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James Dean

Actor

James Dean

Born February 8, 1931 in Marion, Indiana, USADied September 30, 195531 films

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).

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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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The best way into James Dean's work
Giant posterFirst watchGiant19567.6as Jett RinkWealthy rancher Bick Benedict and dirt-poor cowboy Jett Rink both woo Leslie Lynnton, a beautiful young woman from Maryland who is new to Texas.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Rebel Without a Cause poster7.5Rebel Without a Cause1955East of Eden poster7.5East of Eden1955Deadline - U.S.A. poster6.9Deadline - U.S.A.1952

Filmography

31 films as actor
  1. 1956GiantJett Rink
  2. 1955Rebel Without a CauseJim Stark
  3. 1955The Unlighted RoadJeffrey Latham
  4. 1955East of EdenCal Trask
  5. 1955The ThiefFernand Lagarde
  6. 1954The Dark, Dark HoursBud
  7. 1954Sherwood Anderson's I'm A FoolThe Boy
  8. 1954PadlocksThe Man (Jack)
  9. 1954Run Like a ThiefRobbie
  10. 1953HarvestPaul Zalinka
  11. 1953The Bells of CockaigneJoey Frasier
  12. 1953A Long Time Till DawnJoe Harris
  13. 1953Life SentenceHank Bradon
  14. 1953Keep Our Honor BrightJim Cooper
  15. 1953Rex NewmanTodd Ingalls
  16. 1953Death Is My NeighborJ.B.
  17. 1953Sentence of DeathJoe Palica
  18. 1953Something For An Empty BriefcaseJoe Adams
  19. 1953The Evil WithinRalph
  20. 1953Trouble Along the WayFootball Spectator (uncredited)
  21. 1953The Hound Of HeavenAngel
  22. 1952Has Anybody Seen My Gal?Youth at Soda Fountain (uncredited)
  23. 1952Forgotten ChildrenBradford
  24. 1952Abraham LincolnWilliam Scott
  25. 1952Deadline - U.S.A.Press Boy (uncredited)
  26. 1952The Foggy, Foggy DewKyle McCallum
  27. 195210,000 Horses SingingHotel Bellboy
  28. 1952Sailor BewareBoxing Opponent's Second (uncredited)
  29. 1951Jackie Knows AllRandy
  30. 1951Fixed Bayonets!Doggie (uncredited)
  31. 1951Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and InspirationJohn