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James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) -

On February 8, 1931, James Byron Dean was born in Indiana to Winton and Mildred Dean.

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Mildred Dean -

Dean claimed that his mother's lineage could be traced back to the original English settlers of United States who came over on the Mayflower (1620).

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Winton Dean -

Supposedly, the actor was also descended from Native Americans through his father's family.

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Moving to California -

After becoming a dental technician, his father moved the family to Santa Monica for a few years before tragedy struck.

At the tender age of nine, Dean lost his mother to uterine cancer. The two were very close, and the loss left an indelible mark on him.

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A new life -

James Dean's father could no longer look after him, and so he sent him to his aunt and uncle in Indiana. While his father served in WWII, he grew up in a Quaker household.

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Beginning of his passions -

It was in Indiana that he first became interested in extreme activities such as sports car racing and bullfighting.

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Back to California -

James Dean eventually moved back in with his father in California and attended college to study pre-law. However, he changed his course to drama after he studied at UCLA for a semester.

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Daddy issues -

When the actor found his calling and changed his direction, his father could not accept it. They cut ties and became estranged from each other.

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A Shakespearean actor -

While in college, James Dean took to the stage as Malcolm in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth.' After this performance, it was not long before he took to the big screen.

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Full-time actor -

In 1951, he dropped out of college and decided to really start pursuing an acting career.

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First role -

James Dean's first television appearance was for a Pepsi-Cola ad, from then on he began to get roles in small-time television series.

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Trying to make it -

But he was not making a lot of money, and so he had to work as a parking attendant at CBS studios while trying to break into Hollywood.

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Mentor -

Renowned actor James Whitmore (1921-2009) became Dean's mentor. He convinced the young actor to move to New York to seek his fortune.

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Lee Strasberg -

In New York, Dean studied method acting at the famed Lee Strasberg. Here is Strasberg himself with his students Al Pacino and Marthe Keller in the '70s.

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The Actors Studio -

The lessons took place at the Actors Studio. Dean got to learn with the greats of the industry, such as Marlon Brando.

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Television career -

Dean hit the big time by being in the series 'Omnibus.' Auditions for films started pouring in.

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'East of Eden' (1955) -

Finally, he got the lead role in Elia Kazan's production of 'East of Eden,' originally a book by John Steinbeck. The film only uses the final part of the book.

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Casting -

Elia Kazan wanted someone emotionally complex. He originally wanted Marlon Brando and did not really like Dean, but in the end he realized the younger actor suited the role better.

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Raw talent -

James Dean improvised a lot in the film. The director liked how raw his emotions were, and kept many parts that were made up by the actor.

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Praise -

'East of Eden' was Dean's first role to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.

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'Rebel Without a Cause' (1955) -

Soon after 'East of Eden,' Dean starred as a disillusioned youth in 'Rebel Without a Cause.' It inspired great sympathy among the adolescents of the United States, who felt his character captured their feelings.

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Recognition -

The film was deemed so culturally important that the US government added it to the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. 

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'Giant' (1956) -

Dean wanted to avoid being typecast as a moody, deep actor, and so he accepted the role of Jett Rink in 'Giant.' The film is about a Texas ranching family having to adapt to changing times.

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Another success -

James Dean was nominated a second time for the Best Actor Academy Award. 'Giant' was also put on the National Film Registry because of it cultural significance.

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Taking the job too seriously -

In the ending scene of 'Giant,' Dean's character delivers a speech where he is meant to be drunk. To do the character justice, Dean actually did get drunk for the scene. However, he was so drunk that no one could understand his lines, so in the film the speech is dubbed!

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The ladies -

Dean's love life was not over eventful. In New York, he dated Barbara Glenn. Their love letters sold at auction for US$36,000.

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Pier Angeli (1932-1971) -

Pier Angeli was an Italian actress. She asserted that they had a passionate love affair, but his friends have found that hard to believe. In the end, she had to break it off because her mother did not approve of a non-Catholic partner.

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Slight betrayal -

When Dean and Angeli's relationship was on the rocks, Dean went to New York. Much to his surprise, when he returned not long after Angeli had married singer Vic Damone.

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Favorite hobby -

Dean had a passion for racing and entered several competitions. He even won a few prizes. As his career grew, the more fast cars he bought.

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Rules -

During the filming of 'Giant,' Dean was banned from racing by Warner Brother because he could have been injured.

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Back at it -

However, when filming ended, he entered the Salinas Road Race. He had just bought a Porsche Spyder 550 and was driving to the event from Los Angeles.

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The crash -

Tragically on September 30, 1955, Dean's car collided with a Ford at an intersection on the way to the race. According to evidence, death was instantaneous and the crash most likely happened because he was speeding. And so ended the short life of a great actor.

Sources: (Britannica)(James Dean, the Mutant King: A Biography)

See also: Stars who died tragically young

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