James Dean was just 24 when he died in a car crash back in 1955, but his legacy lives on forever. These iconic photos are all the proof you need.
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1 of 34By the time of his death, James Dean had only one major motion picture under his belt, East Of Eden.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 2 of 34James Dean and Marlon Brando goof around on the Twentieth Century Fox studio lot.
The two never worked on any films together but had a close relationship, which many claim was more than a platonic friendship. Archive Photos/Getty Images 3 of 34James Dean loved sports racing. He named his Porsche 550 Spyder “Little Bastard” and was on his way to compete in a race in Salinas, California, at the time of his death. Warner Bros. courtesy of Getty Images 4 of 34James Dean landed his first major movie role in the 1955 film East of Eden. John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 5 of 34Natalie Wood and James Dean goofing off on set of the film Rebel Without A Cause. His role as Jim Stark cemented Dean’s status as an A-list star.Warner Brothers/Getty Images 6 of 34James Dean was part of the Fairmount High Quakers basketball team in Indiana, where he lived with his relatives after his mother passed away. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 7 of 34James Dean poses for a publicity shot for his film Rebel Without A Cause.
His character’s trademark jacket and denim combo has become an enduring iconography.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 8 of 34Natalie Wood was cast to play James Dean’s opposite for Rebel. Wood almost didn’t get the part because the filmmakers didn’t think she had what it took to play a rebellious teenager. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 9 of 34Actor James Dean as a child in 1932 in Marion, Indiana. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 10 of 34James Dean’s sleek hair was a signature look of the young actor that has been imitated repeatedly in pop culture.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 11 of 34James Dean at the Thalian Ball in August 1955. Sadly, Dean died one month later in a car crash after this photograph was taken.Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images 12 of 34James Dean caught on camera during a private moment in the bathroom.Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 13 of 34After the release of Rebel Without A Cause, the red leather jacket worn by James Dean in the flick became a hot fashion item.Getty Images 14 of 34As a teenager, James Dean was active in team sports. Here, he poses with his American Legion baseball teammates circa 1948.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 15 of 34James Dean died at the peak of his career at the age of 24 after his Porsche collided with another car on the highway. ullstein bild via Getty Images 16 of 34James Dean being prepped for an oil gusher scene in the film Giant, which turned out to be the rising star’s last feature film.Warner Brothers/Getty Images 17 of 34While James Dean’s leather-jacket-and-white-tee combo became an instant pop culture iconography, the actor’s cool mannerisms helped enforce his famous edgy persona.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 18 of 34James Dean gives a thumbs-up from behind the wheel of the “Little Bastard” in Hollywood.
Dean, who had taken up racing as a sport, owned the car only nine days when he lost his life in a fatal highway accident while driving the Porsche.Getty Images 19 of 34The wrecked remains of James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder at the site of the accident.
His film Rebel Without A Cause premiered a month after his tragic death, ultimately catapulting him into stardom posthumously.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 20 of 34The actor landed his first major movie role in the film East Of Eden, though he had several small roles on TV and Broadway before then.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 21 of 34"What better way to die? It’s fast and clean and you go out in a blaze of glory," he said in an interview when asked about the dangers of his sports racing hobby.
An eerie foreshadowing, as nobody expected the rising star to lose his life so quickly in a car crash.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 22 of 34James Dean on the set of the film Giant. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 23 of 34A teen James Dean sits in the bleachers among other high school students.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 24 of 34James Dean in the instantly recognizable red leather jacket from Rebel Without A Cause.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) 25 of 34Actors Marlon Brando and James Dean with director Elia Kazan (left) on the set of East of Eden. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images 26 of 34James Dean signs autographs for a group of fans.
His celebrity would only prove to rise exorbitantly after his death.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 27 of 34According to his cousin, James Dean was deeply affected by his mother’s death. She died of cancer when he was a child.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 28 of 34James Dean was a creative kid growing up, showing an obvious talent for the arts. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 29 of 34Elizabeth Taylor goofing off with James Dean on set of their film Giant.
According to an interview with the actress, Dean confessed to her that he had been molested by his own minister as a child. Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 30 of 34James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor formed a special bond while filming Giant together. API/GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 31 of 34James Dean cultivated a broody, sensitive reputation due to the roles he played. But according to many, those characteristics were part of his offscreen personality as well.Getty Images 32 of 34James Dean takes a break wearing a cowboy hat on the set of the movie Giant.
Movie executives were initially terrified that Dean’s unexpected death would hurt the film’s success but instead the infamy of his demise only helped promote the film even more. Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 33 of 34Actress Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean outside the set of their film Giant.API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 34 of 34Like this gallery?Share it:
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33 Iconic James Dean Pictures That Show The Man Behind The ‘Rebel’ View Gallery
Decades after his death, James Dean remains an enigma. Dean’s sudden demise right before his iconic movie Rebel Without A Cause was released propelled his fame to legendary status.
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1 of 34By the time of his death, James Dean had only one major motion picture under his belt, East Of Eden.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 2 of 34James Dean and Marlon Brando goof around on the Twentieth Century Fox studio lot.
The two never worked on any films together but had a close relationship, which many claim was more than a platonic friendship. Archive Photos/Getty Images 3 of 34James Dean loved sports racing. He named his Porsche 550 Spyder “Little Bastard” and was on his way to compete in a race in Salinas, California, at the time of his death. Warner Bros. courtesy of Getty Images 4 of 34James Dean landed his first major movie role in the 1955 film East of Eden. John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 5 of 34Natalie Wood and James Dean goofing off on set of the film Rebel Without A Cause. His role as Jim Stark cemented Dean’s status as an A-list star.Warner Brothers/Getty Images 6 of 34James Dean was part of the Fairmount High Quakers basketball team in Indiana, where he lived with his relatives after his mother passed away. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 7 of 34James Dean poses for a publicity shot for his film Rebel Without A Cause.
His character’s trademark jacket and denim combo has become an enduring iconography.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 8 of 34Natalie Wood was cast to play James Dean’s opposite for Rebel. Wood almost didn’t get the part because the filmmakers didn’t think she had what it took to play a rebellious teenager. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 9 of 34Actor James Dean as a child in 1932 in Marion, Indiana. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 10 of 34James Dean’s sleek hair was a signature look of the young actor that has been imitated repeatedly in pop culture.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 11 of 34James Dean at the Thalian Ball in August 1955. Sadly, Dean died one month later in a car crash after this photograph was taken.Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images 12 of 34James Dean caught on camera during a private moment in the bathroom.Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 13 of 34After the release of Rebel Without A Cause, the red leather jacket worn by James Dean in the flick became a hot fashion item.Getty Images 14 of 34As a teenager, James Dean was active in team sports. Here, he poses with his American Legion baseball teammates circa 1948.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 15 of 34James Dean died at the peak of his career at the age of 24 after his Porsche collided with another car on the highway. ullstein bild via Getty Images 16 of 34James Dean being prepped for an oil gusher scene in the film Giant, which turned out to be the rising star’s last feature film.Warner Brothers/Getty Images 17 of 34While James Dean’s leather-jacket-and-white-tee combo became an instant pop culture iconography, the actor’s cool mannerisms helped enforce his famous edgy persona.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 18 of 34James Dean gives a thumbs-up from behind the wheel of the “Little Bastard” in Hollywood.
Dean, who had taken up racing as a sport, owned the car only nine days when he lost his life in a fatal highway accident while driving the Porsche.Getty Images 19 of 34The wrecked remains of James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder at the site of the accident.
His film Rebel Without A Cause premiered a month after his tragic death, ultimately catapulting him into stardom posthumously.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 20 of 34The actor landed his first major movie role in the film East Of Eden, though he had several small roles on TV and Broadway before then.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 21 of 34"What better way to die? It’s fast and clean and you go out in a blaze of glory," he said in an interview when asked about the dangers of his sports racing hobby.
An eerie foreshadowing, as nobody expected the rising star to lose his life so quickly in a car crash.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 22 of 34James Dean on the set of the film Giant. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 23 of 34A teen James Dean sits in the bleachers among other high school students.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 24 of 34James Dean in the instantly recognizable red leather jacket from Rebel Without A Cause.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) 25 of 34Actors Marlon Brando and James Dean with director Elia Kazan (left) on the set of East of Eden. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images 26 of 34James Dean signs autographs for a group of fans.
His celebrity would only prove to rise exorbitantly after his death.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 27 of 34According to his cousin, James Dean was deeply affected by his mother’s death. She died of cancer when he was a child.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 28 of 34James Dean was a creative kid growing up, showing an obvious talent for the arts. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 29 of 34Elizabeth Taylor goofing off with James Dean on set of their film Giant.
According to an interview with the actress, Dean confessed to her that he had been molested by his own minister as a child. Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 30 of 34James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor formed a special bond while filming Giant together. API/GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 31 of 34James Dean cultivated a broody, sensitive reputation due to the roles he played. But according to many, those characteristics were part of his offscreen personality as well.Getty Images 32 of 34James Dean takes a break wearing a cowboy hat on the set of the movie Giant.
Movie executives were initially terrified that Dean’s unexpected death would hurt the film’s success but instead the infamy of his demise only helped promote the film even more. Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 33 of 34Actress Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean outside the set of their film Giant.API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 34 of 34Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 34By the time of his death, James Dean had only one major motion picture under his belt, East Of Eden.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 2 of 34James Dean and Marlon Brando goof around on the Twentieth Century Fox studio lot.
The two never worked on any films together but had a close relationship, which many claim was more than a platonic friendship. Archive Photos/Getty Images 3 of 34James Dean loved sports racing. He named his Porsche 550 Spyder “Little Bastard” and was on his way to compete in a race in Salinas, California, at the time of his death. Warner Bros. courtesy of Getty Images 4 of 34James Dean landed his first major movie role in the 1955 film East of Eden. John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 5 of 34Natalie Wood and James Dean goofing off on set of the film Rebel Without A Cause. His role as Jim Stark cemented Dean’s status as an A-list star.Warner Brothers/Getty Images 6 of 34James Dean was part of the Fairmount High Quakers basketball team in Indiana, where he lived with his relatives after his mother passed away. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 7 of 34James Dean poses for a publicity shot for his film Rebel Without A Cause.
His character’s trademark jacket and denim combo has become an enduring iconography.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 8 of 34Natalie Wood was cast to play James Dean’s opposite for Rebel. Wood almost didn’t get the part because the filmmakers didn’t think she had what it took to play a rebellious teenager. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 9 of 34Actor James Dean as a child in 1932 in Marion, Indiana. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 10 of 34James Dean’s sleek hair was a signature look of the young actor that has been imitated repeatedly in pop culture.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 11 of 34James Dean at the Thalian Ball in August 1955. Sadly, Dean died one month later in a car crash after this photograph was taken.Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images 12 of 34James Dean caught on camera during a private moment in the bathroom.Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 13 of 34After the release of Rebel Without A Cause, the red leather jacket worn by James Dean in the flick became a hot fashion item.Getty Images 14 of 34As a teenager, James Dean was active in team sports. Here, he poses with his American Legion baseball teammates circa 1948.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 15 of 34James Dean died at the peak of his career at the age of 24 after his Porsche collided with another car on the highway. ullstein bild via Getty Images 16 of 34James Dean being prepped for an oil gusher scene in the film Giant, which turned out to be the rising star’s last feature film.Warner Brothers/Getty Images 17 of 34While James Dean’s leather-jacket-and-white-tee combo became an instant pop culture iconography, the actor’s cool mannerisms helped enforce his famous edgy persona.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 18 of 34James Dean gives a thumbs-up from behind the wheel of the “Little Bastard” in Hollywood.
Dean, who had taken up racing as a sport, owned the car only nine days when he lost his life in a fatal highway accident while driving the Porsche.Getty Images 19 of 34The wrecked remains of James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder at the site of the accident.
His film Rebel Without A Cause premiered a month after his tragic death, ultimately catapulting him into stardom posthumously.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 20 of 34The actor landed his first major movie role in the film East Of Eden, though he had several small roles on TV and Broadway before then.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 21 of 34"What better way to die? It’s fast and clean and you go out in a blaze of glory," he said in an interview when asked about the dangers of his sports racing hobby.
An eerie foreshadowing, as nobody expected the rising star to lose his life so quickly in a car crash.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 22 of 34James Dean on the set of the film Giant. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 23 of 34A teen James Dean sits in the bleachers among other high school students.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 24 of 34James Dean in the instantly recognizable red leather jacket from Rebel Without A Cause.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) 25 of 34Actors Marlon Brando and James Dean with director Elia Kazan (left) on the set of East of Eden. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images 26 of 34James Dean signs autographs for a group of fans.
His celebrity would only prove to rise exorbitantly after his death.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 27 of 34According to his cousin, James Dean was deeply affected by his mother’s death. She died of cancer when he was a child.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 28 of 34James Dean was a creative kid growing up, showing an obvious talent for the arts. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 29 of 34Elizabeth Taylor goofing off with James Dean on set of their film Giant.
According to an interview with the actress, Dean confessed to her that he had been molested by his own minister as a child. Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 30 of 34James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor formed a special bond while filming Giant together. API/GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 31 of 34James Dean cultivated a broody, sensitive reputation due to the roles he played. But according to many, those characteristics were part of his offscreen personality as well.Getty Images 32 of 34James Dean takes a break wearing a cowboy hat on the set of the movie Giant.
Movie executives were initially terrified that Dean’s unexpected death would hurt the film’s success but instead the infamy of his demise only helped promote the film even more. Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 33 of 34Actress Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean outside the set of their film Giant.API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 34 of 34Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 34By the time of his death, James Dean had only one major motion picture under his belt, East Of Eden.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 2 of 34James Dean and Marlon Brando goof around on the Twentieth Century Fox studio lot.
The two never worked on any films together but had a close relationship, which many claim was more than a platonic friendship. Archive Photos/Getty Images 3 of 34James Dean loved sports racing. He named his Porsche 550 Spyder “Little Bastard” and was on his way to compete in a race in Salinas, California, at the time of his death. Warner Bros. courtesy of Getty Images 4 of 34James Dean landed his first major movie role in the 1955 film East of Eden. John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 5 of 34Natalie Wood and James Dean goofing off on set of the film Rebel Without A Cause. His role as Jim Stark cemented Dean’s status as an A-list star.Warner Brothers/Getty Images 6 of 34James Dean was part of the Fairmount High Quakers basketball team in Indiana, where he lived with his relatives after his mother passed away. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 7 of 34James Dean poses for a publicity shot for his film Rebel Without A Cause.
His character’s trademark jacket and denim combo has become an enduring iconography.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 8 of 34Natalie Wood was cast to play James Dean’s opposite for Rebel. Wood almost didn’t get the part because the filmmakers didn’t think she had what it took to play a rebellious teenager. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 9 of 34Actor James Dean as a child in 1932 in Marion, Indiana. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 10 of 34James Dean’s sleek hair was a signature look of the young actor that has been imitated repeatedly in pop culture.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 11 of 34James Dean at the Thalian Ball in August 1955. Sadly, Dean died one month later in a car crash after this photograph was taken.Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images 12 of 34James Dean caught on camera during a private moment in the bathroom.Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 13 of 34After the release of Rebel Without A Cause, the red leather jacket worn by James Dean in the flick became a hot fashion item.Getty Images 14 of 34As a teenager, James Dean was active in team sports. Here, he poses with his American Legion baseball teammates circa 1948.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 15 of 34James Dean died at the peak of his career at the age of 24 after his Porsche collided with another car on the highway. ullstein bild via Getty Images 16 of 34James Dean being prepped for an oil gusher scene in the film Giant, which turned out to be the rising star’s last feature film.Warner Brothers/Getty Images 17 of 34While James Dean’s leather-jacket-and-white-tee combo became an instant pop culture iconography, the actor’s cool mannerisms helped enforce his famous edgy persona.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 18 of 34James Dean gives a thumbs-up from behind the wheel of the “Little Bastard” in Hollywood.
Dean, who had taken up racing as a sport, owned the car only nine days when he lost his life in a fatal highway accident while driving the Porsche.Getty Images 19 of 34The wrecked remains of James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder at the site of the accident.
His film Rebel Without A Cause premiered a month after his tragic death, ultimately catapulting him into stardom posthumously.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 20 of 34The actor landed his first major movie role in the film East Of Eden, though he had several small roles on TV and Broadway before then.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 21 of 34"What better way to die? It’s fast and clean and you go out in a blaze of glory," he said in an interview when asked about the dangers of his sports racing hobby.
An eerie foreshadowing, as nobody expected the rising star to lose his life so quickly in a car crash.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 22 of 34James Dean on the set of the film Giant. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 23 of 34A teen James Dean sits in the bleachers among other high school students.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 24 of 34James Dean in the instantly recognizable red leather jacket from Rebel Without A Cause.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) 25 of 34Actors Marlon Brando and James Dean with director Elia Kazan (left) on the set of East of Eden. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images 26 of 34James Dean signs autographs for a group of fans.
His celebrity would only prove to rise exorbitantly after his death.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 27 of 34According to his cousin, James Dean was deeply affected by his mother’s death. She died of cancer when he was a child.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 28 of 34James Dean was a creative kid growing up, showing an obvious talent for the arts. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 29 of 34Elizabeth Taylor goofing off with James Dean on set of their film Giant.
According to an interview with the actress, Dean confessed to her that he had been molested by his own minister as a child. Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 30 of 34James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor formed a special bond while filming Giant together. API/GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 31 of 34James Dean cultivated a broody, sensitive reputation due to the roles he played. But according to many, those characteristics were part of his offscreen personality as well.Getty Images 32 of 34James Dean takes a break wearing a cowboy hat on the set of the movie Giant.
Movie executives were initially terrified that Dean’s unexpected death would hurt the film’s success but instead the infamy of his demise only helped promote the film even more. Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images 33 of 34Actress Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean outside the set of their film Giant.API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 34 of 34Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 34By the time of his death, James Dean had only one major motion picture under his belt, East Of Eden.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
2 of 34James Dean and Marlon Brando goof around on the Twentieth Century Fox studio lot.
The two never worked on any films together but had a close relationship, which many claim was more than a platonic friendship. Archive Photos/Getty Images
3 of 34James Dean loved sports racing. He named his Porsche 550 Spyder “Little Bastard” and was on his way to compete in a race in Salinas, California, at the time of his death. Warner Bros. courtesy of Getty Images
4 of 34James Dean landed his first major movie role in the 1955 film East of Eden. John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
5 of 34Natalie Wood and James Dean goofing off on set of the film Rebel Without A Cause. His role as Jim Stark cemented Dean’s status as an A-list star.Warner Brothers/Getty Images
6 of 34James Dean was part of the Fairmount High Quakers basketball team in Indiana, where he lived with his relatives after his mother passed away. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
7 of 34James Dean poses for a publicity shot for his film Rebel Without A Cause.
His character’s trademark jacket and denim combo has become an enduring iconography.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
8 of 34Natalie Wood was cast to play James Dean’s opposite for Rebel. Wood almost didn’t get the part because the filmmakers didn’t think she had what it took to play a rebellious teenager. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
9 of 34Actor James Dean as a child in 1932 in Marion, Indiana. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
10 of 34James Dean’s sleek hair was a signature look of the young actor that has been imitated repeatedly in pop culture.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
11 of 34James Dean at the Thalian Ball in August 1955. Sadly, Dean died one month later in a car crash after this photograph was taken.Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images
12 of 34James Dean caught on camera during a private moment in the bathroom.Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images
13 of 34After the release of Rebel Without A Cause, the red leather jacket worn by James Dean in the flick became a hot fashion item.Getty Images
14 of 34As a teenager, James Dean was active in team sports. Here, he poses with his American Legion baseball teammates circa 1948.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
15 of 34James Dean died at the peak of his career at the age of 24 after his Porsche collided with another car on the highway. ullstein bild via Getty Images
16 of 34James Dean being prepped for an oil gusher scene in the film Giant, which turned out to be the rising star’s last feature film.Warner Brothers/Getty Images
17 of 34While James Dean’s leather-jacket-and-white-tee combo became an instant pop culture iconography, the actor’s cool mannerisms helped enforce his famous edgy persona.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
18 of 34James Dean gives a thumbs-up from behind the wheel of the “Little Bastard” in Hollywood.
Dean, who had taken up racing as a sport, owned the car only nine days when he lost his life in a fatal highway accident while driving the Porsche.Getty Images
19 of 34The wrecked remains of James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder at the site of the accident.
His film Rebel Without A Cause premiered a month after his tragic death, ultimately catapulting him into stardom posthumously.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
20 of 34The actor landed his first major movie role in the film East Of Eden, though he had several small roles on TV and Broadway before then.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
21 of 34"What better way to die? It’s fast and clean and you go out in a blaze of glory," he said in an interview when asked about the dangers of his sports racing hobby.
An eerie foreshadowing, as nobody expected the rising star to lose his life so quickly in a car crash.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
22 of 34James Dean on the set of the film Giant. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
23 of 34A teen James Dean sits in the bleachers among other high school students.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
24 of 34James Dean in the instantly recognizable red leather jacket from Rebel Without A Cause.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
25 of 34Actors Marlon Brando and James Dean with director Elia Kazan (left) on the set of East of Eden. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
26 of 34James Dean signs autographs for a group of fans.
His celebrity would only prove to rise exorbitantly after his death.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
27 of 34According to his cousin, James Dean was deeply affected by his mother’s death. She died of cancer when he was a child.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
28 of 34James Dean was a creative kid growing up, showing an obvious talent for the arts. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
29 of 34Elizabeth Taylor goofing off with James Dean on set of their film Giant.
According to an interview with the actress, Dean confessed to her that he had been molested by his own minister as a child. Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images
30 of 34James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor formed a special bond while filming Giant together. API/GAMMA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
31 of 34James Dean cultivated a broody, sensitive reputation due to the roles he played. But according to many, those characteristics were part of his offscreen personality as well.Getty Images
32 of 34James Dean takes a break wearing a cowboy hat on the set of the movie Giant.
Movie executives were initially terrified that Dean’s unexpected death would hurt the film’s success but instead the infamy of his demise only helped promote the film even more. Frank Worth/Capital Art/Getty Images
33 of 34Actress Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean outside the set of their film Giant.API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
34 of 34Like this gallery?Share it:
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33 Iconic James Dean Pictures That Show The Man Behind The ‘Rebel’ View Gallery
33 Iconic James Dean Pictures That Show The Man Behind The ‘Rebel’ View Gallery
33 Iconic James Dean Pictures That Show The Man Behind The ‘Rebel’ View Gallery
33 Iconic James Dean Pictures That Show The Man Behind The ‘Rebel’ View Gallery
33 Iconic James Dean Pictures That Show The Man Behind The ‘Rebel’
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“To us teenagers, Dean was a symbol of the fight to make a niche for ourselves in the world of adults. Something in us that is being sat on by convention and held down was, in Dean, free for all the world to see,” read a fan letter published in an issue of Life magazine on Oct. 15, 1956.
We explore the troubled star’s unexpected rise to fame, his tragic death, and his enduring influence on pop culture today through some of the most iconic James Dean pictures, which can be seen in the gallery above.
James Dean: The Rebel Actor
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty ImagesJames Dean on the set of Rebel Without a Cause sporting his iconic look.
In contrast to his big-city style, James Dean grew up a farm boy in Indiana, where his aunt and uncle lived. His father sent him there after Dean’s mother died of cancer. According to his cousin Marcus Winslow Jr., the death of Dean’s mother was partly to blame for his trademark moodiness.
Nonetheless, James Dean was a creative kid and he excelled in the arts, showing a knack for sculpting, painting, and acting. After graduating high school in 1949, Dean headed to California, attending UCLA before moving to New York City, where he was accepted into the prestigious Actors Studio.
He landed several roles on television and Broadway before finally catching his big break starring in his first feature film East Of Eden as Cal Trask — a troubled young man entangled in a family rivalry with his brother.
James Dean’s role as Cal Trask showcased his emotionally raw acting, which was an unorthodox method among Hollywood stars at the time. His natural talent is what drew director Elia Kazan to cast him in the first place.
James Dean and co-star Natalie Wood in a scene from Rebel Without A Cause.
While casting, Kazan wrote a letter to author John Steinbeck, whose novel the movie was adapted from, describing the young actor as a “bum.”
James Dean and co-star Natalie Wood in a scene from Rebel Without A Cause.
“I looked through a lot of kids before settling on this Jimmy Dean,” Kazan wrote candidly of his new lead. “He’s a good deal younger [than Marlon Brando] and is very interesting, has balls and eccentricity and a ‘real problem’ somewhere in his guts, I don’t know what or where.”
The role was James Dean’s big break into Hollywood and later earned him an Academy Award nomination after his death, making him the first actor to receive a nomination for the prestigious award posthumously.
James Dean’s Death
An old interview of James Dean discussing his love of car racing.
On Sept. 30, 1955, James Dean and a group of friends made their way to a race in Salinas, about 90 miles south of San Francisco. The young actor had a taste for car racing and he was eager to get back into the game.
An old interview of James Dean discussing his love of car racing.
He had purchased a new Porsche Spyder, which he nicknamed “Little Bastard,” and planned to take it to the race. The actor drove the car with his mechanic, Rolf Wütherich, in the passenger’s seat.
At around 5:45 p.m., Dean noticed a Ford heading toward his car that was preparing to make a left turn at the junction ahead. After Dean supposedly reassured Wütherich, “that guy’s gotta stop, he’ll see us,” the two cars collided head-on.
Weutherich had been thrown out of the car, but Dean was trapped inside the crumpled Porsche, his neck broken and his body mangled. Later that same evening, James Dean was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Getty ImagesThe wrecked remains of James Dean’s Porsche. The actor was 24 years old when he died in the car crash.
A month after his death, James Dean’s second film Rebel Without A Cause was released. Though Dean’s career was only beginning to take off, the young star’s broody portrayal of protagonist Jim Stark combined with his untimely death catapulted Dean’s persona into mythical status.
The fascination behind the alluring actor morphed into a high-pitch fever. A year after, industry polls showed James Dean was the most popular actor in Hollywood, outranking other actors who were still alive.
Thousands of fan letters poured in while those close to him were hounded by fans requesting James Dean pictures and his possessions, any absurd item they could get their hands on.
Magazines capitalized on the craze with special edition issues covered in photographs of James Dean and emblazoned with headlines, like The REAL James Dean and Jimmy Dean returns!
Life magazine dubbed the posthumous frenzy as “delirium.” One of his friends called it “a creepy, almost a sick thing,” saying, “Everybody mirrored themselves in Jimmy’s fame and Jimmy’s death.”
James Dean’s Iconic Look
Keystone/Getty ImagesAfter Rebel came out, James Dean’s signature jacket became an immensely popular item.
James Dean’s Rebel character, Jim Stark, was an emotionally intense teenager whose rebellious air was reflected through his wardrobe — an understated yet stylish ensemble of white T-shirt, denim jeans, and coiffed hair emblematic of the 1950s. But the star piece of the look was no doubt the signature red jacket Dean wore throughout the film.
According to Caroline Young in Classic Hollywood Style, James Dean’s iconic Rebel look was the brainchild of costume designer Moss Mabry, who collected inspiration from real high school and college students.
Outside the movie sets, photos of James Dean show the actor’s style wasn’t much different from his on-screen alter ego. He was often photographed in a plain white shirt or casual long-sleeves, a leather jacket, and rimmed sunglasses still suitable for today’s fashion.
“He was everything the 1950s wanted him to be: Davy Crockett, Holden Caulfield, Jean-Paul Sartre, General Eisenhower, with a little Oscar Wilde and Jesus Christ thrown in,” Richard Martin, curator of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, wrote in the magazine Out in 1996.
James Dean’s enduring iconography, Martin argued, was likely deliberate given the actor was famously meticulous about his image.
The Legacy Of James Dean
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesPlans to resurrect the late actor through CGI technology for a new movie has stirred controversy.
James Dean’s influence can still be spotted today in pop lyrics from artists like Taylor Swift (“Style”) and Lana Del Rey (“Blue Jeans”), movies like Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, and of course, the old classic James Dean pictures that still capture the public’s imagination.
There are festivals held in his honor featuring James Dean look-a-like contests while his pretty-boy-with-an-edge look is a staple of every fashion icon listicle imaginable.
But Dean’s immortal persona as the sensitive rebel comes at a cost as Hollywood plans to resurrect the deceased actor in the 2020 film Finding Jack using CGI technology.
Although the filmmakers have received the green light from Dean’s family, many have criticized the posthumous casting as exploitative and distasteful. It’s emblematic of the price of fame even long after death.
“Dean is absolutely at his peak — forever. He was already immortal before most of us saw him and that’s part of the fascination,” film historian David Thomson said. “Everyone’s got their own notion of what would have happened to James Dean if he had not died.”
Now that you’ve learned about James Dean’s enduring influence on pop culture, read about these 10 terrifying urban legends from Tinsel Town and check out vintage Hollywood in 48 incredible photos.
