These words are often used to describe James Dean. No single sentence can begin to give justice to James Dean as a person or an actor. He was more than just an actor, more than just a symbol of youth. Jimmy was a unique individual who inspired those who knew him and continues to inspire those who didn't. Jimmy believed that life wasn't a rehersal. This is a snapshot of how Jimmy lived his life.

James Byron Dean was born at 2:00 am on the 8th February, 1931 in Marion, Indiana. His mother, Mildred Marie Wilson, had met his father, Winton Dean the year before when she moved to Marion after the Great Depression. In 1935, Winton, Mildred and Jimmy moved to Santa Monica, California where Winton had been transferred through work as a dental technician.

Mildred Dean was an artistic and enthusiastic woman. She was interested in the arts and introduced Jimmy to one of his favourite poets, James Whitcomb Riley, whom she greatly admired.

Winton and Jimmy

Mildred

Jimmy had a close and loving relationship with his mother who was eager to teach him all she knew. Mildred influenced Jimmy's acting and creative abilities, as she taught him that nothing was impossible. She introduced him to the violin and tap dancing at a young age. Jimmy often entertained his relatives with cardboard puppet theatres and relished being the centre of attention. Jimmy's favourite game as a boy was 'the wishing game'. Each night he would place a piece of paper under his pillow with a wish written on it. Mildred would read the wish while he slept and, when possible, she would make it come true the next day.

When Jimmy reached the age of nine his mother was diagnosed with cancer. She died in May of 1940 at the age of 29, a tragic event that was to greatly effect the rest of Jimmy's life. At Mildred's funeral Jimmy snipped off a lock of her hair, and for the next two weeks he played the wishing game on his own.

The Winslow's home

After his mother's death the relationship between Jimmy and his father became strained. Jimmy was sent to live with his aunt and uncle, Ortense and Marcus Winslow, on their farm back in Indiana. Ortense became a mother to Jimmy and raised him as if he were her own son. Jimmy took the train back to Indiana with his Grandmother, Emma Dean, and the remains of his mother. Emma Dean could not restrain Jimmy from jumping out at every stop and racing to the baggage compartment. He was afraid that someone might have removed his mother's coffin. For months after, Jimmy was found each week hugging his mother's gravestone, crying "Oh, mother, why did you have to leave me?"

On his sixteenth birthday, Ortense and Marcus gave Jimmy his first motorbike, another great influence on the rest of his life. Jimmy fell in love with speed and continued to do so until the day he died.

Ortense first encouraged Jimmy to get up on stage when he was in the seventh grade, by persuading him to do a reading for the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Jimmy, who always savoured being centre of attention, never looked back.

School days

Adeline Nall

Soon after, he took part in the Indiana State dramatic contest reading A Madman's Manuscript by Charles Dickens. He performed this with the encouragement of his first drama coach, Adeline Nall, who was a great influence on his life. This piece was performed with such a gripping and chilling effect, that Jimmy won first place in the Regional Finals. He then moved on to National level, but finished sixth due to the performance being two minutes too long. Adeline Nall had constantly warned him of this, but being the stubborn student he was, he ignored her, saying that every part was necessary. Throughout his education, Jimmy became interested in almost everything that was a challenge. He was as enthusiastic in sports and sculpting as he was in acting and art. It appeared that there was nothing that Jimmy couldn't do.

During his adolescence Jimmy was also greatly influenced by the Reverend James DeWeerd. DeWeerd believed in personal immortality and taught Jimmy how to drive in his senior year. He encouraged Jimmy to have no fear of death because he believed that death was purely control of mind over matter. This influenced Jimmy's famous 'live fast' attitude and influenced his love for speed and danger.

Jimmy's acting ability continued to prosper. After countless school plays Jimmy moved to Los Angeles to find work. However, he soon learned from a life friend Bill Bast that the real work was in New York.

New York rain

So Jimmy left for the Big Apple and shortly after met an aspiring young actress, Christine White, who had been working on a script. The ambitious pair decided to work on the script together and after some thought used their performance for an audition at The Actors Studio, where many great talents had been discovered before them. Both Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift had studied there and proceeded to become two of Jimmy's greatest idols. Christine and Jimmy were accepted into the studio, Jimmy being it's youngest ever member, and it was then that Jimmy first studied Method acting.

Jimmy made appearances in numerous television programmes, including The Unlighted Road. He even took part as a stunt tester in Beat The Clock and appeared in a Pepsi-Cola advert. He continued to act until he received his first part in a Broadway production.

The Immoralist

He made a fantastic impression in his first play See The Jaguar. However, it was not until his highly acclaimed role in The Immoralist that he was truely discovered. While performing this play, Elia Kazan, director of A Streetcar Named Desire, first came across Jimmy's talent. Kazan had been planning to use Brando and Clift in a new project, but had been unsuccessful. After seeing Jimmy he decided the young actor was perfect for the part and approached Jimmy with the suggestion that he should audition for his upcoming film East of Eden.

OF

EDEN

East of Eden is the story of Cal Trask, a troubled son of a strictly religious man, Adam Trask. The story takes the path of the all too familiar tale of Cain and Abel, as Cal and his brother Arron fight for their father's love.

The brothers have lived their lives with the belief that their mother is dead, but after Cal discovers otherwise he is forced to question everything that he has ever believed in.

FILM FACTS

During the filming of East of Eden Jimmy met Pier Angeli, a beautiful, young Italian actress while she was filming The Silver Chalice on a neighbouring soundstage. Jimmy had had numerous relationships in the past but it is possible that Pier was the only woman that he ever truly loved. When asked about their relationship Pier said:

"Sometimes on the beach we loved each other so much we just wanted to walk together into the sea holding hands because we knew then that we would always be together."  - Pier Angeli

Jimmy and Pier

WITHOUT

A

CAUSE

Rebel Without A Cause is a story of teenage rebellion and the struggles through adolescence. Jim Stark has just moved to a new town with his overpowering mother and weak father, who he is finding difficult to look up to.

In an attempt to fit in with his peers and to win the attention of Judy, Jim begins to take the risks that only a teenager can. As his family life disintegrates he forms a substitute family of his own with his friends Judy and Plato, and he begins to discover the true beauty of life.

FILM FACTS

Giant is a story that spans thirty years, following the life of a family who live on a ranch in Texas. Far from following the typical tale of the old west, Giant raises such issues as racism, infidelity and social status.

Giant tells the tale of the good fortune and envied lifestyle of Bick and Leslie Benidick and its contrast to the sold out, poverty stricken lifestye of Jett Rink, their lonely farmhand. As the film progresses, Jett longs for the attention of Leslie but feels he has no hope, until he strikes oil and the tables are turned.

FILM FACTS

"James Dean was a genius. I don't think there's another actor in the world who could have portrayed Jett as well as he did." - Edna Ferber

During the making of Giant, Jimmy purchased a Porsche Spyder 550, an elegant car that he had admired for some time. He had originally owned a Porsche 356 Speedster, but as a result of his love for car racing and his desire to take part in an upcoming race, Jimmy decided to replace it. During the filming of Giant, Jimmy had been banned from driving, as Stevens feared that he would endanger his life. Jimmy relished living life on the edge but he was convinced that his driving would never result in any injury.

Jimmy and Edna Ferber

Shortly before Jimmy's death he took part in the filming of a National Safety Council advertisment for road safety. When asked if he had any advice for young drivers, Jimmy changed the famous adage "The life you save may be your own" to "The life you save may be mine". Jimmy died only days later on the way to his long awaited race in his beloved Porsche Spyder 550.

On 30th September 1955, at around 5.45pm James Dean was pronounced dead. Jimmy had been driving particularly fast that day in anticipation of the race that lay ahead. He had already been stopped for speeding but continued to challenge the limits that confined him. Jimmy came across route 466 at a Y-shaped junction. Donald Turnupseed, a student, approached route 466 from route 41 in his white Sedan. Jimmy's Porsche Spyder was almost invisible as it smashed into the large Sedan. It was completely demolished. Jimmy was killed instantly. He was 24.

A sculpture of himself by Jimmy