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James Dean Biography

James Dean biography imageJames Dean became a Hollywood legend portraying moody, sensitive and often rebellious characters. He represented the disaffected and misunderstood teens of the 1950s and gained cult icon status after his untimely death at the young age of 24. Dean got his start in television and stage before starring in the three films, "East of Eden", "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant" that would catapult him to stardom and earn him the title "Moody New Star" by Life magazine. His spontaneous style of acting and fondness for racecars didn't sit well with studio heads, but helped fuel his bad boy image. James Dean died in a car crash, just as his star was rising -a mere six months after "East of Eden" premiered, and one month before "Rebel Without a Cause" would premiere. When his final film "Giant" opened more than a year after his death, the premiere was a veritable tribute to a talented actor who would never realize the full potential of his talents, and the incredible fame that was to come.


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HONORS and ACCOLADES

  • Daniel Blum Theatre World Award for Best Newcomer - 1954
  • Golden Globe Special Achievement for Outstanding Dramatic Actor in "East of Eden" - 1955
  • Jussi award (of Finland) for Best Foreign Actor for "East of Eden" - 1956
  • Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture Drama Actor - 1956
  • Golden Globe award for World Film Favorite -1956
  • Nominated for a BAFTA, Best Foreign Actor Award for "East of Eden" - 1956
  • Nominated for a Best Actor, Academy Award for "East of Eden" -1956
  • Golden Globe award for World Film Favorite - 1957
  • Nominated for a BAFTA Best Foreign Actor Award for "Rebel Without a Cause" - 1957
  • Nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award for "Giant" - 1957
  • U.S. Postal issues stamps featuring James Dean as part of the "Legends of Hollywood" series - 1996

Trivia

  • The first actor to receive an Academy Award nomination posthumously.
  • The only actor to receive two Academy Award nominations posthumously.
  • In a promotional interview with actor Gig Young, James Dean warns young drivers, "Take it easy driving. The life you might save, might be mine."
  • He enjoyed playing the bongo drums and was interested in bullfighting.
  • Antoine de Saint-Exupery's "The Little Prince" was one of his favorite books.

Films

  • Fixed Bayonets (uncredited) 1951
  • Sailor Beware (uncredited) 1952
  • Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (uncredited) 1952
  • Trouble Along the Way (uncredited) 1953
  • East of Eden 1955
  • Rebel Without a Cause 1955
  • Giant 1956
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James Dean Timeline

1931
Born, James Byron Dean, on February 8th in Marion, Indiana
1935
Moves to Los Angeles with his parents, Winton and Mildred, at 5 years old.
1940
Moves back to Indiana to live with relatives, when his mother, dies from cancer.
1949
Returns to Los Angeles, after graduating high school, and enrolls in Santa Monica City College the following year, then transfers to UCLA to study drama.
1950
Appears in a Pepsi commercial, for which he is paid $30.
1951
Drops out of college and moves to New York, where he takes dance classes and enrolls at the Actors Studio.
Lands a bit part in the film "Fixed Bayonets".
Appears in Father Peyton's TV Theater as John the Apostle.
1952
Appears in the television dramas "The Web" and "Prologue to Glory" and minor roles in the films "Sailor Beware", "Has Anybody Seen My Gal?"
Stars in his first lead role in the Broadway play "See the Jaguar".
1953
Appears in numerous television productions throughout the year and in the film "Trouble Along the Way", as an extra.
Plays a major role in the play "The Scarecrow".
1954
Returns to Hollywood after signing with Warner Brothers to shoot "East of Eden".
Purchases his first sports car - a used MG TA roadster.
Appears in a few television productions, including CBS' "The Dark, Dark Hours" with Ronald Reagan and "I'm a Fool" with Natalie Wood.
1955
> "East of Eden" premieres in New York on March 9th.
> Begins shooting the film "Rebel Without a Cause" in April.
> Begins shooting the film "Giant" in May.
> Purchases a Porsche Speedster and competes in the Palm Springs Road Race in March, the Bakersfield race in May, and the Santa Barbara races later that same month.
> Trades in the Speedster after a few months for a Porsche 550 Spyder, on which he had the nickname "Little Bastard" painted.
> Dies in a tragic car crash on the way to an auto rally in Salinas, California on September 30th at the age of 24.
> "Rebel Without a Cause" premieres on October 26th.
1956
"Giant" premieres in New York on November 10th.

Related People

Natalie Wood image
  • Natalie Wood
    Award-winning actress who played James Dean's love interest in "Rebel Without a Cause."
  • James Franco
    Actor who stars in the "Spider-Man" films and won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of James Dean in a made for television biopic.
  • Sal Mineo
    Actor who earned an Academy Award nomination for his role of Plato in "Rebel Without a Cause."

  • Elizabeth Taylor
    Legendary Hollywood actress who co-starred in the 1956 film "Giant" with James Dean.



 

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