James Dean was born on February 8, 1931 in Indiana. His father was Winton Dean, a dental techinician. His mother was called Mildred. Although he had his own parents, he was raised by his aunt and uncle on their Indiana farm. He studied in UCLA.
Dean started his television career by starring in several commercials. In 1951, he moved to New York to pursue a serious acting career. He appeared many televison shows playing unnoticeable roles, before he won finally got a part in the Broadway play “See the Jaguar".
After that, Dean, not satisfied with his own acting skills, studied in the Actors Studio to upgrade himself. He was casted in Broadway musical “The Immoralist” in 1954 and this led him to the role of Cal Trask in John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden". He performed well, and was noticed. “East of Eden” was well-received, and girls were crazy over him for his looks. Dean was nominated for an Academy Award for his brilliant performance.
To pursue his other dream as a racer, he entered Palm Springs Road Races. He went on to enter Bakersfield Race after he completed the film “Rebel Without A Cause” as Jim Stark in 1955.
Dean began filming “Giant” (1955), his third and last film, a month before “Rebel Without a Cause” premiered. On September 30 1955, Dean was killed in a highway accident. He was only 24. His death broke many young girls’ heart. “Giant” was never completed by him, but it won him another Academy Award nomination anyway.
Dean has since been regarded as the Embodiment of a Rebel.