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A photo of Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow 1911 - 1937

Jean Harlow of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States was born on March 3, 1911 in Kansas City, Jackson County, MO, and died at age 26 years old on June 7, 1937 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA. Jean Harlow was buried on June 10, 1937 at Fair Lawn in Los Angeles.
Jean Harlow
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
March 3, 1911
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, United States
June 7, 1937
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States
Female
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Jean Harlow's History: 1911 - 1937

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  • 03/3
    1911

    Birthday

    March 3, 1911
    Birthdate
    Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri United States
    Birthplace
  • Professional Career

    Jean Harlow filmography Jean Harlow (March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) was an American actress who made her uncredited debut in two 1928 films: Honor Bound for Fox Film; and Moran of the Marines for Paramount Pictures. While waiting for a friend at the studio in 1928, she was discovered by studio executives who gave her letters of introduction to casting agencies, where she was offered the two small roles that subsequently launched her film career. During the initial two years of her career, Harlow appeared uncredited in 16 films, including several Hal Roach productions developed for Laurel and Hardy. Her first speaking role was a bit part in the 1929 American pre-Code romantic comedy The Saturday Night Kid, starring Clara Bow and Jean Arthur. The film has since been preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Harlow's career breakthrough came In 1930, when she was chosen to star in Hell's Angels, as a last-minute replacement for Norwegian actress Greta Nissen. Harlow was introduced to producer Howard Hughes by her former boyfriend James Hall, one of the film's actors, resulting in Hughes putting her under contract. The film's lead actor Ben Lyon is sometimes given credit for her introduction to Hughes. The movie made her an overnight star with the audiences. Hughes, however, was less than enthusiastic about her, in spite of keeping her under contract. Her feeling towards Hughes were mutual, and her family tried to get her out of her contract. The strained relations were exacerbated by false rumors of a love affair between them. Her performances in movies like The Secret Six (1931), her first film pairing opposite Clark Gable, and The Public Enemy (1931) opposite James Cagney, were not well received.She remained with Hughes, until he agreed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's offer to buy her contract in 1932 for $30,000 (equivalent to $643,463 in 2022). Under exclusive contract to MGM, she became one of the studio's most popular actresses. She starred in Red-Headed Woman (1932), and in Red Dust (1932), which capitalized on her "laughing vamp" image and established her as a film comedienne. From 1933 onward, Harlow was a steady top box office draw for the studio. Among the vehicles she starred in were China Seas (1935) with Clark Gable and Wallace Beery, Suzy (1936) with Cary Grant and Franchot Tone, Libeled Lady (1936) with William Powell, Spencer Tracy, and Myrna Loy, and Personal Property (1937) with Robert Taylor. During the filming of Saratoga in June 1937, Harlow collapsed on the set, effectively halting the filming. She died on June 7, at the age of 26, the cause of her death attributed to kidney failure. The studio had initial plans to start anew, with either Jean Arthur or Virginia Bruce in Harlow's role, but public backlash led to MGM finishing with Harlow's footage that was already 90% complete. Three Harlow look-alikes were used to fill in the unfinished gaps – one for close-ups, one for long-distance shots, and another to dub Harlow's voice.[19] When the film was released, it became the highest-earning film of her career, and critics proclaimed it her best performance. Harlow's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was installed at 6910 Hollywood Boulevard, in Hollywood, California, on February 8, 1960. Films Short subjects Color photo of Harlow in a swim suit sitting beside a pool Publicity image (1934) Color photo of Harlow sitting on a chair, leaning on her arm Cover of New York Sunday News magazine (1937) Jean Harlow short subjects Title Year Role Notes Ref(s) Chasing Husbands, lost film 1928 Bathing beauty Uncredited Charley Chase film Liberty 1929 Woman in cab Laurel and Hardy silent short for Hal Roach MGM Why Is a Plumber? 1929 Unknown Hal Roach The Unkissed Man 1929 Unknown Hal Roach Double Whoopee 1929 Swanky blonde Laurel and Hardy silent short for Hal Roach Thundering Toupees 1929 Unknown Hal Roach Bacon Grabbers 1929 Mrs. Kennedy Hal Roach Laurel and Hardy Weak But Willing 1929 Unbilled extra Al Christie producer Screen Snapshots 1932 Herself Columbia Pictures Hollywood on Parade No. A-12 1933 Herself Criterion Productions/Paramount Hollywood on Parade No. B-1 1933 Herself The Candid Camera Story (Very Candid) the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures 1937 Convention Preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Hollywood on Parade No. B-6 1934 Herself Criterion Productions/Paramount The Candid Camera Story (Very Candid) the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures 1937 Convention 1937 Herself Uncredited MGM Feature-length films Color likeness of Harlow drawn on a poster. An airplane is above her in the poster. Hell's Angels (1930) Gray-scale film still of Harlow and Loy facing each other Jean Harlow and Myrna Loy in Wife vs. Secretary (1936) Gray-scale film still of Harlow with Conway on right arm and Gable on left on each side of her, facing the camera Jack Conway, Jean Harlow, and Clark Gable in Saratoga (1937) Jean Harlow feature-length films Title Year Role Notes Ref(s) Honor Bound 1928 Extra Fox Film Moran of the Marines 1928 Uncredited, lost film Paramount Pictures Fugitives 1929 Uncredited Fox Film Why Be Good? 1929 Blonde on Rooftop Bench at Junior's Second Party Uncredited First National Pictures Close Harmony 1929 Chorus Girl Uncredited Paramount Pictures Masquerade 1929 Uncredited Fox Film The Saturday Night Kid 1929 Hazel Paramount Pictures Famous Lasky Corp. Preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. The Love Parade 1929 Lady-in-Waiting Uncredited Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. This Thing Called Love 1929 Uncredited Pathé Exchange New York Nights 1929 Party Guest Uncredited United Artists Corp Hell's Angels 1930 Helen Caddo Company, Inc. (Howard Hughes Preserved at the UCLA Film & Television Archive City Lights 1931 "Extra" in restaurant scene Edited out of the final film United Artists The Secret Six 1931 Anne Courtland MGM The Public Enemy 1931 Gwen Allen Warner Bros. Iron Man 1931 Rose Mason Universal Pictures Goldie 1931 Goldie Fox Film Preserved at the UCLA Film & Television Archive Platinum Blonde 1931 Anne Schuyler Columbia Pictures Three Wise Girls 1932 Cassie Barnes Columbia Pictures The Beast of the City 1932 Daisy Stevens, aka Mildred Beaumont MGM Scarface 1932 Blonde at Paradise Club Uncredited Red-Headed Woman 1932 Lillian "Lil" / "Red" Andrews Legendre MGM Red Dust 1932 Vantine MGM Hold Your Man 1933 Ruby Adams Loews Dinner at Eight 1933 Kitty Packard MGM Bombshell 1933 Lola Burns MGM The Girl from Missouri 1934 Eadie Chapman MGM Reckless 1935 Mona Leslie Loews China Seas 1935 Dolly "China Doll" Portland MGM Riffraff 1936 Hattie Muller Loews Wife vs. Secretary 1936 Helen "Whitey" Wilson MGM Suzy 1936 Suzy Trent MGM Libeled Lady 1936 Gladys Benton MGM Personal Property 1937 Crystal Wetherby MGM Saratoga 1937 Carol Clayton MGM
  • 06/7
    1937

    Death

    June 7, 1937
    Death date
    Kidney Failure - Hesitation to put her in a hospital.
    Cause of death
    Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
    Death location
  • 06/10
    1937

    Gravesite & Burial

    June 10, 1937
    Funeral date
    Fair Lawn in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
    Burial location
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7 Memories, Stories & Photos about Jean

Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow
Major Movie Star.
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Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow
Colorized Portrait.
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Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow
Portrait.
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Clark Gable and Jean Harlow.
Clark Gable and Jean Harlow.
Promotion of their film, SARATOGA.
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A Wonderful Star.
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.
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Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow
A photo of Jean Harlow in a 1930's evening dress.
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Jean Harlow's Family Tree & Friends

Jean Harlow's Family Tree

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Friendships

Jean's Friends

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Other Biographies

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