James Dean rocketed to fame in the early 1950s with three iconic roles playing angry and disillusioned young men. He was a Midwestern boy with dreamy Hollywood looks and the rebellious nature of the Beat Generation. Dean's career came to a sudden end when he crashed his Porsche Spyder on a California highway on September 30, 1955. For this Throwback Thursday, take a look at the movies that made James Dean a legend.
East of Eden was Dean's first starring role. His portrayal of the moody, complex Cal Trask was largely improvised and is also the only Dean film released during his lifetime.
Many will always associate James Dean with Rebel Without A Cause, a landmark film that explores the angst of youth and the generational divide. That red jacket is a fashion icon in its own right.
Giant is an epic tale of greed, race and social class in which Dean plays Jett Rink, a ranch hand who strikes it rich. Although it wasn't released until a year after his death, James Dean's performance solidified his status as an actor of the highest caliber, not just a screen idol.
James Dean was only 24 when he passed and starred in just three films. But 60 years later, we are still talking about him, a talent gone too soon.
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