Jean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter; March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) was an American film actress and sex symbol of the 1930s.
After being signed by director Howard Hughes, Harlow's first major appearance was in Hell's Angels (1930), followed by a series of critically unsuccessful films, before signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1932. Harlow became a leading lady for MGM, starring in a string of hit films including Red Dust (1932), Dinner at Eight (1933), Reckless (1935) and Suzy (1936). Among her frequent co-stars were William Powell, Spencer Tracy and, in six films, Clark Gable.
Harlow's popularity rivaled and soon surpassed that of her MGM colleagues Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer. She had become one of the biggest movie stars in the world by the late 1930s, often nicknamed the "Blond Bombshell" and the "Platinum Blonde," and popular for her "Laughing Vamp" movie persona.
She died of renal failure during the filming of Saratoga in 1937 at the age of 26. The film was completed using doubles and released a little over a month after Harlow's death. She is interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale.
I entered the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale for the first time in 1987. I knew my Rhode Island cousin adored Jean Harlow so a photo of her tomb was my priority. Unfortunately, I carried a crappy camera and the Jean Harlow photos were the only ones in the entire roll of film that didn't come out. Last month (2013), I returned to the Great Mausoleum with a better (but not the greatest) camera. As I clicked these pictures, I thought of my east coast cousin and how I could finally send him photos of Jean Harlow's tomb. Mission accomplished! - Editor
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