At 5:45 pm. on September 30, 1955 the world lost a rising star and gained a timeless legend. Dean made only three films before he was tragically killed in an auto accident at age 24, but the mark he made on a generation- on an entire culture- is his true legacy. Each year the hometown of Dean is visited by thousands of fans from around the globe, and JamesDean.com receives 100,000 hits each day.

James Byron Dean was born at the "Seven Gables" apartment house at the corner of 4th and McClure Streets in Marion, Indiana, ten miles north of Fairmount, on February 8, 1931. Jimmie was the only child of Winton Dean, who was a dental technician, and Mildred Wilson Dean. The family moved to Fairmount shortly after the birth of Dean. During the five years they lived in Fairmount, they resided in three different homes within the town limits and a small home located at the north edge of the Winslow farm. The family left Indiana for California when Dean was five years old. When his mother died at an early age, nine-year-old James Dean was sent to Fairmount to be raised by his paternal aunt and uncle, Ortense Dean and Marcus Winslow. His mother is buried in Grant Memorial Park in Marion.

James Dean started school at the Fairmount West Ward (Old Academy) and in 1945 went to Fairmount High School. He was an average student, but excelled in sports, art, drama and band. He was a member of the debate team and at the graduation exercises in May of 1949, he received the dramatic, art and athletic awards. He also placed first in the Indiana State Contest of the National Forensic League with this presentation of "The Madman" by Dickens, and sixth in the National Contest held at Longmont, Colorado.

After graduation Dean went to California where his father lived and attended Santa Monica City College, where he first majored in pre-law, and later UCLA, where he was a theater major. His first acting job was in a Pepsi commercial for which he earned $30. He got bit parts in a couple of movies, but wanted more important roles.

In September of 1951 James Dean left Hollywood for New York City to get into "serious" acting. He was cast in several live television dramas before being cast in his first Broadway play, "See the Jaguar."

It was in his second Broadway play, "The Immoralist," that he was spotted by director Elia Kazan, who had him screen tested and flown back to Hollywood to star in the leading role in the John Steinbeck classic, "East of Eden." He immediately went on to make "Rebel Without A Cause" with director Nick Ray and co-stars Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo.

His third film was the Edna Ferber epic, "Giant," which co-starred Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. All three films were made within sixteen months.

On September 30, 1955, James Byron Dean was driving his new 550 Porsche Spyder to Salinas, California, where he planned to enter it in a race. At 5:45 p.m. at the intersection of Routes 466 and 41 near Cholame, a 1950 Ford turned in front of the sports car and Dean was unable to avoid a collision with it.

At the age of 24, with only "East of Eden" released to the public, James Dean was dead. "Rebel Without A Cause" would open one week later.

The body of Dean was brought back to Fairmount and laid to rest in the Winslow family plot in Park Cemetery, one-half mile north of Fairmount, a short distance from the farm home where he grew up. Funeral services were held at the Friends Church, 124 W. First Street, Fairmount, on October 8, 1955.

FUN FACTS
Did you know that...

* Winstons and Chesterfields were his favorite brand of cigarettes?
* His parents, Mildred and Winton Dean, named Dean after James Amick, an assistant surgeon at the Marion VA Hospital?
* James Whitcomb Riley was his favorite poet and Frank Sinatra and Renata Tebaldi were his favorite singers?
* His neck size was 15 1/2 and his shoe size was 9E?
* The only jewelry he wore was a silver identification bracelet, a black-faced wristwatch and several pairs of cuff links?
* His favorite ice cream was a combination of coffee and raspberry?
* He earned a $10 flat fee for a Pepsi commercial he did in 1950 and $1,500 per-week salary for the movie "Giant" in 1955?
* As an adult, he owned a Palomino he named Cisco the Kid?
* He had malaria while filming "Rebel Without A Cause?"
* His sign was Aquarius?
* He had a fear of flying?
* Dean never did own a Mercury, the car often associated to him because he drove one in the film "Rebel Without A Cause?"
* He could barely see without his glasses and that he was near-sighted?
* His last drink was a Coke?
* It cost $56.14 to transport him from the site of his fatal accident to the Paso Robles hospital on Sept. 30, 1955?
* It took 12 jurors 20 minutes to determine Dean died of a fractured neck and other injuries as a result of speeding?
* Dean was wearing a white T-shirt, a red jacket and light blue pants the day he was killed?
* His estate included two pairs of cuff links, an inscribed traveling clock, a wristwatch, a silver perfume flask, an ID bracelet, three racing trophies, a Marlin .22 rifle, a set of three bongo drums, a red leather suitcase and a pair of bull horns and matador cape?
* He wore pants with a 30-32-inch waist?
* He sometimes suffered from insomnia?
* Donald Turnupseed, the man who collided with Dean in his fatal crash, was left stranded on the highway and had to hitchhike home to Tulare?
* During the summer of 1950, he worked as an athletic instructor for the Los Angeles military academy?
* In 1955, he had a Siamese kitten he named Marcus after his cousin Marcus Winslow?
* He liked black motorcycle boots and also wore sneakers and penny loafers?
* He was a pole-vault champion on the Fairmount High School track and field team?
* The books in his personal library ranged from The Bible to "Charlottes Web and included works from James Witcomb Riley, Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde.

Source: "The Unabridged James Dean: His Life and Legacy from A to Z" by Randall Riese
 

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