Before Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, Jean Harlow was the original “blonde bombshell” — and these iconic photos show why.
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She was a illustrious actress , comedienne , and the reason why peroxide sales skyrocketed in the 1930s . Jean Harlow only embrace Hollywood because her mother yearned for the limelight . But destiny importune that the sultry star leave a important mark on pop culture — before leaving too presently .
As a movie star , Harlow was at the forefront of a trend . " Sound came in 1929 . Jean Harlow was the very first blonde bombshell who spoke and made strait on screen , " notes Jean Harlow expert and collector Darrell Rooney .
Jean Harlow in a publicity still forBlonde Bombshellin 1932.
Harlow ’s captivating career included 36 films over just 10 yr . Her iconic look was marked by the Pt hairstyle created by cosmetician Mr. Max Factor , which caused him to strike the very phrase " light-haired thunderclap . "
A giving - CRT screen vixen , Jean Harlow chip at out a ecological niche in Old Hollywood that many other aspirer would set out to emulate . However , only a select few would accomplish or exceed the status that she allow for the bench mark for .
One star topology who managed to do so was the legendaryMarilyn Monroe , who idolize Jean Harlow growing up . In fact , some say Monroe mold her winsome onscreen character after Jean Harlow ’s real personality .
See some of the most iconic images of Jean Harlow in the photo gallery above , then watch more about her life and end below .
The Early Life And Career Of Jean Harlow
John Kobal Foundation / Getty ImagesA photograph of young Jean Harlow , before her " blonde bombshell " days .
Born on March 3 , 1911 , in Kansas City , Missouri , Harlean Harlow Carpenter had simple childhood dreams and hoped to become a writer . It was her female parent who wanted her to become the star thatshenever was .
As Harlean ’s female parent got dissociate , relocated , attempted to break into the movie manufacture , and eventually remarried , the unseasoned girl suffered from numerous puerility illnesses , let in meningitis and crimson fever .
By the time Harlean was 16 years old , she had eloped with a flush immature humans constitute Charles McGrew and relocated to Beverly Hills . There , she was noticed by movie executives and began to receive offer to look in films . Much to the delectation of Harlean ’s female parent , she decide to give acting a endeavour .
Harlean and McGrew shortly divorced , as he did n’t support her quest after a calling in Hollywood . But Harlean , who started using her mother ’s initiatory name as Jean Harlow , was about to set out an exciting Modern chapter .
fit in toHISTORY , Jean Harlow initially worked with producer Hal Roach , appearing in the moviesDouble WhoopeeandThe Saturday Night Kidin 1929 . But it was only when she started knead with Howard Hughes that she sustain her big break in 1930 , with the filmHell ’s Angels .
From there , her renown grew to epic proportions and her talent retain to shine . But in the midst of her success , she ’d also endure heartbreak .
Love And Tragedy For A Hollywood Icon
Keystone - France / Gamma - Keystone via Getty ImagesJean Harlow with her last romantic partner William Powell . 1935 .
As Jean Harlow stay on to delight movie audiences in films likeRed - Headed WomanandRed Dust , she found love again . She married her 2d husband , manufacturer Paul Bern , in 1932 . But in a tragic turn of events , Bern accidentally died just two months into the couplet ’s union , while Harlow was spending a night at her mother ’s house .
Since Bern had reportedly been found dead in the couple ’s planetary house with a gunfire injury to the question and a gunman in his hand , the police force ruled his death a felo-de-se . But accord toSFGATE , not everyone believes that Bern killed himself — especially since MGM methadone hydrochloride had seemingly been to the home hours before police showed up and may have altered the death fit .
And MGM also had a story prepared to explain why Bern had pull suicide — one that Harlow publicly disaccord with .
" They said , ' Paul Bern kill himself because he was impotent and could n’t satisfy his untried , glamorous married woman , ' " accumulator Darrell Rooney toldFox News . " This is incredibly salacious in 1932 and this is play around the world … But the thing about Jean Harlow that ’s interesting is that she did n’t go along with what MGM said . She state , ' There was nothing awry with my marriage . ' She kept importune on it . She defied the studio , and she stood by her husband . "
Some believe that Bern was murdered by his first wife Dorothy Millette ( who he may have still been married to when he we d Harlow ) . Shockingly , Millette herself was found dead by suicide shortly after Bern ’s death .
Jean Harlow finally found the love of her life-time in thespian William Powell . But while the two entered a serious romanticistic relationship , the couple would never marry . And tragically , Harlow before long fall severely sick .
The Death Of Jean Harlow
Evening Standard / Getty ImagesA photo of legendary actress Jean Harlow in 1933 .
During the 1937 filming of Jean Harlow ’s last moving picture , Saratoga , she was visibly macabre and unaccented , worrying the cast and crew . accord toLAist , she eventually crack right on the set of the film and had to be train to the hospital .
At first , it was thought that Harlow was merely deal with a stern suit of flu . But that was just one health yield she had — her kidney were also failing . And at the infirmary , she was diagnosed with uremic toxic condition .
Jean Harlow pass just a few days subsequently on June 7 , 1937 . She was only 26 years old at the time , and the world was shocked by her untimely death .
Before long , rumor began to spread regarding her decease . Some wondered whether she had been envenom or seriously beaten by one of her ex - hubby , or if her mother forbade her from using mod medicine that could have saved her . Some even chew over that her hair dyestuff kill her , that she drank herself to death , or that she suffered from a bungled abortion .
In realism , the most likely explanation is that Jean Harlow ’s past experiences with childhood illnesses — specially scarlet fever — had irreversibly damage her kidneys . They then slowly failed , post her to an former grave accent .
Tragically , if something like this happened today , doctors could have potentially save her . But in 1937 , there was no way to deal kidney loser .
Louis B. Mayer of MGM organized Harlow ’s funeral in Hollywood , and William Powell paid for his dearest ’s body to be put to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Park , in Glendale , California . Her tombstone bears the parole " Our Baby . "
Today , Harlow is remembered as a gifted and beautiful actress whose whizz would have probably continue to glow brightly for decades ahead . Though she conk out tragically young , there ’s no interrogative that she pave the way for unnumerable other immature comediennes to follow in her footsteps .
After looking through these iconic photos of Jean Harlow , read aboutRita Hayworth , the 1940s sex symbol with a tragical animation story . Then , retrieve out the details behindMarilyn Monroe ’s untimely death .
John Kobal Foundation/Getty ImagesA photo of young Jean Harlow, before her “blonde bombshell” days.
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty ImagesJean Harlow with her last romantic partner William Powell. 1935.
Evening Standard/Getty ImagesA photo of legendary actress Jean Harlow in 1933.
