The Greatest || James Dean || 62 Years On

James Bryon Dean was born at the Seven Gables apartment in Marion, Indiana on a cold February day in 1931. He died on a lone stretch of highway in Cholame, California on a warm September afternoon in 1955. He was 24 years old. He graduated high school in 1949 and moved to New York City where he found gradual success in numerous TV roles, and even a Pepsi commercial. His first film, East of Eden, premiered in 1954 and was the only film ever released in his lifetime. Several weeks after his death in October, 1955, his most iconic film, Rebel Without A Cause, premiered. This film cemented James' legendary and iconic status as an angst ridden teenage icon. The image most people have of James - Jimmy as he was known to his family, and Jim, as he was known to his friends -- is of him wearing that iconic red windbreaker, staring sternly into the camera. Of a boy confused and trapped. Jimmy's life often reflected that idea of loneliness and confusion. His family moved to Santa Monica, California a few years later because his father had accepted a job out west. At 9, Jimmy's mother, Mildred, was diagnosed with uterine cancer and passed away. Jimmy was moved back to Fairmount, Indiana to live with his aunt and uncle, Ortense and Marcus Winslow. He grew up in a Quaker household and was popular in school. After graduation, Jimmy attended Santa Monica City College and then transferred to UCLA for one semester before dropping out and moving to New York. After success in TV, he moved on to film and worked in California for the last year or so of his life. In that time he made three classic films -- East of Eden (1955), Rebel Without A Cause (1955) and Giant (1956). His death was sudden and tragic. To many, Jimmy is remembered as "The Greatest" actor to have worked in the golden age of film and tv. To many, he's simply the greatest.

James Byron Dean - February 8, 1931 - September 30, 1955

Please check out Landon Austin and his cover of The Greatest here:    • The Greatest - Sia - (Acoustic Cover)...