James Dean
( 1931 - 1955)Added Date: August 04, 2022
Born: February 08, 1931
Died: September 30, 1955
Country: United States
Actor James Byron Dean died in a tragic automobile accident. He was only twenty-four years old. His most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause, made him a role model for teenagers everywhere. Young people who felt disillusioned, unaccepted, and insecure. His image was shaped forever by the movie roles he played – always a loner, always struggling to belong.
James Dean was intelligent, and a good student. He entered Santa Monica College to study pre-law. However, he was mesmerized by acting and the film industry that was everywhere around him. He quickly transferred to UCLA to become a drama major. He lasted one semester before dropping out to begin his career. His break-out role came in 1952 when he played a moody and emotionally complex youth in East of Eden. This movie put him on the path to Hollywood stardom. His star reached its apex with Rebel Without a Cause, followed by Giant.
As one of Hollywood’s most handsome and popular bachelors, James Dean had several highly publicized relationships, including a passionate affair with the actress Pier Angeli, and several rendezvous with Ursula Andress, who was also dating Marlon Brando at the same time. It was Ms. Andress who accompanied Mr. Dean when he purchased the fateful vehicle that would end his life.
In 1954, as his movie career was taking off, Dean became interested in motor racing. He did well in his first two races, but died on the way to his third competition, the Salinas Road Race. For the race, he purchased a powerful and fast 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, and crashed it while driving at an excessive speed between Los Angeles and Salinas.
James Dean’s defiant attitude and effortless cool catapulted his status to a Hollywood icon, influencing American movies, fashion, music, and culture for decades.
Live fast, die young, says it all about James Dean.
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