Wikipedia

James Dean

American actor (1931–1955)

James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was an American movie actor. He was one of the most important people in Hollywood in the 1950s. His career was only 5 years long. He was also only in 3 major movies. However, he had a very big impact on cinema and popular culture. He was best known for his part in a movie called Rebel Without a Cause (1955). In this movie, he played a rebellious teenager. He was also in two other movies. He was in East of Eden (1955). He was also in Giant (1956). All of these movies are in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. He was killed in a car accident in 1955. He was 24.

James Dean
A black-and-white photo of Dean wearing a bomber jacket and Lee jeans
Dean in a publicity still for Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Born
James Byron Dean

(1931-02-08)February 8, 1931
Marion, Indiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 30, 1955(1955-09-30) (aged 24)
near Cholame, California, U.S.
Cause of deathCar crash
Resting placePark Cemetery, Fairmount, Indiana, U.S.
Education
OccupationActor
Years active1950–1955
Websitejamesdean.com
Signature

He got an Academy Award (Oscar) nomination after his death for Best Actor for his role in East of Eden. He was the first person to get this nomination posthumously (after he died).[nb 1] After his first nomination, he was given a 2nd nomination for his role in Giant. This makes him the only actor that has been given 2 acting nominations after his death. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him as the 18th best male movie star from Golden Age Hollywood on their "AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars" list. Time magazine said Dean was one of the "All-Time Most Influential Fashion Icons."

Early life

change

James Dean was born in 1931 in Marion, Indiana, United States. His parents were called Winton Dean and Mildred Wilson. Six years later, the family moved to California, and James went to school in Los Angeles. He was very close to his mother.[4] She died of cancer when he was nine, and James went to live with his aunt and uncle in Fairmount, Indiana. In high school, he became interested in drama and car racing. After he graduated, he moved back to California to live with his father and stepmother. He attended Santa Monica College and UCLA,[5] but left college in 1951 to become a professional actor.

In an interview, Elizabeth Taylor told something which James Dean had said to her during their filming. After his mother’s death, when he was 11 years old, he was sexually harassed by a Protestant minister. This experience tortured him during all his whole childhood.[6]

Death

change
 
Dean and his Porsche Super Speedster 23F at Palm Springs Races March 1955

Racing hobby

change

In 1954, Dean started doing motorsports. He bought many automobiles after he was done acting for East of Eden. He bought a Triumph Tiger T110 and a Porsche 356.[7][8] On March 26–27 1955, he was in his first professional race at the Palm Springs Road Races in Palm Springs, California. Dean was 1st place in the novice class. He was 2nd place at the main event. He raced in Bakersfield a month later. He was 1st in his class. He was 3rd overall.[9] Dean said he wanted to race in the Indianapolis 500. However, he had a very busy acting schedule. This meant that this was not possible.[10]

Dean's last race was in Santa Barbara on May 30, 1955. He was not able to finish the competition. This was because he had a blown piston (his piston was damaged).[9][11] He was not able to race after that because Warner Brothers said he could not race while acting for Giant.[12] Once he was done acting for that movie, however, he wanted to race again.

Accident

change
 
The intersection of State Route 46 and State Route 41 was renamed "James Dean Memorial Junction". However, the actual accident location is about 100 feet (0.019 mi) to the south of this. This is because the road was originally in a different place.

Dean loved motor racing. After acting for Giant, he bought a new 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder. He entered into the upcoming Salinas Road Race. This would be on October 1–2, 1955.[13] Dean went to the race track. 3 other people went with him. The first person was the stunt coordinator Bill Hickman. The second person was Collier's photographer Sanford Roth. The 3rd person was Rolf Wütherich. He was the German mechanic from the who maintained Dean's Spyder car.[14][15]

On September 30,[16] the group went west on U.S. Route 466[17] (now SR 46) near Cholame, California. At the same time, a 23-year-old California Polytechnic State University student Donald Turnupseed, was driving east. He was in a 1950 Ford Tudor. At 5:45 p.m.,[18] Turnupseed turned left onto Highway 41. He would be going north toward Fresno.[19] This turn was in front of Dean's Porsche.[20][21][22] Dean was not able to stop his car in time. His car went into the Ford. Dean's car went into the pavement on the highway. Dean had many fatal injuries from this accident.[23] Turnupseed had only minor injuries.[24]

Dean was buried in Fairmount, Indiana.

Stage

change

Broadway

change

Off-Broadway

change

Filmography

change

Movies

change
List of movie credits by James Dean
Year Title Role Director Notes Ref.
1951 Fixed Bayonets! Doggie Samuel Fuller Uncredited [26]
1952 Sailor Beware Boxing Trainer Hal Walker [27]
Deadline – U.S.A. Copyboy Richard Brooks [28]
Has Anybody Seen My Gal? Youth at Soda Fountain Douglas Sirk [29]
1953 Trouble Along the Way Football Spectator Michael Curtiz [30]
1955 East of Eden Cal Trask Elia Kazan Lead film debut [31]
Rebel Without a Cause Jim Stark Nicholas Ray Released posthumously [32]
1956 Giant Jett Rink George Stevens Filmed in 1955; released posthumously. Final role. [33]

Television

change
List of television credits by James Dean
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1951 Family Theater John the Apostle Episode: "Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration" [25]
The Bigelow Theatre Hank Episode: "T.K.O."
The Stu Erwin Show Randy Episode: "Jackie Knows All"
1952 CBS Television Workshop G.I. Episode: "Into the Valley"
Hallmark Hall of Fame Bradford Episode: "Forgotten Children"
The Web Himself Episode: "Sleeping Dogs"
1952–1953 Kraft Television Theatre Various Characters Episodes: "Prologue to Glory", "Keep Our Honor Bright" and "A Long Time Till Dawn"
1952–1955 Lux Video Theatre Various Characters Episodes: "The Foggy, Foggy Dew" and "The Life of Emile Zola"
1953 The Kate Smith Hour The Messenger Episode: "The Hound of Heaven"
You Are There Robert Ford Episode: "The Capture of Jesse James"
Treasury Men in Action Various Characters Episodes: "The Case of the Watchful Dog" and "The Case of the Sawed-Off Shotgun"
Tales of Tomorrow Ralph Episode: "The Evil Within"
Westinghouse Studio One Various Characters Episodes: "Ten Thousand Horses Singing", "Abraham Lincoln" and "Sentence of Death"
The Big Story Rex Newman Episode: "Rex Newman, Reporter for the Globe and News"
Omnibus Bronco Evans Episode: "Glory in the Flower". Crazy Man Crazy was on soundtrack.
Campbell Summer Soundstage Various Characters Episodes: "Something for an Empty Briefcase" and "Life Sentence"
Armstrong Circle Theatre Joey Frasier Episode: "The Bells of Cockaigne"
Robert Montgomery Presents Paul Zalinka Episode: "Harvest"
1953–1954 Danger Various Characters Episodes: "No Room", "Death Is My Neighbor", "The Little Woman" and "Padlocks"
1954 The Philco Television Playhouse Rob Episode: "Run Like a Thief"
General Electric Theater Various Characters Episodes: "I'm a Fool" and "The Dark, Dark Hours"
1955 The United States Steel Hour Fernand Lagarde Episode: "The Thief"
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Jeffrey Latham Episode: "The Unlighted Road"

Awards and nominations

change
List of awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Note Ref.
1956
 Academy Awards Best Actor
East of Eden
| style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated
Posthumously
 [34]
British Academy Film Awards Best Foreign Actor| style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated [35]
Golden Globe Awards Special Achievement Award for Best Dramatic Actor| style="background: #9EFF9E; color: #000; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won [36]
Jussi Awards style="background: #9EFF9E; color: #000; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won [37]
1957
 Academy Awards Best Actor
Giant
| style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated
Posthumously
 [38]
Bravo Otto data-sort-value="" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | —| style="background: #9EFF9E; color: #000; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won [39]
British Academy Film Awards Best Foreign Actor
Rebel Without a Cause
| style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated 		[40]
Golden Globe Awards World Film Favorite - Male| data-sort-value="" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | —| style="background: #9EFF9E; color: #000; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won [36]

Notes

change
  1. ↑ Jeanne Eagles was nominated for Best Actress for her role in The Letter at the 2nd Academy Awards after her death in 1930. However, all nominations at the 2nd Academy Awards were unofficial.[1] This makes Dean the first actor in the Academy Awards to be nominated after his death.[2][3]

References

change
  1. ↑ O'Connor, Clint (July 13, 2008). "James Dean, Spencer Tracy among posthumous Oscar nods". Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  2. ↑ Townsend, Laura (March 1, 2022). "With only three films, James Dean changed what it means to be an actor". PBS. American Masters. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  3. ↑ David S. Kidder; Noah D. Oppenheim (October 14, 2008). The Intellectual Devotional Modern Culture: Revive Your Mind, Complete Your Education, and Converse Confidently with the Culturati. Rodale. p. 228. ISBN 978-1-60529-793-4. Retrieved July 21, 2013. Dean was the first to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for acting and is the only actor to have received two such posthumous nominations.
  4. ↑ "Has Anybody Seen My Gal?". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Trouble Along the Way". AllMovie. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  6. ↑ "East of Eden". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  7. ↑ Wasef and Leno (2007) pp. 13–19.
  8. ↑ Perry, p. 151.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Raskin (2005) pp. 47–48; 68–71; 73–74; 78–81; 83–86
  10. ↑ Perry (2012) p. 162.
  11. ↑ "Racing Record". jamesdean.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ Raskin (2005) pp. 101–02.
  13. ↑ Raskin (2007) pp. 111–15.
  14. ↑ Perry (2012) pp. 11–12.
  15. ↑ Thomas Ammann; Stefan Aust (September 21, 2012). Die Porsche-Saga: Geschichte einer PS-Dynastie. Bastei Entertainment. p. 233. ISBN 978-3-8387-1202-4.
  16. ↑ Goodman, Ezra (September 24, 1956). "Delirium over dead star". Life. Vol. 41, no. 13. pp. 75–88.
  17. ↑ "Movie Star James Dean Dies in Auto Crash". San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune. October 1, 1955. p. 1.
  18. ↑ "James Dean dies in car accident". A&E Television Networks. November 13, 2009.
  19. ↑ Greenberg 2015, p. 114.
  20. ↑ Perry (2012) pp. 11–12.
  21. ↑ Moda, Scuderia. "Information about James Dean from historicracing.com". www.historicracing.com.
  22. ↑ "Remembering James Dean's death on Highway 46". YourCentralValley.com; KSEE24 and CBS47. September 30, 2019.
  23. ↑ Perry (2012) pp. 14–15.
  24. ↑ LA Times Staff (1 October 1955). "From the Archives: Film Star James Dean Killed in Auto Crash". Los Angeles Times.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 "Acting - James Dean". Jamesdean.com. 2024. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Fixed Bayonets!". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Sailor Beware". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  28. ↑ Leonard Maltin (September 29, 2015). Turner Classic Movies Presents Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide: From the Silent Era Through 1965: Third Edition. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-698-19729-9.
  29. ↑ "Has Anybody Seen My Gal?". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Trouble Along the Way". AllMovie. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  31. ↑ "East of Eden". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Rebel Without a Cause". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Giant". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  34. ↑ "The 28th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. February 19, 2015. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Film - Foreign Actor in 1956". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "James Dean". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Jussi Awards Winners". Jussi Awards. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  38. ↑ "The 29th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. March 26, 2015. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Bravo Otto - Sieger 1957". Bravo. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Film - Foreign Actor in 1957". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2024.

Cited literature

change

Further reading

change

Other websites

change
Find more about
James Dean
at Wikipedia's sister projects
  Media from Commons
  Data from Wikidata
Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Dean&oldid=10279301"