James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was a cultural icon , best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark. The other two roles that defined his stardom were as loner Cal Trask in East of Eden
(1955), and as the surly ranch hand, Jett Rink, in Giant (1956). Dean's enduring fame and popularity rests on his performances in only these three films, all leading roles. His premature death in a car crash cemented his legendary status.
Dean was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award
nomination for Best Actor
and remains the only actor to have had two posthumous acting nominations. In 1999, the AFI
ranked Dean the 18th best male movie star on their AFI's 100 Years ....100 Stars list.
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