James Dean
Acting Born Feb 8, 1931 Died Sep 30, 1955 Marion, Indiana, USA 90 credits
Biography
James Byron Dean was an American actor born on February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana. He is remembered as a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement. His stardom was defined by three major roles: troubled teenager Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause, loner Cal Trask in East of Eden, and surly ranch hand Jett Rink in Giant. Following his death in a car crash on September 30, 1955, at the age of 24, Dean became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in East of Eden. He received a second nomination the following year for his role in Giant.
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Career overview
James Byron Dean was an American actor born in Marion, Indiana, on February 8, 1931. Throughout his career, he amassed 87 known acting credits. He became remembered as a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement.
His stardom was defined by three major roles. He starred as troubled teenager Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause in 1955. His other defining roles were the loner Cal Trask in East of Eden, released in 1955, and the surly ranch hand Jett Rink in Giant, released in 1956.
Dean died in a car crash on September 30, 1955, at the age of 24. Following his death, he became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in East of Eden. He received a second nomination the following year for his role in Giant.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
James Dean: Rebel Generation
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes
Paul Newman: The RestlessRock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Tab Hunter ConfidentialChildren of 'Giant'
The Real James Dean
The Day That James Dean DiedJames Dean: Sense MemoriesJames Dean: Forever YoungJames Dean: Little Prince, Little BastardÅret var 1955
Bettie Page: The Girl in the Leopard Print Bikini
James Dean: Born Cool
Memories of Giant
Rediscovering a RebelReturn to 'Giant'
James Dean and MeJames Dean: A Portrait
Gay! Gay! Hollywood
Faces of Death VIIDeath Scenes 2
Death In HollywoodHollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
Hello Actors StudioAll-Time Movie GreatsHollywood Scandals and TragediesForever James Dean
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
James Dean: The First American Teenager
James Dean RememberedLetter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still
The James Dean Story
Giant
Rebel Without a CauseCrossroadsEast of EdenThe ThiefThe Unlighted Road
Sherwood Anderson's I'm A FoolThe Dark, Dark HoursA Star Is Born World PremierePadlocksRun Like a Thief
The United States Steel HourYou Are ThereLife SentenceGeneral Electric TheaterGeneral Electric Theater
OmnibusAbraham LincolnHas Anybody Seen My Gal?Deadline - U.S.A.10,000 Horses Singing
Tales of TomorrowHallmark Hall of FameSchlitz Playhouse of StarsFixed Bayonets!Jackie Knows All
Robert Montgomery PresentsLux Video TheatreArmstrong Circle Theatre
The Big Story
The Philco Television PlayhouseStudio OneStudio OneStudio One
Full filmography
- James Dean: Rebel Generation (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Paul Newman: The Restless (2023) as Self
- Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- The Fabulous Allan Carr (2017) as Self (archive)
- Tab Hunter Confidential (2015) as Self (archive)
- Children of 'Giant' (2015) as Self (archive footage)
- The Real James Dean (2006) as Archival Footage
- The Day That James Dean Died (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- James Dean: Sense Memories (2005) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- James Dean: Forever Young (2005)
- James Dean: Little Prince, Little Bastard (2005)
- Året var 1955 (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- East of Eden: Art in Search of Life (2005) as Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Rebel Without a Cause: Defiant Innocents (2005) as Himself (uncredited)
- Bettie Page: The Girl in the Leopard Print Bikini (2004)
- James Dean: Born Cool (2001)
- Memories of Giant (1998) as Self (archive footage)
- Rediscovering a Rebel (1996) as Self - 'Jim Stark' (archive footage)
- Return to 'Giant' (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- James Dean and Me (1995) as Self (archive footage)
- James Dean: A Portrait (1995) as Self (archive footage)
- Gay! Gay! Hollywood (1994)
- Faces of Death VII (1992)
- Death Scenes 2 (1992) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Death In Hollywood (1990)
- Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths (1990) as (archive footage)
- Hello Actors Studio (1988) as Self (archive footage)
- All-Time Movie Greats (1988) as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies (1988) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Forever James Dean (1988) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady (1982)
- James Dean: The First American Teenager (1975) as Self (archive footage)
- James Dean Remembered (1974) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still (1974) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The James Dean Story (1957) as Self (archive footage)
- Giant (1956) as Jett Rink
- Rebel Without a Cause (1955) as Jim Stark
- Crossroads (1955) as Man in Crowd
- East of Eden (1955) as Cal Trask
- The Thief (1955) as Fernand Lagarde
- The Unlighted Road (1955) as Jeffrey Latham
- Sherwood Anderson's I'm A Fool (1954) as The Boy
- The Dark, Dark Hours (1954) as Bud
- A Star Is Born World Premiere (1954) as Self
- Padlocks (1954) as The Man (Jack)
- Run Like a Thief (1954) as Robbie
- The United States Steel Hour (1953) as Fernand Lagarde
- You Are There (1953) as Bob Ford
- Life Sentence (1953) as Hank Bradon
- General Electric Theater (1953) as The Boy
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Bud
- The Hound Of Heaven (1953) as Angel
- Something For An Empty Briefcase (1953) as Joe Adams
- Harvest (1953) as Paul Zalinka
- Trouble Along the Way (1953) as Football Spectator (uncredited)
- Keep Our Honor Bright (1953) as Jim Cooper
- A Long Time Till Dawn (1953) as Joe Harris
- The Evil Within (1953) as Ralph
- Campbell Soundstage (1953) as Hank Bradon
- Death Is My Neighbor (1953) as J.B.
- Rex Newman (1953) as Todd Ingalls
- Sentence of Death (1953) as Joe Palica
- The Bells of Cockaigne (1953) as Joey
- Omnibus (1952) as Bronco Evans
- Abraham Lincoln (1952) as William Scott
- Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952) as Youth at Soda Fountain (uncredited)
- Deadline - U.S.A. (1952) as Press Boy (uncredited)
- 10,000 Horses Singing (1952) as Hotel Bellboy
- Forgotten Children (1952) as Bradford
- The Foggy, Foggy Dew (1952) as Kyle McCallum
- Sailor Beware (1952) as Boxing Opponent's Second (uncredited)
- Tales of Tomorrow (1951)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Bradford
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Jeffrey Latham
- Fixed Bayonets! (1951) as Doggie (uncredited)
- Jackie Knows All (1951) as Randy
- Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration (1951) as John
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Paul Zalinka
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Kyle McCallum
- Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950) as Joey Frasier
- The Big Story (1949) as Rex Newman
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) as Robbie Warren
- Studio One (1948) as William Scott
- Studio One (1948) as Joe Palica
- Studio One (1948) as Hotel Bellboy (uncredited)
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947) as Jim Cooper
- Final Days of an Icon: James Dean as (archive footage)
- The James Dean Classic as (archive footage)