Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow (March 3, 1911 - June 7, 1937), was an US film actress who became known as the "original blonde bombshell", predating Marilyn Monroe as a blonde sex symbol. Jean was the first blonde to be cast in 'bad girl roles'. Before her, bad girls in movies were always dark-haired and exotic looking. She made over thirty films during a career that lasted only ten years, and had a talent for comedy as well as drama that is still recognized today by record numbers of fans and film critics alike. Her given name (Harlean) was invented from parts of her mother's maiden name, Jean Harlow, which she adopted as a stage name and then, in 1935, legally.

Early years

She was born Harlean Carpenter at 3344 Olive Street in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Mont Clair Carpenter, a dentist, and his wife, Jean Poe Harlow. Mother Jean, as she was called, divorced Harlean's father and moved to Hollywood with hopes of becoming an actress herself. Shortly afterward she remarried and moved to Chicago, where Jean attended a private girl's academy in the wealthy suburb of Lake Forest called Ferry Hall School. At the age of 16, Jean eloped with Charles McGrew 2nd, a wealthy young stockbroker, and the couple moved to Los Angeles, California. They divorced two years later.

Related Topics:
Kansas City, Missouri - Dentist - Hollywood - Lake Forest - Ferry Hall School - Charles McGrew 2nd - Los Angeles, California

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