Photos of Jean Harlow and Her Second Husband Paul Bern During Their Short Marriage in 1932 ~ Vintage Everyday

German-born American film director, screenwriter, and producer Paul Bern married to Jean Harlow on July 1932. Paul was 22 years older than Jean. He was a prominent member of the MGM studios where Jean worked.

Pau committed suicide 2 months after they married in 1932. There is speculation that he was murdered. According to several sources, Paul had lived with a woman for several years prior to his marriage. However, having mental health problems, she was put into care. She was enraged when she heard of his marriage to Jean, and so went to his home and visited him while Jean was away. Paul always carried a revolver to protect Jean. It is rumored that she used this gun to shoot Paul, then left the house and boarded a steamer.

Her body was found later in a river. It was thought that she may have been Paul's wife, and, if that was the case, Jean had participated in a bigamous marriage. However, the scandal was quickly hushed up by MGM, and suicide was the official verdict.

Jean Harlow and Paul Bern with Paul's alleged suicide note, 1932

The note read:

“Dearest Dear,
Unfortuately [sic] 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.”