Jean Harlow

Who was Jean Harlow?

Jean Harlow was an American film actress and sex symbol of the 1930s.

After being signed by director Howard Hughes, Harlow's first major appearance was in Hell's Angels, followed by a series of critically unsuccessful films, before signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1932. Harlow became a leading lady for MGM, starring in a string of hit films including Red Dust, Dinner at Eight, Reckless and Suzy. Her co-stars often included William Powell, Spencer Tracy and, in six films, Clark Gable.

Harlow's popularity rivaled and soon surpassed fellow MGM actresses Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer. She had become one of the biggest movie stars in the world by the late 1930s, often nicknamed the "Blonde Bombshell" and the "Platinum Blonde", and popular for her "Laughing Vamp" movie persona.

She died of renal failure during the filming of Saratoga in 1937 at the age of 26. The film was completed using doubles and released a little over a month after Harlow's death. The American Film Institute ranked her as the 22nd greatest female movie star.