James Dean

James Dean

1931-02-08 – 1955-09-30 (age 24) Marion, Indiana, USA
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Biography

James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was an American actor. He is remembered 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).

After his death in a car crash on September 30, 1955, Dean became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in East of Eden. Upon receiving a second nomination for his role in Giant the following year, Dean became 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.

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Known For

Giant
Giant

1956

as Jett Rink

Rebel Without a Cause
Rebel Without a Cause

1955

as Jim Stark

East of Eden
East of Eden

1955

as Cal Trask

Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln

1952

as William Scott

Life Sentence
Life Sentence

1953

as Hank Bradon

The Thief
The Thief

1955

as Fernand Lagarde

Tab Hunter Confidential
Tab Hunter Confidential

2015

as Self (archive)

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Deadline - U.S.A.
Deadline - U.S.A.

1952

as Press Boy (uncredited)

James Dean Remembered
James Dean Remembered

1974

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes

2024

as Self (archive footage)

The James Dean Story
The James Dean Story

1957

as Self (archive footage)

Harvest
Harvest

1953

as Paul Zalinka

James Dean: Rebel Generation
James Dean: Rebel Generation

2025

as Self (archive footage)

Trouble Along the Way
Trouble Along the Way

1953

as Football Spectator (uncredited)

The Fabulous Allan Carr
The Fabulous Allan Carr

2017

as Self (archive)

Fixed Bayonets!
Fixed Bayonets!

1951

as Doggie (uncredited)

Paul Newman: The Restless
Faces of Death VII