James Dean
James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was an American actor with a career that lasted five years. He is regarded as a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, as expressed in the title of his most celebrated film Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which he starred as troubled teenager Jim Stark. The other two roles that defined his stardom were loner Cal Trask in East of Eden (1955) and surly ranch hand Jett Rink in Giant (1956).
James Dean | |
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Dean in Rebel Without a Cause, 1955 | |
| Born | James Byron Dean February 8, 1931 Marion, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | September 30, 1955 (aged 24) Cholame, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Car accident |
| Resting place | Park Cemetery, Fairmount, Indiana |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950–1955 |
| Website | jamesdean.com |
| Signature | |
Dean died in a car crash in 1955 and became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in East of Eden. He received a second nomination for his role in Giant the following year, making him the only actor to have had two posthumous acting nominations. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him the 18th best male movie star of Golden Age Hollywood in AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars list.