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Jean Harlow

Acting Born Mar 3, 1911 Died Jun 7, 1937 Kansas City, Missouri, USA 88 credits

Biography

Jean Harlow was an American actress known for her portrayal of characters. She was a leading sex symbol of the early 1930s and one of the defining figures of the pre-Code era of American cinema. Harlow was nicknamed the "Blonde Bombshell" and the "Platinum Blonde" and was popular for her "Laughing Vamp" screen persona. Her screen persona changed during her career, but one constant was her sense of humor. She was given superior movie roles to show off her looks and nascent comedic talent. Harlow was active in the film industry for nine years and became one of the biggest stars in the US.

Sources & verification Jean Harlow — The Movie Database (TMDB) Jean Harlow How Archytele verifies pages
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Career

Career overview

Jean Harlow was an American actress known for her portrayal of certain characters. She was a leading sex symbol of the early 1930s and one of the defining figures of the pre-Code era of American cinema. Harlow's screen persona underwent significant changes during her career, but her sense of humor remained a constant aspect of her performances.

Harlow was given superior movie roles to showcase her looks and nascent comedic talent. Her image became one of the biggest stars in the US, although the extent of her popularity and the nature of her film career are not specified in the provided information.

Harlow's acting career spanned nine years, during which she appeared in numerous films. The exact number of her film appearances is not stated in the provided sources, but it is mentioned that she had 88 known credits.

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Known for

Film

That's Entertainment! III

as (archive footage)

Intimate Portrait

as Self
Film

That's Entertainment!

as (archive footage) (uncredited)

Böyle mi Olacaktı

as archive footage

MGM Parade

as Self

The New Adventures of Kimba The White Lion

as Crystal Wetherby
Film

Scarface

as Blonde at Paradise Club
Film

The Public Enemy

as Gwen Allen

Frequent co-stars

Paul Muni 1 shared title
Ann Dvorak 1 shared title
Karen Morley 1 shared title
Osgood Perkins 1 shared title
C. Henry Gordon 1 shared title
George Raft 1 shared title
Vince Barnett 1 shared title
Boris Karloff 1 shared title
Purnell Pratt 1 shared title
Tully Marshall 1 shared title

Career timeline

The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell
Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn MonroeBecoming Marilyn
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
Discovering Jean Harlow
Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
Judy Garland: By MyselfChecking Out: Grand Hotel
Complicated Women
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies
Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl
Sports on the Silver Screen
Jean Harlow: Platinum BombshellThe Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful
The Casting CouchLegends in Light: The Photography of George HurrellBetty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
That's Entertainment! III
Intimate Portrait
Death In Hollywood
Death ScenesTwo Tragic Blondes - Marilyn Monroe And Jean Harlow
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine HepburnMarilyn Monroe: Beyond the LegendMarilyn Monroe
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
That's Entertainment, Part II
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
That's Entertainment!
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy

Full filmography

  • The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell (2023) as Self (archive footage)
  • Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe (2022)
  • Becoming Marilyn (2022) as (archive footage)
  • Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth (2020) as Self(archive footage)
  • Discovering Jean Harlow (2015) as Self (archive footage)
  • Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008) as Various Roles (archive footage)
  • Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema (2007) as Self (archive footage)
  • 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage (2006) as Self (archive footage)
  • Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public (2005) as Self (archive footage)
  • Judy Garland: By Myself (2004) as Self (archive footage)
  • Checking Out: Grand Hotel (2004) as Self (archive footage)
  • Complicated Women (2003) as Self (archive footage)
  • Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel (2001) as Self (archive footage)
  • Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies (2000) as Self (archive footage)
  • Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl (1999) as Self (from The Saturday Night Kid [1929]) (archive footage)
  • Sports on the Silver Screen (1997) as Self (archive footage)
  • Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell (1996) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful (1996) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Casting Couch (1995)
  • Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell (1995) as Self (archive footage)
  • Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons (1995) as Self (archive footage)
  • That's Entertainment! III (1994) as (archive footage)
  • Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
  • Death In Hollywood (1990)
  • Death Scenes (1989) as Self (archive footage)
  • Two Tragic Blondes - Marilyn Monroe And Jean Harlow (1989)
  • Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies (1988) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1987) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn (1986) as Self (archive footage)
  • Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend (1986) as archive footage
  • Marilyn Monroe (1986) as archive footage
  • Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984) as (archive footage)
  • Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • That's Entertainment, Part II (1976) as (archive footage)
  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) as Self (archive footage)
  • That's Entertainment! (1974) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy (1967)
  • The Big Parade of Comedy (1964) as Ruby in 'Hold Your Man' (archive footage)
  • Hollywood: The Selznick Years (1961) as Self - Actress 'Dinner at Eight' (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • The Golden Age of Comedy (1957) as archive footage
  • MGM Parade (1955) as Self
  • Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary (1945) as Self (archive footage)
  • Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) (1942) as Self (archive footage)
  • Saratoga (1937) as Carol Clayton
  • Personal Property (1937) as Crystal Wetherby
  • Libeled Lady (1936) as Gladys
  • Wife vs. Secretary (1936) as Helen 'Whitey' Wilson
  • Riffraff (1936) as Hattie
  • Suzy (1936) as Suzy
  • China Seas (1935) as Dolly 'China Doll' Portland
  • Reckless (1935) as Mona Leslie
  • The Girl from Missouri (1934) as Eadie
  • Dinner at Eight (1933) as Kitty Packard
  • Bombshell (1933) as Lola Burns
  • Hold Your Man (1933) as Ruby Adams
  • Hollywood on Parade No. A-12 (1933) as Self
  • Scarface (1932) as Blonde at Paradise Club
  • Red-Headed Woman (1932) as Lillian 'Lil' / 'Red' Andrews Legendre
  • Red Dust (1932) as Vantine Jefferson
  • The Beast of the City (1932) as Daisy Stevens aka Mildred Beaumont
  • Three Wise Girls (1932) as Cassie Barnes
  • Beau Hunks (1931) as Jeanie Weenie - in Photo
  • Goldie (1931) as Goldie
  • The Public Enemy (1931) as Gwen Allen
  • The Secret Six (1931) as Anne Courtland
  • Iron Man (1931) as Rose Mason
  • Platinum Blonde (1931) as Ann Schuyler
  • Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3) (1931) as Self
  • Hell's Angels (1930) as Helen
  • Bacon Grabbers (1929) as Mrs. Kennedy
  • Double Whoopee (1929) as Swanky blonde
  • The Love Parade (1929) as Woman in Opera Box (uncredited)
  • Liberty (1929) as Woman in cab (as Harlean Carpenter)
  • The Unkissed Man (1929) as Patient
  • The Saturday Night Kid (1929) as Hazel
  • Masquerade (1929) as Spectator
  • Why Be Good? (1929) as Blonde on Rooftop Bench at Junior's Second Party
  • New York Nights (1929) as Party Guest
  • Why Is a Plumber? (1929)
  • This Thing Called Love (1929) as Extra
  • Fugitives (1929) as Extra (uncredited)
  • Close Harmony (1929) as Chorus Girl
  • Thundering Toupees (1929)
  • Weak But Willing (1929) as Blonde Night Club Patron
  • Chasing Husbands (1928) as Bathing Beauty (uncredited)
  • Honor Bound (1928) as Extra
  • Moran of the Marines (1928) as Extra (uncredited)