![Jean Harlow was 1930s Hollywood's reigning sex symbol—and greatest screwball actress. Why did she die at 26? Jean Harlow was 1930s Hollywood's reigning sex symbol—and greatest screwball actress. Why did she die at 26?](https://compote.slate.com/images/def3a60d-05f3-4965-bd90-fa13bbf2675e.jpg)
Jean Harlow was 1930s Hollywood's reigning sex symbol—and greatest screwball actress. Why did she die at 26?
![The death of Jean Harlow, Hollywood actress, as reported on the front page of the Daily Mirror, Stock Photo, Picture And Rights Managed Image. Pic. MEV-10644325 | agefotostock The death of Jean Harlow, Hollywood actress, as reported on the front page of the Daily Mirror, Stock Photo, Picture And Rights Managed Image. Pic. MEV-10644325 | agefotostock](https://previews.agefotostock.com/previewimage/medibigoff/deb8564a1f9c79083ff8dd36703ad988/mev-10644325.jpg)
The death of Jean Harlow, Hollywood actress, as reported on the front page of the Daily Mirror, Stock Photo, Picture And Rights Managed Image. Pic. MEV-10644325 | agefotostock
![The last recorded picture of Hollywood starlet Jean Harlow, taken on June 6th 1937 on the movie set of Saratoga - one day before her death from kidney failure and cerebral edema The last recorded picture of Hollywood starlet Jean Harlow, taken on June 6th 1937 on the movie set of Saratoga - one day before her death from kidney failure and cerebral edema](https://external-preview.redd.it/W83g1krMuW2pGDWko1ZqGCEmo6X8nZTLLN2hahH3HIQ.jpg?auto=webp&s=b3148c5a152ea4ab72ef31b02cb1b7ff1328fa9e)
The last recorded picture of Hollywood starlet Jean Harlow, taken on June 6th 1937 on the movie set of Saratoga - one day before her death from kidney failure and cerebral edema
![Not Harlow. Mary Dees, the actress who filmed Jean Harlow's unfinished scenes in Saratoga. – The Film Colony ♛ Not Harlow. Mary Dees, the actress who filmed Jean Harlow's unfinished scenes in Saratoga. – The Film Colony ♛](https://aliciamayer.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/mary-dees-mgm1.jpg?w=640)