James Dean is the legendary hero with a legendary story; live fast and die young. For over half a century, he has captured the world with his casual style, unflinching look and rebel attitude. James Dean has defined the essence of cool and without-a-cause for generations. His star continues to shine brighter and brighter.
Never has there ever been, never will there ever be. The one, the only, James Dean.
In Memoriam: James Dean
09/30/11
Only 24 years old with three movies under his belt, James Dean was well on his way to star in many more leading films. But, on September 30, 1955 Dean's life tragically ended in a two-car collision near Cholame, California.
Today, 56 years after his death, James Dean has become a cultural icon that transcended his acting life into a worldwide superstar.
Dean once said "If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he's dead, then maybe he was a great man."
And he did just that. Dean's rebel style made him a modern fashion icon, often used as a muse in fashion, art and films. He is immortalized in the hearts of his fans and will continue to garner the attention of future generations.
In James Dean biography "Little Boy Lost," Joe Hyams sums up his career:
"...There is no simple explanation for why he has come to mean so much to so many people today. Perhaps it is because, in his acting, he had the intuitive talent for expressing the hopes and fears that are a part of all young people... In some movie magic way, he managed to dramatize brilliantly the questions every young person in every generation must resolve."