The Short Life of James Dean – Dale’s Daily Data

You might consider him in the same class as some of today’s hottest young male actors - Ryan Reynolds, Shia Labeouf, Ryan Gosling – maybe the ladies will have some other suggestions – but back in the 1950’s he was the ultimate in cool when cool was new.

His name was James Dean and his rise to stardom was quick.  He appeared in the 1955 movie version of John
Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” beating out Paul Newman for the part.  He next played the role of a rebellious teenager in “Rebel Without A Cause” co-starring Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo.  He also did a movie with Rock
Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor about a Texas cattle rancher called “Giant”.

Dean was a fan of race cars and motorcycles and was on his way to a car race in Salinas, California
when he was killed in a head-on crash at the age of 24.  A passenger in his car survived.  The other driver escaped with minor injuries.  That crash shocked America on this date in 1955

Dean
was nominated for Oscars for his performances in “East of Eden” and “Giant” –
the first time in the history of the Oscars that someone had been nominated
after their death.