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Birth
James Byron Dean was born on February 8th, 1931 in Marion, Indiana to Winton and Mildred Dean ("My Case Study"). -
High School Play
In his Fairmount High School production, Dean plays the role of John Mugford in Mooncalf Medford. Throughout his sophomore year, Dean also participated in other plays such as The Monkey's Paw and starred in An Apple from Coles County (The Official Site of James Dean). -
National Forensic League
On April 9th, 1949 James Dean earns sixth place at The National Forensic League's national competition in Longmont, Colorado. -
To California
On June 15th, Dean leaves Indiana and heads for California by bus (The Official Site of James Dean). -
First Commericial
James Dean was awarded his first professional acting job by acting in a Pepsi-Cola commercial which featured him and other teenagers dancing around a Jukebox singing "Pepsi-Cola hits the spot." For this, he recieved thrity dollars ("The Official Site of James Dean"). -
Recognition
By playing Bachir, a blackmailing Arab houseboy, in a Broadway production of "The Immoralist", James Dean was able to became a "talent to be watched". His short two weeks in the production -- which went from February eigth to May first -- was sufficient in getting the attention of Elia Kazan who was casting for the movie "East of Eden" ("James Dean Hollywood's Rebel"). -
East of Eden
Dean begins shooting his first major film "East of Eden" and becomes the only film (of three) to be released before his untimely death ("James Dean Hollywood’s Rebel”). -
Rebel Without a Cause
The picture featured is of James Dean on the set of "Rebel Without a Cause" and was taken by Frank Worth. It began shooting on May 1st, but did not premiere until October 26th in New York, after his death (The Official Site of James Dean"). In an interview about Rebel Without a Cause Dean says "the picture deals with the problems of modern youth. It is the romanticized conception of the juvenile that causes much of our trouble with misguided youth nowadays." -
Giant
On May 21st, shooting begins for his last film before his death, Giant. After his death, Giant premiere in New York on Novermber 10th, 1956 (The Official Site of James Dean"). -
Death
While driving his Porche, James Dean collides with a Ford Sedan and dies within seconds. Ironically, On September 17th, 1955, just thirteen days earlier, James Dean made a 30-second commercial for the National Highway Safety Committee in which he says "Take it easy driving. The life you might save might be mine" (The Official Site of James Dean").
