The dramatic life of Jean Harlow, Hollywood's original "Blonde Bombshell" -

Sadly, the star died at the top of her game, a life cut short aged just 26. Her short life was marked by professional success and behind-the-scenes tragedy, with multiple marriages and a second husband who took his own life. And those blonde locks came at a price, too, as you'll find out.

So, how did the star's life come to end in tragedy? Click through this gallery to find out more about Hollywood's original Blonde Bombshell.

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Screen siren -

Born Harlean Harlow Carpenter in 1911 in Kansas City, Missouri, Jean Harlow was the most glamorous screen siren of the early 1930s. The star of films such as 'Platinum Blonde' (1931) and 'Bombshell' (1933), she was known for her show-stopping looks.

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A sad fate -

Harlow's kidney failure was reportedly so bad that, unable to pass urine, she was excreting waste through her breath. She had also lost most of her famous hair, and was bloated with water weight. It was a sad demise for a famously beautiful star.

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An untimely death -

But the star met an untimely death from acute kidney failure in 1937, aged just 26. She was midway through filming the movie 'Saratoga,' with Clark Gable, at the time. Gable, who visited her sick bed, is reported to have said that when he bent to greet her, "It was like kissing a dead person, a rotting person."

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Speculation -

The Hollywood rumor mill went into overdrive after her death, with whispers that the real cause of death was alcohol poisoning, or an attempt to end a pregnancy. More recently, there has been much speculation that the chemical cocktail used on her hair could have been a contributing factor.

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A natural blonde? -

The star known as Jean Harlow was fair-haired as a child. Although she claimed her adult hair color was natural, Hollywood hairdresser Alfred Pagano once stated that he would bleach her hair with "peroxide, ammonia, Clorox, and Lux Flakes!"

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The birth of the 'platinum blonde' -

Before Jean Harlow, the terms "Blonde Bombshell" and "Platinum Blonde" didn't exist. The sultry screen siren bore the titles in the early 1930s–years ahead of other blonde stars like Marilyn Monroe.

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Howard Hughes -

Hollywood movie magnate and director Howard Hughes loved to give his stars nicknames to boost their marketability. Just as Clara Bow was known as "The 'It' Girl" and Mary Pickford was "America's Sweetheart," his publicity team gave Harlow the nickname "Platinum Blonde."

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No match for the blonde bombshell -

Although women had lightened their hair for years, Harlow's white-blonde locks were something new. Women everywhere raced to the hairdressers to try to replicate the look, and Hughes even offered to award US$10,000 to the stylist who could match the star's color. Nobody was able to claim the prize.

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Drama and tragedy -

Despite her fame, Harlow's personal life was marked by drama and tragedy. At the time of her death, she was engaged to actor William Powell. She had been married three times before, with her second husband, movie executive Paul Bern, apparently taking his own life in 1932. Her third marriage, to cinematographer Harold Rosson, lasted under a year.

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Young bride -

Born to a wealthy Kansas City dentist, as a child Harlow moved to Los Angeles with her mother after her parents' divorce. She eloped aged 16 to marry stockbroker Charles McGrew, but the marriage broke down when she decided to pursue a Hollywood acting career, against her husband's wishes.

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Early career -

Harlow began her career as an extra, before making a brief-but-memorable appearance in the 1929 silent Laurel and Hardy comedy 'Double Whoopee' (pictured).

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Big break -

After making her sound debut with a small role alongside Clara Bow in 'The Saturday Night Kid' (1929), Harlow got her big break in the big-budget Howard Hughes movie 'Hell's Angels' (1930).

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Hollywood hot stuff -

Harlow's uber-blonde hair, together with her movie-star face and physique, made her an instant success. In 1931, she starred in a string of movies, including 'Platinum Blonde' (pictured).

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Comedic talents -

Her early movies focused more on her looks than her acting chops, but in 1932 Harlow showcased her comedy skills, playing around with her Blonde Bombshell reputation by starring in the film 'Red-Headed Woman.'

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Second marriage -

In June 1932, Harlow announced her engagement to Hollywood writer, director, and producer Paul Bern (right), with the couple marrying the following month.

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Tragedy strikes -

Just two months later, Bern was found dead from a gunshot wound at the couple's Beverly Hills home, apparently having taken his own life.

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Note at the scene -

A note found at the scene read: "Dearest Dear, Unfortunately this is the only way to make good the frightful wrong I have done you and to wipe out my abject humiliation, I Love you. Paul. You understand that last night was only a comedy."

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Shockwaves -

Newspaper photographers gathered to shoot pictures at the scene (pictured), as the story caused shockwaves in Hollywood and around the world. A few days later, Bern's ex common-law-wife Dorothy Millette jumped to her death from a ferry, prompting frenzied speculation that she had been involved. But the official verdict was that his injuries were self-inflicted.

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Height of her career -

At the time of her husband's death, Harlow was filming 'Red Dust', one of many hit movies she starred in alongside Hollywood heartthrob Clark Gable (pictured). She was a star at the top of her game, with a string of hit movies behind her.

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Third marriage -

The following year, Harlow married again, this time to cinematographer Harold Rosson. But their marriage broke down, and they were divorced within a year.

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Studio success -

In contrast to her private life, Harlow's screen career was going from strength to strength, scoring box-office and critical successes with films such as 'Reckless' (1935).

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'Reckless' co-star -

It seemed like happier times were in store for Harlow, who became engaged to her 'Reckless' co-star William Powell.

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'Libeled Lady' -

The pair also starred together, alongside Spencer Tracy, in the 1936 film 'Libeled Lady.'

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Health problems -

But despite her youth, Harlow had a litany of health concerns. She is said to have suffered polio, meningitis, and scarlet fever before the age of 16. In adult life, pneumonia, an appendectomy, and rumored drinking problems were also taking their toll.

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Hair loss -

During the height of her Platinum Blonde fame, Harlow reportedly had her roots touched up with chemicals every single week. By the time she was filming 'Reckless' in 1935, the damage was so bad that she was losing large amounts of her famous locks.

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Brown-ette Bombshell? -

After wearing wigs in a number of films, Harlow was recast in 1936 as a 'brown-ette.' What remained of her natural hair was dyed a darker shade to match blonde-brown wigs

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Beginning of the end -

While Harlow is said to have loved her new image, she didn't have too long to enjoy it. In late May 1937, while filming the movie 'Saratoga' with Clark Gable, she fell ill and was taken to hospital.

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Jean Harlow death -

Although she seemed to recover quickly and was expected back on set, Jean Harlow slipped into a coma on June 6, and died the following day. Her fiancé William Powell was by her side. Crowds gathered at the Los Angeles mortuary where her body lay, but were kept away at the request of her mother.

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Crowds at the funeral -

Despite the family's attempts to conduct the funeral in private, crowds gathered at the California cemetery where the actress was buried on June 10, 1937, aged 26.

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Outspoken icon -

Although she died tragically young, Harlow left a lasting legacy on Hollywood. Famed for provocative statements such as "Underwear makes me uncomfortable, and, besides, my parts have to breathe," she was one of the first mainstream stars to be so brazenly alluring.

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Post-humous success -

With filming completed using stand-ins, 'Saratoga' became the highest-grossing film of Harlow's career. It was the sixth and final collaboration between the star and Clark Gable, and could well have propelled her career to new, post-Blonde Bombshell heights. 

Sources: (Britannica) (The Atlantic) (History)

See also: 30 of the best films directed by women

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