On This Day

Birthday of Jean Harlow

March 3rd 1911

10:54 3 March 2024

American actress Jean Harlow was born on this day in 1911. Harlow got her first major role after being signed by Howard Hughes, who also directed her in ‘Hell’s Angels’ (1930). Following a series of critically failed movies, Hughes lost interest in her career and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer bought out her contract in 1932. MGM cast Harlow in leading roles in a string of hit films that played to her comedic talents including ‘Red-Headed Woman’ (1932), ‘Red Dust’ (1932), ‘Dinner at Eight’ (1933), ‘Reckless’ (1935) and ‘Suzy’ (1936).

Harlow died tragically young, aged just 26, from kidney failure while filming ‘Saratoga’ (1937). The movie was completed with the use of body doubles and released less than two months after she died, going on to become MGM’s most successful film that year.

Often referred to as the “Blonde Bombshell” and the “Platinum Blonde”, Jean Harlow was in the film industry for only nine years but her legendary status as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars still endures today.