Jean Harlow
I wanted to write about my favorite actress, Jean Harlow, to introduce her to some of you who may never have heard of her, and to those of you who have, maybe you will learn something about her you didn't know.
Jean Harlow was born Harlean Harlow Carpenter on March 3, 1911 in Kansas City, Missouri, to Mont Clair Carpenter, and Jean Poe Harlow Carpenter. (yes, her mother was the Real Jean Harlow!) Jean's father was a very prominent dentist and her mother was a housewife, who doted on baby Harlean.
Harlean was brought up in a well-to-do home, and she did not want for a thing, although she never acted like the spoiled child. Jean was nicknamed "The Baby", and the name stayed with her throughout her life.
She began acting in films in 1928, and a year later, acted along side Laurel & Hardy in "Double Whoopee". It wasn't until she was in Hell's Angels did the public (and Hollywood) begin to take notice of this striking young woman with the platinum hair. Jean was on her way! Divorced from husband Charles McGrew III, Jean was enjoying her movie work. She later met and married MGM studio executive Paul Bern in July of 1932, but he would be dead only 2 months later from what many doubt was suicide.
Jean Harlow married again a few months later, to her favorite cameraman Hal Rosson, but it was to avert scandal from Jean. (She had been romantically involved with boxer Max Baer, and his wife threatened to sue Jean.) He liked Jean and went along with it. Jean later met and fell in love with actor William Powell. He gave her a beautiful star sapphire ring, but admitted to her that he did not want to marry her, although Jean was convinced she could change his mind. He took care of Jean, and tried to break her away from the unhealthy grip her mother had on her. This may also be another reason why Powell wouldn't marry Jean-he didn't want to be married to her AND her mother!
Jean's most memorable films are Red Headed Woman, Red Dust, Bombshell, Libeled Lady, Wife vs Secretary, China Seas, and Saratoga. Jean would die during the filming of Saratoga, and her unfinshed scenes were filmed with a double. After watching this film a few times, it was easy for me to tell which was Jean and which was the double (Mary Dees.) I picked up on Jean's mannerisms and that made it easy.
Jean died June 7, 1937, at the age of 26 from kidney failure. There were no transplants or dialysis in 1937, so there was no hope. Production shut down at MGM for a few hours the day Jean died, out of respect for one of the kindest, most generous actresses ever to grace it's sound stages.
I'd like to dispell some horrible rumors about Jean's death.
1.) Her mother NEVER withheld medical treatment from Jean. She just didn't want to relinquish control of her daughter OR her health to MGM. Mother Jean always had to have the one and only say in affairs that concerned her daughter. Relatives have recently come forward with Jean's medical records as proof that she received constant medical attention, even before her kidneys started failing.
2.) A drunken Paul Bern may have beat her, but that DID NOT cause her kidneys to become damaged. She had gotten scarlet fever at age 14, and that was the cause. Kidney disease can go virtually undetected for years.
3.) Bleaching her hair platinum blonde DID NOT cause her kidney failure!
Jean is buried in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California. Her tomb is marked "Our Baby." Her mother is buried below her, and the third (top) crypt, meant for William Powell, is empty. (Powell is buried in Palm Springs.) Jean's crypt is in a private area, which means it is unfortunately closed to the public.
I hope you enjoyed my short version about the life and death of one of the most beautiful stars to ever come out of Hollywood. No one could throw a fit on screen like Harlow! She was beautiful, and she was real.
Jean Harlow was born Harlean Harlow Carpenter on March 3, 1911 in Kansas City, Missouri, to Mont Clair Carpenter, and Jean Poe Harlow Carpenter. (yes, her mother was the Real Jean Harlow!) Jean's father was a very prominent dentist and her mother was a housewife, who doted on baby Harlean.
Harlean was brought up in a well-to-do home, and she did not want for a thing, although she never acted like the spoiled child. Jean was nicknamed "The Baby", and the name stayed with her throughout her life.
She began acting in films in 1928, and a year later, acted along side Laurel & Hardy in "Double Whoopee". It wasn't until she was in Hell's Angels did the public (and Hollywood) begin to take notice of this striking young woman with the platinum hair. Jean was on her way! Divorced from husband Charles McGrew III, Jean was enjoying her movie work. She later met and married MGM studio executive Paul Bern in July of 1932, but he would be dead only 2 months later from what many doubt was suicide.
Jean Harlow married again a few months later, to her favorite cameraman Hal Rosson, but it was to avert scandal from Jean. (She had been romantically involved with boxer Max Baer, and his wife threatened to sue Jean.) He liked Jean and went along with it. Jean later met and fell in love with actor William Powell. He gave her a beautiful star sapphire ring, but admitted to her that he did not want to marry her, although Jean was convinced she could change his mind. He took care of Jean, and tried to break her away from the unhealthy grip her mother had on her. This may also be another reason why Powell wouldn't marry Jean-he didn't want to be married to her AND her mother!
Jean's most memorable films are Red Headed Woman, Red Dust, Bombshell, Libeled Lady, Wife vs Secretary, China Seas, and Saratoga. Jean would die during the filming of Saratoga, and her unfinshed scenes were filmed with a double. After watching this film a few times, it was easy for me to tell which was Jean and which was the double (Mary Dees.) I picked up on Jean's mannerisms and that made it easy.
Jean died June 7, 1937, at the age of 26 from kidney failure. There were no transplants or dialysis in 1937, so there was no hope. Production shut down at MGM for a few hours the day Jean died, out of respect for one of the kindest, most generous actresses ever to grace it's sound stages.
I'd like to dispell some horrible rumors about Jean's death.
1.) Her mother NEVER withheld medical treatment from Jean. She just didn't want to relinquish control of her daughter OR her health to MGM. Mother Jean always had to have the one and only say in affairs that concerned her daughter. Relatives have recently come forward with Jean's medical records as proof that she received constant medical attention, even before her kidneys started failing.
2.) A drunken Paul Bern may have beat her, but that DID NOT cause her kidneys to become damaged. She had gotten scarlet fever at age 14, and that was the cause. Kidney disease can go virtually undetected for years.
3.) Bleaching her hair platinum blonde DID NOT cause her kidney failure!
Jean is buried in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California. Her tomb is marked "Our Baby." Her mother is buried below her, and the third (top) crypt, meant for William Powell, is empty. (Powell is buried in Palm Springs.) Jean's crypt is in a private area, which means it is unfortunately closed to the public.
I hope you enjoyed my short version about the life and death of one of the most beautiful stars to ever come out of Hollywood. No one could throw a fit on screen like Harlow! She was beautiful, and she was real.
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