James Dean

James Dean died 55 years ago today !

He was killed in a car crash when aged 24.



A budding US actor, his popularity reached iconic cult status following his death.

James Dean died 55 years ago today !

He was killed in a car crash when aged 24.



A budding US actor, his popularity reached iconic cult status following his death.

James Dean was not a "budding US actor," but one who burst out of the box with an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, and Best Foreign Actor nods from BAFTA and Jussi for his first major film role, as Cal in "East of Eden" (1955).

Dean was posthumously nominated for another Best Actor Oscar as Jett Rink in "Giant" (1956), and won a Golden Globe Special Achievement Award for his work in the film.

He was great right from the start, a major reason his legend endures over 50 years later.

James Dean died 55 years ago today !

He was killed in a car crash when aged 24.



A budding US actor, his popularity reached iconic cult status following his death.

James Dean was not a "budding US actor," but one who burst out of the box with an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, and Best Foreign Actor nods from BAFTA and Jussi for his first major film role, as Cal in "East of Eden" (1955).

Dean was posthumously nominated for another Best Actor Oscar as Jett Rink in "Giant" (1956), and won a Golden Globe Special Achievement Award for his work in the film.

He was great right from the start, a major reason his legend endures over 50 years later.

He never got the chance to reach a fraction of his potential, hence 'budding'

Budding = fledgling, flowering, nascent, potential, promising...

James Dean by no means burst out of the box.....here is a list of his acting roles prior to East Of Eden

"The United States Steel Hour" .... Fernand Lagarde (1 episode, 1955)
... aka "The U.S. Steel Hour" - USA (alternative title)
- The Thief (1955) TV episode .... Fernand Lagarde
"G.E. True Theater" .... Bud / ... (2 episodes, 1954)
... aka "General Electric Theater" - USA (original title)
... aka "G.E. Theater" - USA (informal short title)
- The Dark, Dark Hours (1954) TV episode .... Bud
- I'm a Fool (1954) TV episode .... The Boy
"Danger" .... Augie / ... (4 episodes, 1953-1954)
- Padlocks (1954) TV episode .... Felon
- The Little Woman (1954) TV episode .... Augie
- Death Is My Neighbor (1953) TV episode .... J.B.
- No Room (1953) TV episode
"The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse" .... Rob (1 episode, 1954)
... aka "The Philco Television Playhouse" - USA (original title)
... aka "Arena Theatre" - USA (new title)
... aka "Repertory Theatre" - USA (new title)
- Run Like a Thief (1954) TV episode .... Rob
"Robert Montgomery Presents" .... Paul Zalenka (1 episode, 1953)
- Harvest (1953) TV episode .... Paul Zalenka
Harvest (1953) (TV) .... Paul Zalinka
"Armstrong Circle Theatre" .... Joey Frazier (1 episode, 1953)
- The Bells of Cockaigne (1953) TV episode .... Joey Frazier
"Kraft Theatre" .... Jim / ... (3 episodes, 1952-1953)
... aka "Kraft Television Theatre" - USA (original title)
... aka "Kraft Mystery Theatre" - USA (new title)
- A Long Time Till Dawn (1953) TV episode .... Joe Harris
- Keep Our Honor Bright (1953) TV episode .... Jim
- Prologue to Glory (1952) TV episode
"Campbell Summer Soundstage" .... Hank Bradon / ... (2 episodes, 1953)
... aka "Campbell Playhouse" - USA (original title)
... aka "Campbell Soundstage" - USA (new title)
- Life Sentence (1953) TV episode .... Hank Bradon
- Something for an Empty Briefcase (1953) TV episode .... Joe Adams
"Omnibus" .... Bronco Evans (1 episode, 1953)
- Glory in the Flower (1953) TV episode .... Bronco Evans
"The Big Story" .... Rex Newman (1 episode, 1953)
- Rex Newman, Reporter for the Globe and News (1953) TV episode .... Rex Newman
"Studio One in Hollywood" .... Hotel Bellboy / ... (3 episodes, 1952-1953)
... aka "Studio One" - USA (original title)
... aka "Studio One Summer Theatre" - USA (summer title)
... aka "Summer Theatre" - USA (summer title)
... aka "Westinghouse Studio One" - USA (alternative title)
... aka "Westinghouse Summer Theatre" - USA (summer title)
- Sentence of Death (1953) TV episode .... Joe Palica
- Abraham Lincoln (1952) TV episode .... William Scott
- Ten Thousand Horses Singing (1952) TV episode .... Hotel Bellboy
"Tales of Tomorrow" .... Ralph (1 episode, 1953)
- The Evil Within (1953) TV episode .... Ralph
"Treasury Men in Action" .... Arbie Ferris / ... (2 episodes, 1953)
... aka "Federal Men" - USA (video title)
- The Case of the Sawed-Off Shotgun (1953) TV episode .... Arbie Ferris
- The Case of the Watchful Dog (1953) TV episode .... Randy Meeker
Trouble Along the Way (1953) (uncredited) .... Football Spectator
"You Are There" .... Bob Ford (1 episode, 1953)
- The Capture of Jesse James (1953) TV episode .... Bob Ford
"The Kate Smith Hour" .... The Messenger (1 episode, 1953)
- Hounds of Heaven (1953) TV episode .... The Messenger
Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952) (uncredited) .... Youth at Soda Fountain
"Hallmark Hall of Fame" .... Bradford (1 episode, 1952)
- Forgotten Children (1952) TV episode .... Bradford
Deadline - U.S.A. (1952) (uncredited) (unconfirmed) .... Copyboy
"CBS Television Workshop" .... G.I. (1 episode, 1952)
- Into the Valley (1952) TV episode .... G.I.
Sailor Beware (1952) (uncredited) .... Boxing opponent's second
"The Stu Erwin Show" .... Randy (1 episode, 1951)
... aka "Trouble with Father" - USA (alternative title)
- Jackie Knows All (1951) TV episode .... Randy
Fixed Bayonets! (1951) (uncredited) .... Doggie
"The Bigelow Theatre" .... Hank (1 episode, 1951)
... aka "Bigelow-Sanford Theater" - USA (second season title)
... aka "Hollywood Half Hour" - USA (syndication title)
... aka "Marquee Theater" - USA (syndication title)
- T.K.O. (1951) TV episode .... Hank
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) (uncredited) .... Soldier
"Family Theatre" .... John (1 episode, 1951)
- Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration (1951) TV episode .... John

Budding seems to be an apt word.

Was Elvis a budding movie star after Jailhouse Rock?

James Dean by no means burst out of the box.....here is a list of his acting roles prior to East Of Eden
...Budding seems to be an apt word.

And in the UK, we never saw any of the TV stuff; we'd seen him in just one starring role [East of Eden] before his death !

That seemed pretty 'nascent' to us !

Was Elvis a budding movie star after Jailhouse Rock?

Elvis was a 'budding' film star all his life !

He was never allowed to 'flower' or reach his potential in that field !

James Dean by no means burst out of the box.....here is a list of his acting roles prior to East Of Eden ...

And not one of his TV or stage roles was a major motion picture, thus my apt reference regarding his film debut.

Hope this helps.

Was Elvis a budding movie star after Jailhouse Rock?

Anyone know of scenes (presumably in the pre-army movies) was Dean's influence noticable on Elvis?

Anyone know of scenes (presumably in the pre-army movies) was Dean's influence noticeable on Elvis?

Any of the moodier moments in "Jailhouse Rock" or "King Creole" may be traced to the Dean influence. I see it even in his "Love Me Tender" debut, when he yells out "Vance!" in anguish, towards the end.

LOL to be honest it's been years since I saw those movies. Yeah I agree with you regarding "Jailhouse Rock". Are you going to contribute something to me "Greatest Instrumental's" threads?

I see it even in his "Love Me Tender" debut, when he yells out "Vance!" in anguish, towards the end.

Absolutely. I see it in parts of Wild In The Country as well.

Wow that is a film I have not seen for over 20 years.

R.I.P. James Dean !!!!!

Elvis Lady......what's your tribute to James Dean ?

James Dean by no means burst out of the box.....here is a list of his acting roles prior to East Of Eden ...

And not one of his TV or stage roles was a major motion picture, thus my apt reference regarding his film debut.

Hope this helps.

Was Elvis a budding movie star after Jailhouse Rock?

Mr Wriggle out strikes again!

James Dean by no means burst out of the box.....here is a list of his acting roles prior to East Of Eden ...

And not one of his TV or stage roles was a major motion picture, thus my apt reference regarding his film debut.

Hope this helps.

Was Elvis a budding movie star after Jailhouse Rock?

Mr Wriggle out strikes again!

His film debut was in 1951...The Day The Earth Stood Still....not a major picture?

Whose Elvis Lady ?

One ceases to be "budding" when one stars in a major motion picture, in my opinion.

I can't remember what he did in TDTESS

Some Dean memorabila. I've got the US half sheets for Giant and Rebel Without a Cause and the Australian daybills too but can't find the photos

His film debut was in 1951...The Day The Earth Stood Still....not a major picture?

Yes, that was a major picture, and Dean is not in it.

See: http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56116

Always a pleasure educating you.

One ceases to be "budding" when one stars in a major motion picture ...

That is correct.

Last edited by drjohncarpenter on Fri Oct 01, 2010 8:34 am, edited 2 times in total.

And what about Elvis' post-army roles? Any scenes that stand-out in your opinion where Dean's influence is noticable ?

And what about Elvis' post-army roles? Any scenes that stand-out in your opinion where Dean's influence is noticable ?

There is, maybe, a hint of Dean's brooding intensity & rebelliousness in Wild In The Country & Flaming Star, but after that, well................

I wish someone would put all of his guest roles in a dvd box set. I've see glimpes in various documentaries but I want the whole thing.

UPDATE - 8th February, 2011:

James Dean would have been 80 today !

Last edited by ColinB on Tue Feb 08, 2011 8:04 pm, edited 2 times in total.