His body was shown in Montgomery, AL, where the famous photos of the country legend in his casket were taken. Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Benediction, Private Family Mausoleum Room #34, Crypt B. Katie Dowd is the SFGATE managing editor. [12], With their finances dwindling, Jean and Harlean moved back to Kansas City after Skip Harlow issued an ultimatum that he would disinherit his daughter if they did not return. WebJean Harlow, American actress and sex symbol who, during a career that lasted less than 10 years, dying of kidney failure at the age of 26, became an Where Harlow Funeral Rites Were Held. The original "blonde bombshell" had been hospitalized since May 29 withuremic poisoning, according to an archived newspaper clipping by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 8 June 1937: Jean Harlow was the first of Hollywoods platinum blondes, and appeared in film after film as the tough, wise-cracking, tempestuous young woman. Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Benediction, Private Family Mausoleum Room #34, Crypt B. Initially, Harlow was suspected of killing Bern,[59] but his death was officially ruled a suicide by self-inflicted gunshot wound. She died of uremic poisoning at age 26. Spaces in the same room were reserved for Harlow's mother and Powell. Men like me because I don't wear a brassiere. Jean Harlow was the original blonde bombshell. This account has been disabled. "[100] Frequent costar Spencer Tracy wrote in his diary, "Jean Harlow died. The coroner ruled his death a suicide. There, he saw Millette, crying and gazing into the inky water. [87] Press reports were contradictory, with headlines reading "Jean Harlow seriously ill" and "Harlow recovers from illness crisis". Home of MGM executive Paul Bern, who committed suicide. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. [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? [122], In 2004, Gwen Stefani briefly appeared as Harlow at the red carpet premiere for Hell's Angels in Martin Scorsese's Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator.[123]. [53] The film is often noted as being one of the few films in which Harlow did not appear with platinum blonde hair; she wore a red wig for the role. [116], Film adaptations of Harlow's life were considered at different times during the 1950s. 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. At the inquest, Bern's personal doctor, Howard P. Jones, said he knew "exactly" what was at the root of his friend's suicidal ideations. [90][86] On June 6, 1937, Harlow said that she could not see Powell clearly and could not tell how many fingers he was holding up. A portrait of Dorothy Millette, the first wife of MGM producer Paul Bern, who later married Jean Harlow. Then, something went wrong. William Powell: The Life and Films (2006) - Roger Bryant - p.116, The leading men of MGM, Jane Ellen Wayne, ditions First Carroll and Graf editions 2005, page 209, An affair to Remember-the remarkable love story of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, Christopher Andersen, ditions William Morrow and Co 1997, page 85-86, Jean Harlow at Franklin D. Roosevelt's 55th birthday party, January 30, 1937, Platinum Girl: The Life and Legends of Jean Harlow; Eve Golden, 1991, Hollywood, Politics and Society; Mark Wheeler, 2019, sfn error: no target: CITEREFGolden1978 (, greatest female screen legends of classical Hollywood cinema, Miss Barstow's Finishing School for Girls, "Chaplin's "City Lights" shine in Criterion edition", "Mobster Who Made Millions as Rum-Runner Hangs Self", "Target of Crime Probes Found Hanged in Mansion", "The Right Chemistry: How Jean Harlow became a 'platinum blond', "The daughter of Las Vegas: an interview with Bugsy Siegel's daughter, Millicent", "Hollywood Ghost Stories For A Haunted Halloween", "My Day by Eleanor Roosevelt, February 1, 1937", "Combating an Epidemic: President Roosevelt's Birthday Celebrations on January 30", "Jean Harlow, In Washington for the President's Ball, Kisses a Senator", "What Most People Don't Know About Jean Harlow's Death at 26 Years Old", "The Original 'Blonde Bombshell' Used Actual Bleach on Her Head", "Spencer Tracy, who wrote this in his personal journal two days previous: "Jean Harlow diedGrand girl", "MGM film grosses, 19241948: The Eddie Mannix Ledger", "Lead Belly: the musician who influenced a generation", "Carol Clobbers Carrol In Area 'Harlow' Sweepstakes", "A Hollywood Mystery: The Untimely Death of Jean Harlow", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jean_Harlow&oldid=1149060059, Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale), Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, TCMDb name template using numeric ID from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 April 2023, at 23:38. Harlows husband, MGM studio exec Paul Bern, was dead in the bathroom, a bullet in his head. The Atlantic also questioned how much Harlow's use of chemicals to keep her hair platinum blonde may have strained her already weakened kidneys. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. She died of uremic poisoning at age 26. [17], While living in Los Angeles, Harlean befriended a young aspiring actress named Rosalie Roy. Suzy (1936), in which she played the title role, gave her top billing over four time co-star Tone and Cary Grant. [37], Harlow briefly dated Abner Zwillman, who bought her a jeweled bracelet and a red Cadillac, and made a large cash loan to studio head Harry Cohn to obtain a two-picture deal for her at Columbia Pictures. "We used peroxide, ammonia, Clorox, and Lux flakes! Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? [97], Harlow suffered from scarlet fever when she was 15, and speculation that she suffered a poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis following the incident, which may have caused high blood pressure and ultimately kidney failure, has been suggested. Harlow and Gable worked well together and co-starred in a total of six films. Here is Jean Harlow and her mother, also once an aspiring actor from whom Jean took her stage name. were married, and it was there Jean found work as an extra in films, 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 As for Millette, she didnt fake her own death. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Far from her loved ones lies Millette, at East Lawn Memorial Park in Walnut Grove. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Her mother was a constant presence in her life. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. WebJean Harlow shocks Clark Gable and Mary Astor in the 1932 pre-code drama Red Dust ~ You can see more @ https://www.classicactresses.org/ Show more Watch on YouTube Two nurses also visited her house, and various equipment was brought from a nearby hospital. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Try again later. "It was like kissing a dead person, a rotting person," actor Clark Gable, who appeared in films like "The Secret 6" and "Saratoga" with Harlow,shared after visiting her. Her co-star in five movies, Clark Gable was a pallbearer, and Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy sang at the ceremony. Family members linked to this person will appear here. In 1932, she starred in the comedy Red-Headed Woman for which she received $1,250 a week. 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. She was not interred next to her dead husband Paul Bern in Inglewood. By Taysha Murtaugh Published: Sep 19, 2017 Save Article There is a problem with your email/password. It was Harlow's final completed motion picture appearance. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Weirdest Celeb Demises You've Never Heard Of, Historical Celebrity Demises That Shocked, Entertainers Who Kicked It While Performing, Actors Who Passed in the Middle of Filming, 17 Photos From Celebrity Open Casket Funerals, Before he was flown back to Seattle to be buried, a public mourning was held for his fans, and close to 20,000 people, In 2006, a number of celebrities, including Michael Jackson, paid their respects to James Brown at his funeral. After her health recovered, she moved into the Algonquin Hotel. Please try again later. This is a carousel with slides. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. First to Paul Bern, the film director, and later to Harold Rosson, a Hollywood camera-man. 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. There was an error deleting this problem. GREAT NEWS! Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With, The Most Popular TikTok Boys And Male Influencers Of 2023. They found it through George G. Clarken, Berns Los Angeles insurance advisor. Email her: katie.dowd@sfgate.com. to marry a young businessman named Charles McGrew, who was 23. On June 2, it was announced she was again suffering from influenza. Although Harlean loved her father, she did not see him often after the divorce. She paid up her account shed been living at the hotel for four months and booked a $3 stateroom on the Delta King riverboat. While waiting for Rosalie, Harlean was noticed and approached by Fox executives, whom she told she was not interested. [67][68][69][70] She then filmed W.S. [78][79] The trip was physically taxing for Harlow, and she contracted influenza. A few days later, Rosalie Roy bet Harlean that she did not have the nerve to go in for an audition. To-day, however, she took a sudden turn for the worse. 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. [66] The two co-starred in her next film Reckless (1935), her first movie musical; her voice was dubbed with that of skilled vocalist Virginia Verrill. They quietly divorced eight months later.[61][62]. [85] Dr. Ernest Fishbaugh, who had been called to Harlow's home to treat her, diagnosed her with an inflamed gallbladder. 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. Harlean Carpenter, who later became Jean Harlow, was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 3, 1911. If you do go, Bern wrote, I hope that it will be a happy change., He signed it: My love and best wishes always.. He said hed drawn up a will for Millette over a decade ago. Less than week after the diagnosis, Harlow slipped into a coma and died. When Harlean was at finishing school, her mother filed for a divorce. 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. Afterwards the release of worldwide hit Libeled Lady (1936), in which she was top-billed over Powell, Loy, and Tracy, brought good reviews for Harlow's comedic performance. The swelling was caused by the uremic poisoning that happened when her kidneys were no longer functioning, sending the waste that's normally filtered through the kidneys and This transformation proved difficult; once, Harlow was heard muttering, "My God, must I always wear a low-cut dress to be important? It may seem morbid or gruesome to look at these celebrity death photos. MGM, the industrious assembly line of movie studios, closed the day of her funeral. 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. WebJean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter; March 3, 1911 June 7, 1937) was an American actress. [71], In January 1937, Harlow and Robert Taylor traveled to Washington, D.C., to take part in fundraising activities associated with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's birthday, for the organization later known as the March of Dimes. Jean Harlow was married three times with a fourth on the horizon in William Powell. [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. I botched it up on purpose. Harlow's popularity rivaled and then surpassed that of MGM's top leading ladies Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Instead, she was buried in a private vault, paid for by then-boyfriend William Powell, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. Learn more about merges. His body was shown inMontgomery, AL,where the famous photos of the country legend in his casket were taken. Not owning a car herself, Rosalie asked Harlean to drive her to Fox Studios for an appointment. These projects never materialized. Can you believe that?" You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. [55] "That shows you how sensitive she was", Page said. [9] Jean Carpenter was later known by "Mama Jean" when Harlean achieved star status as Jean Harlow. Paul Bern, noted producer, writer and studio executive, whose suicide shocked the country, and his bride, Jean Harlow. cemeteries found in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. Almost two months later, Harlow recovered, and shooting began on April 22, 1937. At 22, Harlow was one of the biggest film stars in the world. Less than week after the diagnosis, Harlow slipped into a coma and died. Two months later, Bern was dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The dentist's daughter eloped at age 16 with a young businessman and The Beverly Hills home of Paul Bern and Jean Harlow, with journalists waiting outside for further news after the body of Bern had been discovered by his butler. Jean was only 26 years-old when Mrs. Jean Bello is shown being assisted into the Wee Kirk o' the Heather at Forest Lawn today for the funeral of her daughter. based on information from your browser. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. In 1927, at the age of 16, she ran away from home WebJean Harlow. Actress: Suzy. That Jean Harlow sure was a good kisser. For those who may be unaware, mixing ammonia and bleach createschloramine gas, which can kill you. [118] The second film was released in June 1965 by Paramount Pictures, and starred Carroll Baker. He recommended both the Plaza and Clift hotels (quite fashionable and not very expensive) and said he would fund her trip. When Berns body was discovered by the household staff, the first call was not to the police it was to MGM. Actress and sex symbol Jean Harlow's decade in Hollywood was cut short by her tragic death onJune 7, 1937, when she was just 26 years old. After his death in 1984, he was cremated[104] and his ashes buried in Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California. Bern was plain and serious, but he did have connections. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Her second film for that studio was Three Wise Girls (1932), with Mae Clarke and Walter Byron. Hell's Angels premiered in Hollywood at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on May 27, 1930, and became the highest-grossing film of that year, besting even Greta Garbo's talkie debut in Anna Christie. 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? William Powell had been Miss Harlows constant companion at social events in recent months, and Hollywood was confident that there would be a marriage. Unwilling to lose a wager and pressed by her enthusiastic mother who had followed her daughter to Los Angeles by this time, Harlean went to Central Casting and signed in under her mother's maiden name, Jean Harlow. His body was shown in Montgomery, AL, where the famous photos of the country legend in his casket were taken. This list of celebrity open casket funerals is not for the faint of heart, but these final images - and the stories behind them - are often important to remember. In late 1929, Harlow was spotted by Ben Lyon, an actor filming Howard Hughes' Hell's Angels;[27] another account gives Angels head cameraman Arthur Landau as the man that spotted and suggested her to Hughes. [5], Her father, Mont Clair Carpenter (18771974), son of Abraham L. Carpenter and Dianna (ne Beal), was a dentist who attended dental school in Kansas City. [93] Hospital records mention uremia. In May 1937 she was the very first motion picture actress to grace the cover of "Life" magazine. I told Mr. Mayer as much." She died at the age of 26 of kidney failure while filming Saratoga. The film has been said to be based on Harlow's own life or that of 1920s "It girl" Clara Bow. [19][20] This led to a wage increase to $10 per day and small parts in feature films such as Moran of the Marines (1928) and the Charley Chase lost film Chasing Husbands (1928). [96] Harlow's grayish complexion, recurring illnesses, and severe sunburn were signs of the disease. Death. Dinner at Eight, Hundred-Per-Cent Pure, China Seas were among those early examples. This browser does not support getting your location. Letters found in Millettes handbag at the Plaza Hotel were on MGM stationary. 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. She married her first husband on January 18, 1927, at age 15 and was divorced a few years later. By 1933, MGM realized the value of the Harlow-Gable team with Red Dust and paired them again in Hold Your Man (1933), which was also a box-office success. Death. Actress: Suzy. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Jean Harlow I found on Findagrave.com. WebJean Harlow, American actress and sex symbol who, during a career that lasted less than 10 years, dying of kidney failure at the age of 26, became an Where Harlow Funeral Rites Were Held. One of the letters was written a few months before Bern and Harlows wedding. She fainted on the set of "Saratoga." Memorial ID. In 1908, Skip Harlow arranged his daughter's marriage to Mont Clair Carpenter. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. [91], That evening, she was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, where she slipped into a coma. Failed to delete memorial. Her funeral was an extravaganza staged at Forest Lawn, Glendale. Her Career as a Film StarJean Harlow, the film actress, whose death at the age of 26 is reported from Hollywood, was born in Chicago. I was always under the impression that Dorothy was his wife. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. [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. It is fair to say that Harlow had a tumultuous life. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Her symptomsfatigue, nausea, fluid retention and abdominal paindid not seem very serious to the studio doctor, who believed that she was suffering from cholecystitis and influenza. Thanks for your help! [45][54] While Harlow was filming Red-Headed Woman, actress Anita Page passed her on the studio lot without acknowledging her. When Powell died in 1984, he was buried instead next to his third wife. The swelling was caused by the uremic poisoning that happened when her kidneys were no longer functioning, sending the waste that's normally filtered through the kidneys and Where are all those tech workers going? The publication rights were passed from Harlow's mother to a family friend, and the book was finally published in 1965. The coroner ruled his death a suicide. A system error has occurred. He was married to film actress Jean Harlow. The To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. He contacted her mother and insisted that she cut her holiday short to be at her daughter's side. [57] She was also paired multiple times with Spencer Tracy and William Powell. Harlean Carpenter, who later became Jean Harlow, was born in Kansas She had lost her husband and her financial support.There is no sexy noir mystery about the despair she must have felt. It can serve as a way for family and friends of the deceased to find closure. Paul Bern and Jean Harlow photographed together in July 1932. 0 cemeteries found in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA. Her first feature film "Hell's Angels" drew an estimated crowd of 50,000 people at Grauman's Hollywood Theatre during its Premier. Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Benediction, Private Family Mausoleum Room #34, Crypt B. On Sept. 14, two fishermen near Walnut Grove found a body floating in the Sacramento River. Kelly, also known as Princess Grace of Monaco, drew film stars and royalty to her funeral in Monaco's St. Nicholas Cathedral. Although just 26 in 1937, Harlows health was starting to fail. Riverboat officials would confirm Millette boarded later that day, Sept. 6, 1932. You can always change this later in your Account settings. She was paired with Hollywood's leading men, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and William Powell, thus becoming the cinema's chief money maker. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 2023 Getty Images. By the mid-1930s, she was one of the biggest stars in the US, and, it was hoped, MGM's next Greta Garbo. [60], After Bern's death, Harlow began an indiscreet affair with boxer Max Baer who, though separated from his wife Dorothy Dunbar, was threatened with divorce proceedings naming Harlow as a co-respondent for alienation of affection, a legal term for adultery. 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. Jackson was just one of the thousands who gathered around Brown's. A waiter remembered her at dinner, a pretty but exhausted woman who barely ate. Add to your scrapbook. If I had any latent talent, I have had to work hard, listen carefully, do things over and over and then over again in order to bring it out. Tragically, the following year Jean became seriously ill with a kidney condition. Harlow was certainly no stranger to illness. Though her screen persona changed dramatically during her career, one constant was her sense of humor. Since her star had risen at MGM, studio head Louis B. Mayer arranged a lavish, Hollywood-style funeral. [94], For years, rumors circulated about Harlow's death. I was not a born actress. Harlean Carpenter, who later became Jean Harlow, was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 3, 1911. Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, USA Show Map. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? MGM completed the film with the use of body doubles and released it less than two months after her death; it became MGM's most successful film of 1937, as well as the highest-grossing film of her career. While Bern built up his career at MGM, he continued to support his wife back in New York. Known for her portrayal of "bad girl" characters, she was the leading sex symbol of the early 1930s and one of the defining figures of the pre-Code era of You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Many of these celebrities probably wanted the many fans who loved them to be able to say farewell. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Collect, curate and comment on your files. [95] From the onset of her illness, Harlow had been attended by a doctor while she was resting at home. 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. [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. [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. "[101], Harlow was interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale in a private room of multicolored marble, which William Powell bought for $25,000 ($471,000 today). dentist and his wife. "[56], She next starred in Red Dust, her second film with Clark Gable. She was married twice. Grand girl. [97] Toxins also adversely affected her brain and central nervous system. She had been married twice before. Resend Activation Email. She jumped from the Delta King that night and it was her body found a week later. McGrew hoped to distance Harlow from her mother with the move. The couple left Chicago and moved to Los Angeles, settling into a home in Beverly Hills, where Harlow thrived as a wealthy socialite. [86][89], Dr. Leland Chapman, a colleague of Fishbaugh, was called in to give a second opinion on Harlow's condition. She appeared in forty-one movies, was voted to the American Film Institute's list of the greatest actresses of the Golden Age, and became the first movie actress to appear on the cover of Life Magazine.