Jean Harlow Biography

Jean Harlow started her life in Kansas City as Harlean Carpenter, the daughter of a dentist. At the age of 16 she eloped with a 23-year old businessman, Charles McGrew, moving to Los Angeles to look for work in films.

Having landed only bit parts, walk-ons and extra work, the marriage ended in divorce after only two years, and Harlow adopted her mother's maiden name just before her big break.

Howard Hughes' World War I epic remake, 'Hell's Angels', required her to do little other than look good, but was a big hit. Realising her potential, Hughes based much of the publicity for the film around her, before selling her contract on to MGM for $60,000.

Her next films cemented her image as a sex siren, famously claiming in interviews never to wear underwear and to sleep in the nude. A brief marriage to producer Paul Bern ended with his suicide, but failed to halt her career.

Adding comedy to her looks, films such as 'Red-Headed Woman' and 'Bombshell' improved her critical reputation, as well as establishing her as a major star. Her brassy, lively humour and starlet looks made her a strong box-office success, prompting a brief salary strike in 1934, when her wages failed to keep pace.

The disapproval of the Hayes Office and the adoption of Hollywood's Production Code forced MGM to tone down the saucier (and more predatory) aspects of her on-screen persona, and a brief attempt at musicals was regarded as a mistake. Another short marriage (to cameraman Harold Rosson) came and went but her career continued apace.

In 1937, whilst filming 'Saratoga', Harlow was admitted to hospital suffering from complications arising from a long-standing kidney complaint. Despite all efforts she died, aged only 26, of acute uremic poisoning. The film was completed, using her body double Mary Dees in long shots, and released to great commercial success.

With her chequered romantic history, strong screen image and early death, Harlow became the architype of the American screen sex-symbol and the blue-print that many, including Marilyn Monroe, would later try to emulate.