Jean Harlow
Actor1911–1937· Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Jean Harlow

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.

86 acting credits

Acting · 86

Intimate Portrait
4.5
TV

Intimate Portrait

1993

MGM Parade
9.0
TV

MGM Parade

1955

Scarface
7.4
Film

Scarface

1932

The Public Enemy
7.3
Film

The Public Enemy

1931

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
8.0
Film

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

1995

The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes
6.3
Film

The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes

2022

Red-Headed Woman
6.6
Film

Red-Headed Woman

1932

Three Wise Girls
5.7
Film

Three Wise Girls

1932

Hell's Angels
6.5
Film

Hell's Angels

1930

Dinner at Eight
6.8
Film

Dinner at Eight

1933

Los Angeles Plays Itself
7.6
Film

Los Angeles Plays Itself

2004

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
6.5
Film

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

1987

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
7.0
Film

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983

That's Entertainment!
7.4
Film

That's Entertainment!

1974

The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
8.3
Film

The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn

1986

Complicated Women
6.9
Film

Complicated Women

2003

That's Entertainment, Part II
7.0
Film

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
6.3
Film

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975

Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl
8.3
Film

Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl

1999

Becoming Marilyn
7.6
Film

Becoming Marilyn

2022

China Seas
6.2
Film

China Seas

1935

Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
7.5
Film

Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth

2020

Wife vs. Secretary
6.7
Film

Wife vs. Secretary

1936

Red Dust
6.9
Film

Red Dust

1932

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

Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

2007

Platinum Blonde
6.7
Film

Platinum Blonde

1931

Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
6.1
Film

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

2008

That's Entertainment! III
7.0
Film

That's Entertainment! III

1994

Libeled Lady
7.3
Film

Libeled Lady

1936

Bombshell
6.5
Film

Bombshell

1933

Going Hollywood: The '30s
9.0
Film

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984

Sports on the Silver Screen
9.0
Film

Sports on the Silver Screen

1997

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
6.0
Film

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

2006

Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe
7.8
Film

Dream Girl: The Making of Marilyn Monroe

2022

The Big Parade of Comedy
7.2
Film

The Big Parade of Comedy

1964

Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
7.4
Film

Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend

1986

The Beast of the City
5.9
Film

The Beast of the City

1932

The Secret Six
5.6
Film

The Secret Six

1931

The Love Parade
6.7
Film

The Love Parade

1929

Hollywood: The Dream Factory
7.3
Film

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

1972

Riffraff
5.4
Film

Riffraff

1936

Saratoga
6.5
Film

Saratoga

1937

The Girl from Missouri
7.4
Film

The Girl from Missouri

1934

Honor Bound
9.0
Film

Honor Bound

1928

Suzy
5.9
Film

Suzy

1936

Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies
9.0
Film

Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies

2000

Judy Garland: By Myself
8.3
Film

Judy Garland: By Myself

2004

Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary
10.0
Film

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

1945

Goldie
5.6
Film

Goldie

1931

Reckless
5.1
Film

Reckless

1935

Personal Property
6.9
Film

Personal Property

1937

The Golden Age of Comedy
7.1
Film

The Golden Age of Comedy

1957

Why Be Good?
6.8
Film

Why Be Good?

1929

Iron Man
5.7
Film

Iron Man

1931

This Thing Called Love
9.0
Film

This Thing Called Love

1929

Death Scenes
4.5
Film

Death Scenes

1989

Hold Your Man
6.3
Film

Hold Your Man

1933

New York Nights
5.5
Film

New York Nights

1929

Liberty
6.9
Film

Liberty

1929

Checking Out: Grand Hotel
7.0
Film

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

2004

Beau Hunks
6.8
Film

Beau Hunks

1931

Double Whoopee
6.8
Film

Double Whoopee

1929

Hollywood on Parade No. A-12
Film

Hollywood on Parade No. A-12

1933

Death In Hollywood
6.8
Film

Death In Hollywood

1990

The Saturday Night Kid
4.7
Film

The Saturday Night Kid

1929

Fugitives
10.0
Film

Fugitives

1929

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
Film

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

1942

Bacon Grabbers
6.4
Film

Bacon Grabbers

1929

Close Harmony
6.8
Film

Close Harmony

1929

The Casting Couch
8.3
Film

The Casting Couch

1995

Moran of the Marines
7.0
Film

Moran of the Marines

1928

Why Is a Plumber?
8.0
Film

Why Is a Plumber?

1929

Discovering Jean Harlow
10.0
Film

Discovering Jean Harlow

2015

Marilyn Monroe
10.0
Film

Marilyn Monroe

1986

The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy
7.0
Film

The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy

1967

The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell
Film

The Love Story of Jean Harlow and William Powell

2023

Thundering Toupees
Film

Thundering Toupees

1929

Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
Film

Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

1988

Weak But Willing
9.0
Film

Weak But Willing

1929

Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell
Film

Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell

1996

Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public
7.8
Film

Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

2005

Masquerade
10.0
Film

Masquerade

1929

Chasing Husbands
7.0
Film

Chasing Husbands

1928

Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)
Film

Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)

1931

Two Tragic Blondes - Marilyn Monroe And Jean Harlow
9.0
Film

Two Tragic Blondes - Marilyn Monroe And Jean Harlow

1989

The Unkissed Man
Film

The Unkissed Man

1929

Jean Harlow — BragThat