James Dean Acting
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James Dean Acting
University of California at Los Angeles
“Dream as if you'll live forever, and live as if you'll die today.” “I'm not going to go through life with one arm tied behind my back.” “Only the gentle are ever really strong.” “Being a good actor isn't easy. Being a man is even harder. I want to be both before I'm done.” “My purpose in life does not include a hankering to charm society.”
Movie actor and cultural icon James Dean starred in 'East of Eden,' 'Rebel Without a Cause' and 'Giant.' He was killed in a tragic car accident at age 24.
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James Dean starred in the film adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel East of Eden , for which he received a posthumous Oscar nomination. Dean's next starring role as an emotionally tortured teen in Rebel Without a Cause made him into the embodiment of his generation. In early autumn 1955, Dean was killed in a car crash, quickly becoming a film icon whose legacy has endured for decades. His final film, Giant , was also released posthumously.
James Byron Dean was born on February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana, to Winton Dean and Mildred Wilson. Dean's father left farming to become a dentist and moved the family to Santa Monica, California, where Dean attended Brentwood Public School. Several years later, Dean's mother, whom he was very close to, died of cancer, and Dean's father sent him back to Indiana to live on his aunt and uncle's Quaker farm. During this time, Dean sought counsel from his pastor, the Rev. James DeWeerd, who influenced his later interest in car racing and theater. The two formed an intimate relationship that is rumored to have been sexual.
In 1949, Dean graduated from high school and moved back to California. He attended Santa Monica City College for a time, but eventually transferred to University of California, Los Angeles, and majored in theater.
After appearing as Malcolm in the school's production of Macbeth , Dean dropped out of UCLA. His first television appearance was in a Pepsi Cola commercial, while his first big-screen parts, uncredited, were in 1951's Fixed Bayonets! and 1952's Sailor Beware , a comedy starring Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin . To make ends meet, Dean worked as a parking lot attendant at CBS Studios, where he met Rogers Brackett, a radio director who became his mentor, with the two also said to have been romantically attached.
In 1951, Dean moved to New York City and was later admitted to the Actors Studio to study under Lee Strasberg , though the two were reputed to not have gotten along. Dean's career began to pick up, and he performed in such 1950s television shows as Kraft Television Theatre, Omnibus and General Electric Theate r , with a high school fan club formed after his appearance as a contemporary John the Apostle in 1951's Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration . The fledgling actor was also garnering a reputation for being unstructured in his technique, though the work continued to come.
After a Broadway role in the short-lived 1952 drama See the Jaguar , Dean's success as an Arab boy in 1954's The Immoralist led to interest from Hollywood.
Over the ensuing months, Dean starred in three major motion pictures, beginning with the 1955 film adaptation of John Steinbeck 's novel East of Eden . Director Elia Kazan chose Dean after the actor met with Steinbeck, who thought him perfect for the part. Many of Dean's scenes in the film were unscripted improvisations. He would eventually be nominated for an Academy Award for the role, making him the first actor in history to receive a posthumous Oscar nomination.
In his next film, Dean starred as the agonized teenager Jim Stark in 1955's Rebel Without a Cause , a part that would define his image in American culture. He co-starred in Rebel with Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo , with the film focusing on the emotional alienation of three youngsters and the devastating drama that ensues from adolescent rivalry.
Dean then landed a supporting role to Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson in the epic, intergenerational family saga Giant , with Hudson playing a well-off, racially prejudiced ranch owner to Dean's impoverished, racially prejudiced ranch hand. Giant , which was Dean's last film, had a running time of more than three hours and saw the actor portray a character whose fortunes change over the decades. He died before production was complete, with Giant ultimately released in 1956. Dean received an Academy Award nomination for this role as well, making him the only actor in history to receive more than one Oscar nomination posthumously.
In late 2019, it was announced that a CGI version of Dean would return to theaters in the Vietnam War-era film Finding Jack , based on a novel by Gareth Crocker. While some prominent actors like Captain America star Chris Evans expressed their displeasure with the idea of using a digitized Dean, Finding Jack co-director Anton Ernst defended the choice by noting there were "still a lot of James Dean fans worldwide who would love to see their favorite icon back on screen."
When Dean wasn't acting, he was a professional car racer. On Friday, September 30, 1955, Dean and his mechanic, Rolf Wuetherich, drove Dean's new Porsche 550 Spyder to a weekend race in Salinas, California. At 3:30 p.m., they were stopped south of Bakersfield and given a speeding ticket. Later, while driving along Route 466, a 23-year-old Cal Poly student named Donald Turnupseed, after turning at an intersection, collided with Dean's Porsche. The two cars hit each other almost head-on, with the Spyder devastated from the impact. Wuetherich was seriously injured but survived, while Dean was killed almost immediately. He was 24.
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Actor, singer Dean Martin starred in several films with Jerry Lewis and belonged to the "Rat Pack," which included Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Jimmy Dean was a Grammy Award-winning country musician, actor, television host and entrepreneur. He owned a hog-butchering company that he sold to Sara Lee in 1984.
Millvina Dean was the youngest of the 705 survivors of the sinking of the RMS Titanic and lived to be the last survivor.
Natalie Wood was an actress who starred in 'Rebel Without a Cause' and 'West Side Story.' She died tragically, drowning during a boating trip in 1981.
Sal Mineo was an Oscar-nominated film, TV and stage actor known for roles in 'Rebel Without a Cause' and 'Exodus,' among many other projects.
Computer scientist and engineer Mark Dean is credited with helping develop a number of landmark technologies, including the color PC monitor, the Industry Standard Architecture system bus and the first gigahertz chip.
Paul Newman came to be known as one of the finest actors of his time with films like 'Cool Hand Luke' and 'The Hustler.' He also started the Newman's Own food company, which donates all profits to charity.
Noted for his exceptional good looks and comedic film performance, Rock Hudson was an iconic actor who, later in life, contracted and died from the AIDS virus.
American composer and conductor John Williams has scored more than 100 films, including 'Jaws,' eight 'Star Wars' movies, 'E.T.' and the first three 'Harry Potter' films.
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James Byron Dean was born February 8, 1931 in Marion, Indiana, to Mildred Marie (Wilson) and Winton A. Dean, a farmer turned dental technician. His mother died when Dean was nine, and he was subsequently raised on a farm by his aunt and uncle in Fairmount, Indiana. After grade school, he moved to New York to pursue his dream of acting. He received...
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Born:
February 8 ,
1931
in
Marion, Indiana, USA
Died:
September 30 ,
1955
(age 24)
in Cholame, California, USA
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How much of James Dean's work have you seen?
Nominated for
2
Oscars.
Another
7 wins & 2 nominations.
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Rebel Without a Cause
Jim Stark
Kraft Theatre
Jim Cooper / Joe Harris
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- The James Dean Big Story
(1957)
... Todd Ingalls
- Broadway Trust
(1955)
... Man in Crowd (uncredited)
1955
Rebel Without a Cause
Jim Stark
- The Unlighted Road
(1955)
... Jeffrey Latham
- The Foggy, Foggy Dew
(1952)
... Kyle McCallum
- The Thief
(1955)
... Fernand Lagarde
- The Dark, Dark Hours
(1954)
... Bud
- Death Is My Neighbor
(1953)
... J.B.
- Run Like a Thief
(1954)
... Robbie Warren
1954
Pepsi Commercial
(Short)
Pepsi Model
- The Bells of Cockaigne
(1953)
... Joey Frasier
- A Long Time Till Dawn
(1953)
... Joe Harris
- Keep Our Honor Bright
(1953)
... Jim Cooper
- Life Sentence
(1953)
... Hank Bradon
- Glory in the Flower
(1953)
... Bronco Evans (segment "Glory in the Flower")
- Sentence of Death
(1953)
... Joe Palica
- Abraham Lincoln
(1952)
... William Scott
- Ten Thousand Horses Singing
(1952)
... Hotel Bellboy (uncredited)
- The Case of the Watchful Dog
(1953)
... Randy Meeker
1953
Trouble Along the Way
Football Spectator (uncredited)
- The Capture of Jesse James
(1953)
... Bob Ford
- The Hound of Heaven
(1953)
... The Messenger (as Jimmy Dean)
1952
Has Anybody Seen My Gal
Youth at Soda Fountain (uncredited)
- Forgotten Children
(1952)
... Bradford
1952
Sailor Beware
Boxing Opponent's Second (uncredited)
1951
Fixed Bayonets!
Doggie (uncredited)
1950
Pepsi Commercial
(Short)
Pepsi Model
Hide
Show
Additional Crew (1 credit)
1950
Beat the Clock
(TV Series) (stunt tester - 1950)
1955
'Giant' Stars Are Off to Texas
(Documentary short)
Self (uncredited)
1955
Warner Pathé News Issue # 87
(Documentary short)
Self
1954
A Star Is Born World Premiere
(TV Movie)
Self (in crowd)
Hide
Show
Archive footage (105 credits)
- A Double Life: Andy & Jon
(2022)
... Self - Actor
- Shadows: Andy & Jed
(2022)
... Self - Actor
- Smoke Signals
(2022)
... Jim Stark
- The Ghosts of Mulholland
(2019)
... Self - Movie Star & Race Car Driver
2018
An American Named Kazan
(TV Movie documentary)
Self
- Hollywood's Golden Age
(2018)
... Self
2018
West Side Story - Bernsteins Broadway-Hit
(TV Movie documentary)
Self
2018
Six Sides of Katharine Hepburn
(Documentary short)
Self
2017
Hell's Club Part 2. Another Night
(Video short)
Clients
2017
The Disaster Artist
Jim Stark (uncredited)
2017
The Fabulous Allan Carr
(Documentary)
Self
- Paul Walker: Collision Course
(2017)
... Self (uncredited)
- Sex in Advertising
(2016)
... Self (uncredited)
2015
Children of Giant
(Documentary)
Self
2015
Tab Hunter Confidential
(Documentary)
Self
2013
Hollywood Rebellen
(TV Movie documentary)
2013
James Dean's Lost Slideshow
(Documentary)
Self
2012
Becoming the Beatles
(TV Movie documentary)
Self
2012
Flirting with Danger
(Documentary)
Self - Rebel Without A Cause
- Fade Out, Fade In
(2010)
... Self (uncredited)
2010
Rock Hudson: Dark and Handsome Stranger
(Documentary)
Jett Rink (uncredited)
- Hollywood's Hot List
(2009)
... Self
2008
Elvis: Return to Tupelo
(Video documentary)
Self
2008
The Meadow
(Short)
Voices (uncredited)
2006
September 30, 1955
(Documentary short)
Self
2006
James Dean: The Whole Story
(Video documentary)
Self
2005
James Dean - Mit Vollgas durchs Leben
(TV Movie documentary)
Self
- Episode #14.34
(2005)
... Jim Stark
2005
James Dean - Kleiner Prinz, little Bastard
(TV Movie documentary)
Self
- No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
(2005)
... Self (uncredited)
- James Dean's Death
(2005)
... Self
2005
Filmmakers vs. Tycoons
(Documentary)
Jim Stark (in 'Rebel Without a Cause')
2005
The World's Most Photographed
(TV Mini Series documentary)
Self
2005
East of Eden: Art in Search of Life
(Video documentary short)
Cal Trask
2005
James Dean: Forever Young
(Documentary)
Self
- Preponderance of Death
(2004)
... Self (uncredited)
2004
Die Geschichte des erotischen Films
(TV Movie documentary)
2003
James Dean and Marlon Brando
(TV Movie documentary)
Self
2003
Return to 'Giant'
(Video documentary)
Self (uncredited)
2003
101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment
(TV Movie documentary)
Self
- Pancho Villa: Outlaw Hero
(1997)
... Self - Columbus Raid victim
2002
Shirtless: Hollywood's Sexiest Men
(TV Movie documentary)
Self (uncredited)
2002
Screen Tests of the Stars
(TV Movie documentary)
Self
2001
James Dean: Born Cool
(Video documentary)
Self
2000
Elizabeth Taylor: A Musical Celebration
(TV Special)
(uncredited)
2000
The 72nd Annual Academy Awards
(TV Special)
The Rebel (uncredited)
1999
ABC 2000: The Millennium
(TV Movie documentary)
1998
Memories of 'Giant'
(Video documentary)
Self (uncredited)
1998
Warner Bros. 75th Anniversary: No Guts, No Glory
(TV Movie documentary)
(uncredited)
1998
James Dean: A Portrait
(TV Movie documentary)
Self (1955 public service film)
1997
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
(Documentary)
Self
1996
Rediscovering a Rebel
(TV Short documentary)
Self - 'Jim Stark'
1995
James Dean and Me
(TV Movie documentary)
Self
1993
Fame in the Twentieth Century
(TV Series documentary)
Self (uncredited)
1992
Death Scenes 2
(Video documentary)
Self (uncredited)
1992
Gesichter Des Todes VII
(Video documentary)
1991
Idols
(TV Movie documentary)
Self
1991
Naked Hollywood
(TV Mini Series)
Self
1990
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
(Video documentary)
Self
1990
Death in Hollywood
(Video documentary)
Self
1988
All-Time Movie Greats
(Video documentary)
Self
1988
Faces of Torture
(Video documentary)
1988
Forever James Dean
(Documentary)
Self
1988
Morrissey: Suedehead
(Music Video)
James Dean
1985
Pat Benatar: Sex as a Weapon
(M
New Kinsey Scale Test
Piss In Shower
Lolipop Xxx