
Person
James Dean
Acting · 1931–1955 · Marion, Indiana, USA
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.
Known for

Robert Montgomery Presents
Paul Zalinka

The Philco Television Playhouse
Robbie Warren

Studio One
William Scott

Omnibus
Bronco Evans

Kraft Television Theatre
Jim Cooper

Armstrong Circle Theatre
Joey Frasier

The United States Steel Hour
Fernand Lagarde

Tales of Tomorrow
1951

You Are There
Bob Ford
Lux Video Theatre
Kyle McCallum
Filmography
- 2025James Dean: Rebel GenerationSelf (archive footage)
- 2024Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost TapesSelf (archive footage)
- 2023Rock Hudson: All That Heaven AllowedSelf (archive footage)
- 2023Paul Newman: The RestlessSelf
- 2017The Fabulous Allan CarrSelf (archive)
- 2015Children of 'Giant'Self (archive footage)
- 2015Tab Hunter ConfidentialSelf (archive)
- 2006The Real James DeanArchival Footage
- 2005James Dean: Little Prince, Little Bastard
- 2005East of Eden: Art in Search of LifeHimself (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2005James Dean: Forever Young
- 2005James Dean: Sense MemoriesSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2005Året var 1955Self (archive footage)
- 2005Rebel Without a Cause: Defiant InnocentsHimself (uncredited)
- 2005The Day That James Dean DiedSelf (archive footage)
- 2004Bettie Page: The Girl in the Leopard Print Bikini
- 2001James Dean: Born Cool
- 1998Memories of GiantSelf (archive footage)
- 1996Return to 'Giant'Self (archive footage)
- 1996Rediscovering a RebelSelf - 'Jim Stark' (archive footage)
- 1995James Dean: A PortraitSelf (archive footage)
- 1995James Dean and MeSelf (archive footage)
- 1994100 Years at the MoviesSelf (archive footage)
- 1994Gay! Gay! Hollywood
- 1992Death Scenes 2Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1992Faces of Death VII
- 1990Death In Hollywood
- 1990Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths(archive footage)
- 1988Hello Actors StudioSelf (archive footage)
- 1988Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies(archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1988Forever James DeanSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1988All-Time Movie GreatsSelf (archive footage)
- 1983Hollywood Out-takes and Rare FootageSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1982Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
- 1975James Dean: The First American TeenagerSelf (archive footage)
- 1974Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a StillSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1974James Dean RememberedSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1957The James Dean StorySelf (archive footage)
- 1956GiantJett Rink
- 1955Rebel Without a CauseJim Stark
- 1955CrossroadsMan in Crowd
- 1955The Unlighted RoadJeffrey Latham
- 1955East of EdenCal Trask
- 1955The ThiefFernand Lagarde
- 1954The Dark, Dark HoursBud
- 1954Sherwood Anderson's I'm A FoolThe Boy
- 1954PadlocksThe Man (Jack)
- 1954A Star Is Born World PremiereSelf
- 1954Run Like a ThiefRobbie
- 1953HarvestPaul Zalinka
- 1953The Bells of CockaigneJoey
- 1953A Long Time Till DawnJoe Harris
- 1953The United States Steel HourFernand Lagarde
- 1953Life SentenceHank Bradon
- 1953Campbell SoundstageHank Bradon
- 1953Keep Our Honor BrightJim Cooper
- 1953Rex NewmanTodd Ingalls
- 1953Death Is My NeighborJ.B.
- 1953Sentence of DeathJoe Palica
- 1953Something For An Empty BriefcaseJoe Adams
- 1953The Evil WithinRalph
- 1953Trouble Along the WayFootball Spectator (uncredited)
- 1953General Electric TheaterThe Boy
- 1953You Are ThereBob Ford
- 1953The Hound Of HeavenAngel
- 1952OmnibusBronco Evans
- 1952Has Anybody Seen My Gal?Youth at Soda Fountain (uncredited)
- 1952Forgotten ChildrenBradford
- 1952Abraham LincolnWilliam Scott
- 1952Deadline - U.S.A.Press Boy (uncredited)
- 1952The Foggy, Foggy DewKyle McCallum
- 195210,000 Horses SingingHotel Bellboy
- 1952Sailor BewareBoxing Opponent's Second (uncredited)
- 1951Hallmark Hall of FameBradford
- 1951Jackie Knows AllRandy
- 1951Fixed Bayonets!Doggie (uncredited)
- 1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsJeffrey Latham
- 1951Tales of Tomorrow
- 1951Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and InspirationJohn
- 1950Lux Video TheatreKyle McCallum
- 1950Armstrong Circle TheatreJoey Frasier
- 1950Robert Montgomery PresentsPaul Zalinka
- 1949The Big StoryRex Newman
- 1948Studio OneWilliam Scott
- 1948The Philco Television PlayhouseRobbie Warren
- 1947Kraft Television TheatreJim Cooper
- —The James Dean Classic(archive footage)
- —Final Days of an Icon: James Dean(archive footage)
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