Acting · Kansas City, Missouri, USA · Born March 3, 1911
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.
MovieThe Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell
2023
as Self (archive footage)
MovieDream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe
2022
MovieBecoming Marilyn
2022
as (archive footage)
MovieJay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
2020
as Self(archive footage)
MovieDiscovering Jean Harlow
2015
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
2008
as Various Roles (archive footage)
MovieWhy Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
2007
as Self (archive footage)
Movie42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
2006
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBeer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
2005
as Self (archive footage)
MovieJudy Garland: By Myself
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
2004
as Self (archive footage)
MovieComplicated Women
2003
as Self (archive footage)
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
2001
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHoward Hughes: His Women and His Movies
2000
as Self (archive footage)
MovieClara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl
1999
as Self (from The Saturday Night Kid [1929]) (archive footage)
MovieSports on the Silver Screen
1997
as Self (archive footage)
MovieJean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell
1996
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful
1996
as Self (archive footage)
Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell
1995
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBetty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
1995
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Casting Couch
1995
MovieThat's Entertainment! III
1994
as (archive footage)
TVIntimate Portrait
1993
as Self
MovieDeath In Hollywood
1990
Two Tragic Blondes - Marilyn Monroe And Jean Harlow
1989
MovieDeath Scenes
1989
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHollywood Scandals and Tragedies
1988
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieJames Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
as Self (archive footage)
MovieMarilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
1986
as archive footage
MovieThe Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
1986
as Self (archive footage)
MovieMarilyn Monroe
1986
as archive footage
MovieGoing Hollywood: The '30s
1984
as (archive footage)
MovieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieThat's Entertainment, Part II
1976
as (archive footage)
MovieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThat's Entertainment!
1974
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieHollywood: The Dream Factory
1972
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy
1967
MovieThe Big Parade of Comedy
1964
as Ruby in 'Hold Your Man' (archive footage)
MovieHollywood: The Selznick Years
1961
as Self - Actress 'Dinner at Eight' (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieThe Golden Age of Comedy
1957
as archive footage
TVMGM Parade
1955
as Self
MovieScreen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary
1945
as Self (archive footage)
MovieScreen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
1942
as Self (archive footage)
MovieSaratoga
1937
as Carol Clayton
MoviePersonal Property
1937
as Crystal Wetherby
MovieLibeled Lady
1936
as Gladys
MovieSuzy
1936
as Suzy
MovieWife vs. Secretary
1936
as Helen 'Whitey' Wilson
MovieRiffraff
1936
as Hattie
MovieChina Seas
1935
as Dolly 'China Doll' Portland
MovieReckless
1935
as Mona Leslie
MovieThe Girl from Missouri
1934
as Eadie
MovieDinner at Eight
1933
as Kitty Packard
MovieBombshell
1933
as Lola Burns
MovieHold Your Man
1933
as Ruby Adams
MovieHollywood on Parade No. A-12
1933
as Self
MovieRed Dust
1932
as Vantine Jefferson
MovieRed-Headed Woman
1932
as Lillian 'Lil' / 'Red' Andrews Legendre
MovieScarface
1932
as Blonde at Paradise Club
MovieThe Beast of the City
1932
as Daisy Stevens aka Mildred Beaumont
MovieThree Wise Girls
1932
as Cassie Barnes
MovieVoice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)
1931
as Self
MovieBeau Hunks
1931
as Jeanie Weenie - in Photo
MoviePlatinum Blonde
1931
as Ann Schuyler
MovieGoldie
1931
as Goldie
MovieIron Man
1931
as Rose Mason
MovieThe Public Enemy
1931
as Gwen Allen
MovieThe Secret Six
1931
as Anne Courtland
MovieHell's Angels
1930
as Helen
MovieNew York Nights
1929
as Party Guest
MovieWeak But Willing
1929
as Blonde Night Club Patron
MovieThis Thing Called Love
1929
as Extra
MovieThe Love Parade
1929
as Woman in Opera Box (uncredited)
MovieThe Saturday Night Kid
1929
as Hazel
MovieBacon Grabbers
1929
as Mrs. Kennedy
MovieMasquerade
1929
as Spectator
MovieThundering Toupees
1929
MovieDouble Whoopee
1929
as Swanky blonde
MovieThe Unkissed Man
1929
as Patient
MovieClose Harmony
1929
as Chorus Girl
MovieWhy Is a Plumber?
1929
MovieWhy Be Good?
1929
as Blonde on Rooftop Bench at Junior's Second Party
MovieFugitives
1929
as Extra (uncredited)
MovieLiberty
1929
as Woman in cab (as Harlean Carpenter)
MovieChasing Husbands
1928
as Bathing Beauty (uncredited)
MovieMoran of the Marines
1928
as Extra (uncredited)
MovieHonor Bound
1928
as Extra
