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Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow

Birthday: 1911-03-03 | Place of Birth: Kansas 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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2023
The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

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)

1996
The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful

as    Self (archive footage)

1996
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

as    Self (archive footage)

1995
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

as    Self (archive footage)

1989
Death Scenes

as    Self (archive footage)

1986
1964
The Big Parade of Comedy

as    Ruby in 'Hold Your Man' (archive footage)

1957
The Golden Age of Comedy

as    archive footage

1945
1937
Saratoga

as    Carol Clayton

1937
Personal Property

as    Crystal Wetherby

1936
Libeled Lady

as    Gladys Benton

1936
Riffraff

as    Hattie

1936
Wife vs. Secretary

as    Helen 'Whitey' Wilson

1936
Suzy

as    Suzy

1935
China Seas

as    Dolly 'China Doll' Portland

1935
Reckless

as    Mona Leslie

1934
The Girl from Missouri

as    Eadie

1933
Dinner at Eight

as    Kitty Packard

1933
Bombshell

as    Lola Burns

1933
Hold Your Man

as    Ruby Adams

1933