The Tragic Life and Death of Jean Harlow, Hollywood's Original Blonde Bombshell Eight decades after her untimely and controversial death, a look back at the rise and fall of one of the brightest stars of the silver screen. Even though the successes of these films ranged from moderate to hit, Harlow's acting ability was mocked by critics. Harlow's signature, hands and footprints were imprinted in cement on September 29, 1933, in the 24th ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater and are located near the forecourt on the west side of the box office at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California. Harlean Carpenter, who later became Jean Harlow, was born in Kansas WebJean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter; March 3, 1911 June 7, 1937) was an American actress. I was always under the impression that Dorothy was his wife. Millettes health took a turn and, according to newspaper accounts, she moved into a sanitarium. Harlow, never one for single life, married the year after Berns death. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. While waiting for Rosalie, Harlean was noticed and approached by Fox executives, whom she told she was not interested. [22][23], In March 1929, she parted with Hal Roach, who tore up her contract after Harlow told him, "It's breaking up my marriage, what can I do? His death threatened to halt production of the film, and MGM chief Louis B. Mayer had even contacted Tallulah Bankhead to replace Harlow if she were unable to continue, a step that proved to be unnecessary. Died: June 7, 1937 (aged 26) Los Angeles California See all related content Jean Harlow, original name Harlean Harlow Carpenter, (born March 3, 1911, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.died June 7, 1937, Los Angeles, California), American actress who was the original Blonde Bombshell. Then, something went wrong. WebJean Harlow, motion picture actress, photographed on April 6th after calling on President Hoover at the White House. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. By Taysha Murtaugh Published: Sep 19, 2017 Save Article After a series of critically failed films, and Hughes' loss of interest in her career, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer bought out Harlow's contract in 1932[3] and cast her in leading roles in a string of hits built on her comedic talent: Red-Headed Woman (1932), Red Dust (1932), Dinner at Eight (1933), Reckless (1935) and Suzy (1936). It is fair to say that Harlow had a tumultuous life. Plot. In May 1937 she was the very first motion picture actress to grace the cover of "Life" magazine. Right before her death, it was evident she was nearing the end, and as TCM reveals, even on camera, her face appeared bloated and strange in The Tragic Life and Death of Jean Harlow, Hollywood's Original Blonde Bombshell Eight decades after her untimely and controversial death, a look back at the rise and fall of one of the brightest stars of the silver screen. It seemed Harlow wasnt his only spouse. There is a problem with your email/password. At least not for long. Search instead in. GREAT NEWS! She had been given two blood transfusions and injections and placed in an oxygen tent, but she lapsed into a coma early to-day and never regained consciousness. Police discovered a note WebPhotograph caption dated June 9, 1937 reads "In virtual collapse over the death of her 'baby,' whom the world knew and loved as Jean Harlow. [115] Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM, had prevented the book from being sold by putting an injunction on it using a clause in Harlow's contract: her services as an artist can't be used without MGM's permission. The tangled tale of Jean Harlow, her dead husband and a woman found drowned in Sacramento, Here's where to stream the Oscar-nominated movies. Harlow's inscription on her crypt reads, "Our Baby".[103]. However, production was delayed when she developed sepsis after a multiple wisdom tooth extraction, and had to be hospitalized. Still young, her star continued to rise while the popularity of other female stars at MGM, such as Garbo, Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer, waned. She married her first husband on January 18, 1927, at age 15 and was divorced a few years later. Almost two months later, Harlow recovered, and shooting began on April 22, 1937. Actress: Suzy. WebPhotograph caption dated September 9, 1932 reads "Photo shows Jean Harlow weeping today at the funeral of her husband, Paul Bern. Get me back to my dressing room." Age: Dec. at 29 (1923-1953) Birthplace: Mount Olive, Alabama, United States of America More Hank Williams #154 of 542 on The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time #51 of 221 on The Greatest Rock Songwriters Of All Time #225 of Women like me because I don't look like a girl who would steal a husband. Harlow officially joined the studio on April 20, 1932. While Bern built up his career at MGM, he continued to support his wife back in New York. [10], In 1923, the 32-year-old Jean Carpenter took her daughter and moved to Hollywood in hopes of becoming an actress, but was told that she was too old to begin a film career. Marvin Gaye's career was cut short when he was shot by his own father on April 1, 1984. While only in the spotlight for ten short years, her life was cut short by her untimely death, and one can only speculate as to what might have transpired had she had a normal lifespan. Resend Activation Email. Kelly, also known as Princess Grace of Monaco, drew film stars and royalty to her funeral in Monaco's St. Nicholas Cathedral. Thanks for your help! [105] The film was released on July 23, 1937, less than two months after Harlow's death, and was a hit with audiences,[106][107] grossing $3.3 million in worldwide rentals[108] and becoming MGM's most successful film of the year, as well as the highest-grossing film of her career. Even if you simply came to this list to learn more about the final moments of your favorite celeb, you may find a bit of closure as well, but keep in mind that photos of dead bodies are sometimes difficult to see. At 22, Harlow was one of the biggest film stars in the world. Katie Dowd is a senior digital editor with SFGATE. Spaces in the same room were reserved for Harlow's mother and Powell. At 2:30 a.m., a Walnut Creek man went for a constitutional on the top deck. [41] No one could, and the prize went unclaimed, but the publicity scheme worked and the "Platinum Blonde" nickname stuck with Harlow. One of the letters was written a few months before Bern and Harlows wedding. Death. The timeline alone seems to rule it out: Millette would have had to go to Beverly Hills, kill Bern in the wee hours of the morning and return to San Francisco before noon in order to be seen checking out of the Plaza Hotel. [117], In 1965, two films about Jean Harlow were released, both titled Harlow. A portrait of Dorothy Millette, the first wife of MGM producer Paul Bern, who later married Jean Harlow. Van Dyke's comedy Personal Property (1937), co-starring Robert Taylor. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. [81], On May 20, 1937, while filming Saratoga, Harlow began to complain of illness. In her later films Wife versus Secretary, Libelled Lady, and Possessed, she showed that she was equal to the best women stars in Hollywood as an actress and ahead of most of them in vitality. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. The relationship ended when he reportedly referred to her in derogatory and vulgar terms when speaking to other associated crime figures, as revealed in secret surveillance recordings.[38][39][40]. [41][42] Though Harlow denied her hair was bleached,[43] the platinum blonde color was reportedly achieved with a weekly application of ammonia, Clorox bleach, and Lux soap flakes. [45] Many female fans began dyeing their hair to match hers and Hughes' team organized a series of "Platinum Blonde" clubs across the nation offering a prize of $10,000 to any beautician who could match Harlow's shade. [33][34] With no other projects planned for Harlow at the time, Hughes decided to send her to New York, Seattle, and Kansas City for Hell's Angels premieres. Try again later. Her co-star in five movies, Clark Gable was a pallbearer, and Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy sang at the ceremony. [14], During Harlows freshman year at the school, she was paired with a "big sister" from the senior class who introduced her to 19-year-old Charles "Chuck" Fremont McGrew III, an heir to a large fortune. WebTwo months after marrying Jean Harlow, on September 5, Bern was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in their home on Easton Drive in Beverly Hills, California. The doctor was not aware that Harlow had been ill during the previous year with a severe sunburn and influenza. The [86][89], Dr. Leland Chapman, a colleague of Fishbaugh, was called in to give a second opinion on Harlow's condition. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Mrs. Jean Bello is shown being assisted into the Wee Kirk o' the Heather at Forest Lawn today for the funeral of her daughter. "[24] In June 1929, Harlow separated from her husband and moved in with Mother Jean and Bello. [46], According to Fay Wray, who played Ann Darrow in RKO Pictures's King Kong (1933), Harlow was the original choice to play the screaming blonde heroine, but was under an exclusive contract with MGM during the film's pre-production phaseand the part went to Wray, a brunette who had to wear a blonde wig. You can always change this later in your Account settings. The following year, she was teamed with Lionel Barrymore and Tone in The Girl from Missouri (1934). [88] When she did not return to set, a concerned Gable visited her and later remarked that she was severely bloated and that he smelled urine on her breath when he kissed herboth signs of kidney failure. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. This is one of a set of pictures showing Hollywood figures and their mothers, with whom they are seen frequently in the film capital. The marble mausoleum cost him $25,000 and had an additional space meant to house Powell one day. The last recorded picture of Hollywood starlet Jean Harlow, taken on June 6th 1937 on the movie set of Saratoga - one day before her death from kidney failure and cerebral edema at the age of 26. comments sorted Several weeks later, Skip sent his granddaughter to summer camp at Camp Cha-Ton-Ka, in Michigamme, Michigan, where she became ill with scarlet fever. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. The couple were reportedly engaged for two years,[65] but differences that ranged from past marriages to Powell's uncertainty about the future, kept them from publicly formalizing their relationship. [120], In 1978, Lindsay Bloom portrayed her in Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell. No one understood what Jean Harlow saw in Paul Bern. Her personal life was the substance that the tabloid media thrived upon: The suicide of her second husband, her relationships with gangsters, nude photos at the age of 17, problems with a greedy stepfather, and a supposed abortion. Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor in Personal Property, 1937. [31] The New Yorker called her performance "plain awful",[32] though Variety magazine conceded, "It doesn't matter what degree of talent she possesses nobody ever starved possessing what she's got. She had been married twice before. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Age: Dec. at 29 (1923-1953) Birthplace: Mount Olive, Alabama, United States of America More Hank Williams #154 of 542 on The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time #51 of 221 on The Greatest Rock Songwriters Of All Time #225 of [15] Jean Carpenter was also married that same year to Marino Bello, on January 18. 2023 Getty Images. The first film was released by Magna Corporation in May 1965, and starred Carol Lynley. In 1973, Lee died of cerebral edema after completinghis final film, Enter the Dragon,in Hong Kong. Men like me because I don't wear a brassiere. The publication rights were passed from Harlow's mother to a family friend, and the book was finally published in 1965. His first wife, the woman he was still married to, was Dorothy Millette. While MGM went to work spinning the story to protect their star, police were seeking a paper trail. She died of uremic poisoning at age 26. A 2009 biography of Bern asserted that Bern was, in fact, murdered by a former lover and the crime scene re-arranged by MGM executives to make it appear Bern had killed himself. Despite critical disparagement and poor roles, Harlow's popularity and following were large and growing, and in February 1932, the tour was extended by six weeks. Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Benediction, Private Family Mausoleum Room #34, Crypt B. Weve updated the security on the site. In Beverly Hills, police at the home of Jean Harlow were also wondering where they could find Dorothy Millette. Scarlet fever is a rash that can develop all over the body of someone who has strep throat, and it's often accompanied by a fever. He was from a working-class background. The doctors say she never rallied after a relapse last night. Two hours later, a night watchman making the rounds found a womans coat and shoes on the deck. WebJean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter; March 3, 1911 June 7, 1937) was an American actress. What happened in room 1219? Her platinum blonde hair and salacious curves catapulted her to fame in the 1930 Howard Hughes classic Hells Angels. Around that time, Harlow met Bern, a 40-year-old German film executive with MGM. Suzy (1936), in which she played the title role, gave her top billing over four time co-star Tone and Cary Grant. Officially, Jean Harlow (born Harlean Carpenter) is said to have died from cerebral edema, or swelling on the brain, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. While she was said to have appeared in better health on June 3, 1937, days later on June 6, she went into a coma, ultimately dying the following day. Instead, she was buried in a private vault, paid for by then-boyfriend William Powell, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. Paul Bern and Jean Harlow in a photo taken shortly after their 1932 marriage. "[31], In spite of her relative success with Hell's Angels, Harlow again found herself in the role of "uncredited extra" in the Charlie Chaplin film City Lights (1931), though her appearance did not make the final cut. Jean Harlow died on June 7, 1937, while still shooting the romantic comedy "Saratoga" alongside Clark Gable. MGM planned to replace Harlow in Saratoga with either Jean Arthur or Virginia Bruce, but because of public objections the film was finished using three doubles (Mary Dees for close-ups, Geraldine Dvorak for long shots, and Paula Winslowe for dubbing Harlow's lines) and rewriting some scenes without her. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. He convinced MGM to sign Harlow and, more importantly to Harlow, he believed she could be a serious actor, not just eye candy. [48][49][50][51], Paul Bern was now romantically involved with Harlow and spoke to Louis B. Mayer about buying her contract with Hughes and signing her to MGM, but Mayer declined. Please enter your email and password to sign in. ullstein bild Dtl./ullstein bild via Getty Images, Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images, Coachellas Friday night headlining show ends on a bad note, Used Facebook? 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