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 films,

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  in 1956.

After  his death in a car crash, James Dean became the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and remains the only actor to have had two posthumous acting nomination.

I remember when James Dean died on September 30, 1955, it was a sad time he was a great actor and about a week later my Sister asked me to go to the movie theater as they were handing out 8×11 inch black and white photos in memorial to him.