Jean Harlow

Trivia of Jean Harlow (3 March 1911 – 7 June 1937)

*Jean Harlow was famous for her “platinum blonde” hair—in fact, it was her stardom that helped first coin the shiny term. When he was promoting Harlow in one of his films, director Howard Hughes publicized her hair color as new-fangled “platinum,” quickly turning Harlow into the original Blonde Bombshell.

*Everyone on the MGM lot called her "The Baby" with the exception of Clark Gable. A very close friend, he always called her "Sis".Had appeared with Clark Gable in six films: The Secret 6 (1931), Red Dust (1932), Hold Your Man (1933), China Seas (1935), Wife vs. Secretary (1936), and Saratoga (1937).

*Had two famous superstitions: She always wore a lucky ankle chain on her left leg, which is visible in some films if you look closely, and had a lucky mirror in her dressing room. She would not leave the room without first looking in it.

*According to Fay Wray, Jean Harlow was actually the first choice to play King Kong’s damsel in distress, Ann Darrow.

*Following the end of her third marriage she met actor William Powell (he also first husband of Carole Lombard). They were engaged for two years (due to minor differences and Jean's belief that MGM would not approve), but she became sick and died before they could marry.

*Was the idol of Marilyn Monroe, who backed out of a biographical picture on her life. After reading the script, Monroe reportedly told her agent, "I hope they don't do that to me after I'm gone." Both Harlow and Monroe co-starred in their last films with Clark Gable, Harlow in Saratoga (1937) and Monroe in The Misfits (1961).

*One of the last photos taken of her showed her carrying a copy of "Gone with the Wind". She was determined to read it, but as her illness progressed she couldn't get past more than the first few pages. When she was admitted to the hospital, she reminded one of her nurses to pack it. The nurse, realize how serious Harlow's illness was, remarked, "She'll never finish it." Harlow died later that week.