James Dean
Known for: Acting
James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was an American actor. He is remembered as a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, as expressed in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which he starred as troubled teenager Jim Stark. The other two roles that defined his stardom were loner Cal Trask in East of Eden (1955) and surly ranch hand Jett Rink in Giant (1956). After his death in a car crash on September 30, 1955, Dean became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in East of Eden. Upon receiving a second nomination for his role in Giant the following year, Dean became the only actor to have had two posthumous acting nominations. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him the 18th best male movie star of Golden Age Hollywood in AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars list.
Filmography
Series
Robert Montgomery Presents
Paul Zalinka
1950
Series
The Philco Television Playhouse
Robbie Warren
1948
Series
Studio One
William Scott
1948
Series
Studio One
Joe Palica
1948
Series
Studio One
Hotel Bellboy (uncredited)
1948
Series
Omnibus
Bronco Evans
1952
Series
Kraft Television Theatre
Jim Cooper
1947
Series
Tales of Tomorrow
1951
Series
The United States Steel Hour
Fernand Lagarde
1953
Series
Armstrong Circle Theatre
Joey Frasier
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Kyle McCallum
1950
Film
Giant
Jett Rink
1956
Film
East of Eden
Cal Trask
1955
Series
You Are There
Bob Ford
1953
Film
Rebel Without a Cause
Jim Stark
1955
Series
Crossroads
Man in Crowd
1955
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Bradford
1951
Series
General Electric Theater
The Boy
1953
Series
General Electric Theater
Bud
1953
Series
The Big Story
Rex Newman
1949
Film
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes
Self (archive footage)
2024
Film
Deadline - U.S.A.
Press Boy (uncredited)
1952
Film
Paul Newman: The Restless
Self
2023
Film
Tab Hunter Confidential
Self (archive)
2015
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Jeffrey Latham
1951
Film
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
1982
Film
Sailor Beware
Boxing Opponent's Second (uncredited)
1952
Film
The Thief
Fernand Lagarde
1955
Film
Life Sentence
Hank Bradon
1953
Film
The James Dean Story
Self (archive footage)
1957
Film
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self
1954
Film
James Dean: Sense Memories
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2005
Film
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Film
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Self (archive)
2017
Film
Hello Actors Studio
Self (archive footage)
1988
Film
Trouble Along the Way
Football Spectator (uncredited)
1953
Film
Faces of Death VII
1992
Film
James Dean: Rebel Generation
Self (archive footage)
2025
Film
James Dean: Little Prince, Little Bastard
2005
Film
Sherwood Anderson's I'm A Fool
The Boy
1954
Film
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
(archive footage) (uncredited)
1988
Film
Fixed Bayonets!
Doggie (uncredited)
1951
Film
James Dean: Forever Young
2005
Film
Abraham Lincoln
William Scott
1952
Film
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Self (archive footage)
2023
Campbell Soundstage
Hank Bradon
1953
Film
James Dean Remembered
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1974
Film
Has Anybody Seen My Gal?
Youth at Soda Fountain (uncredited)
1952
Film
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
(archive footage)
1985
Film
Padlocks
The Man (Jack)
1954
Film
Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration
John
1951
Film
Keep Our Honor Bright
Jim Cooper
1953
Film
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
(archive footage)
1990
Film
Harvest
Paul Zalinka
1953
Film
Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1974
Film
Rediscovering a Rebel
Self - 'Jim Stark' (archive footage)
1996
Film
Death In Hollywood
1990
Film
10,000 Horses Singing
Hotel Bellboy
1952
Film
Gay! Gay! Hollywood
1994
All-Time Movie Greats
Self (archive footage)
1988
Film
The Hound Of Heaven
Angel
1953
Film
James Dean: A Portrait
Self (archive footage)
1995
Film
Something For An Empty Briefcase
Joe Adams
1953
Film
Death Scenes 2
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1992
Film
Death Is My Neighbor
J.B.
1953
Film
The Real James Dean
Archival Footage
2006
Film
James Dean and Me
Self (archive footage)
1995
Film
The Dark, Dark Hours
Bud
1954
Film
James Dean: The First American Teenager
Self (archive footage)
1975
Film
Children of 'Giant'
Self (archive footage)
2015
Film
The Foggy, Foggy Dew
Kyle McCallum
1952
East of Eden: Art in Search of Life
Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
2005
Film
James Dean: Born Cool
2001
The James Dean Classic
(archive footage)
Film
The Day That James Dean Died
Self (archive footage)
2005
Film
A Long Time Till Dawn
Joe Harris
1953
Film
Sentence of Death
Joe Palica
1953
Film
Jackie Knows All
Randy
1951
Film
The Evil Within
Ralph
1953
Film
Bettie Page: The Girl in the Leopard Print Bikini
2004
Film
Return to 'Giant'
Self (archive footage)
1996
Film
Forgotten Children
Bradford
1952
Film
Memories of Giant
Self (archive footage)
1998
Film
Final Days of an Icon: James Dean
(archive footage)
Film
The Bells of Cockaigne
Joey
1953
Film
Forever James Dean
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1988
Film
Året var 1955
Self (archive footage)
2005
Film
The Unlighted Road
Jeffrey Latham
1955
Film
Run Like a Thief
Robbie
1954
Film
Rebel Without a Cause: Defiant Innocents
Himself (uncredited)
2005
Film
Rex Newman
Todd Ingalls
1953