Producer, director, screenwriter. Born Paul Levy in Germany he emigrated to the United States as a child and was raised in New York. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Bern began his career on stage and from 1911 to 1915 worked as an actor, stage manager, and producer. In the mid-1920s, he became a production assistant and story consultant to Irving Thalberg at MGM. At 42, his sudden marriage to Jean Harlow in July 1932 became the stuff of tabloid gold. On Labor Day weekend 1932, Harlow left Bern at home to visit her mother's house. When Bern did not join her as planned an investigation found Bern dead in his bathroom. He left an apparent suicide note which read "Dearest dear, Unfortunately this is the only way to make good the frightful wrong I have done you and wipe out my abject humiliation. I love you. Paul. You understand last night was only a comedy." It was also revealed that prior to his marriage to Harlow, Bern apparently had a common-law wife, Dorothy Milette, who was reportedly mentally unbalanced. Witnesses reported a woman answering Milette’s description visited Bern the night of his death. Milette was last seen boarding the "Delta Queen" in Sacramento. Days later her body was found in the Sacramento River. Although the official cause of Bern’s death was found to be suicide; rumors circulated that he may have been murdered. The potentially scandalous circumstances surrounding the death were concealed for years by MGM. Harlow would not speak of Bern's death for the remainder of her life.
Producer, director, screenwriter. Born Paul Levy in Germany he emigrated to the United States as a child and was raised in New York. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Bern began his career on stage and from 1911 to 1915 worked as an actor, stage manager, and producer. In the mid-1920s, he became a production assistant and story consultant to Irving Thalberg at MGM. At 42, his sudden marriage to Jean Harlow in July 1932 became the stuff of tabloid gold. On Labor Day weekend 1932, Harlow left Bern at home to visit her mother's house. When Bern did not join her as planned an investigation found Bern dead in his bathroom. He left an apparent suicide note which read "Dearest dear, Unfortunately this is the only way to make good the frightful wrong I have done you and wipe out my abject humiliation. I love you. Paul. You understand last night was only a comedy." It was also revealed that prior to his marriage to Harlow, Bern apparently had a common-law wife, Dorothy Milette, who was reportedly mentally unbalanced. Witnesses reported a woman answering Milette’s description visited Bern the night of his death. Milette was last seen boarding the "Delta Queen" in Sacramento. Days later her body was found in the Sacramento River. Although the official cause of Bern’s death was found to be suicide; rumors circulated that he may have been murdered. The potentially scandalous circumstances surrounding the death were concealed for years by MGM. Harlow would not speak of Bern's death for the remainder of her life.
Bio by: Iola
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