow
9.0

Two Tragic Blondes - Marilyn Monroe And Jean Harlow

1989Movie9.0
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
6.0

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

2006Movie6.0
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

1988Movie
Personal Property
6.9

Personal Property

1937Movie6.9
Liberty
6.9

Liberty

1929Movie6.9
The Secret Six
5.6

The Secret Six

1931Movie5.6
Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
6.1

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

2008Movie6.1
Discovering Jean Harlow
10.0

Discovering Jean Harlow

2015Movie10.0
Judy Garland: By Myself
8.3

Judy Garland: By Myself

2004Movie8.3
The Saturday Night Kid
4.7

The Saturday Night Kid

1929Movie4.7
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
7.0

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

2004Movie7.0
Hold Your Man
6.3

Hold Your Man

1933Movie6.3
Iron Man
5.7

Iron Man

1931Movie5.7
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

1996Movie
Death Scenes
4.2

Death Scenes

1989Movie4.2
Close Harmony
6.8

Close Harmony

1929Movie6.8
The Girl from Missouri
7.4

The Girl from Missouri

1934Movie7.4
Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary
10.0

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

1945Movie10.0
The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy
7.0

The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy

1967Movie7.0
Moran of the Marines
7.0

Moran of the Marines

1928Movie7.0
Masquerade
10.0

Masquerade

1929Movie10.0
The Unkissed Man

The Unkissed Man

1929Movie
New York Nights
5.5

New York Nights

1929Movie5.5
Fugitives
10.0

Fugitives

1929Movie10.0
Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)

Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)

1931Movie
Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
7.8

Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

2005Movie7.8
Thundering Toupees

Thundering Toupees

1929Movie
This Thing Called Love
9.0

This Thing Called Love

1929Movie9.0
Weak But Willing
9.0

Weak But Willing

1929Movie9.0
Hollywood on Parade No. A-12

Hollywood on Parade No. A-12

1933Movie
Why Is a Plumber?
8.0

Why Is a Plumber?

1929Movie8.0

TV Shows (2)

Intimate Portrait
4.5

Intimate Portrait

1993Series4.5
MGM Parade
7.5

MGM Parade

1955Series7.5