James Dean Trivia

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#42). [1995] Ranked #33 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997] The famous Failure Analysis Associates, from Menlo Park, California, re-constructed and re-created all details of the accident at the same approximate time on September 30th, and have concluded that James Dean was travelling 55 to 56 m.p.h. when the fateful accident occured, thereby proving he had not been speeding, as rumor had it. His so called affairs with various starlets were made up by the Warner Brothers PR. He also worked as a "stunt tester" on the game show "Beat the Clock" (1950), testing the safety of the stunts that some of the studio audience members would later perform. Interred at Park Cemetery, Fairmount, Indiana, USA. One of only five actors to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his first screen appearance. Reportedly, Dean was very much in love with Pier Angeli and they planned to marry, but her mother blocked the union because Dean wasn't Catholic, and helped arrange Pier's marriage to Vic Damone. Before she committed suicide, Pier wrote that Dean was the only man she had ever really loved. Dean's acting breakthrough came on Broadway in the drama "See the Jaquar", despite its run of less than a week. Briefly studied dance with Katherine Dunham. Won the Bloom Award as "Best Newcomer" for early Broadway work in "The Immoralist." He was issued a speeding ticket only two hours and fifteen minutes before his fatal accident. The Eagles penned a lyric about him that went: "Too fast to live, too young to die." Was the first actor to receive an Academy Award nomination posthumously (for his role in East of Eden (1955)), however, he did not win. Fraternal grandson of Charles Dean and Emma Dean. Nephew of Ortense Winslow (sister of James Dean's father) and Marcus Winslow. Cousin of Marcus Winslow Jr. Immortalized in 1974 by the song 'Rock On' sung by 'David Essex' . Only actor in history to receive more than one Oscar nomination posthumously. Pictured on a 32¢ US commemorative postage stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series, issued 24 June 1996. Pledged Sigma Nu fraternity but dropped out of college before being initiated. Ironically, he filmed a highway safety commercial with actor Gig Young on the set of Giant (1956) in July 1955. Dean told Young, "I used to fly around quite a bit, took a lot of unnecessary chances on the highway....Now when I drive on the highway, I'm extra cautious." Donald Turnupseed, the driver who killed James Dean, died of cancer in 1995. Turnupseed couldn't swerve out of the way of Dean's Porsche Spyder, but he successfully swerved journalists who frequently pestered him for interviews about the accident. James Dean is one of several famous and tragic figures from history to be featured on the front and back sleeves of rock band Marillion's "Clutching at Straws" album (released 1987). East Of Eden (1955)_ was the only one of the three movies in which James Dean had major roles to be released while he was alive. One of only four male actors to be posthumously nominated for an Oscar as best actor in a leading role. The others were Spencer Tracy, Peter Finch and Massimo Troisi. Contrary to popular belief, Dean's middle name was not taken from Lord Byron, but from a relative, 'Byron' Dean. During the filming of Giant (1956), he and Rock Hudson did not get along. This tension heightened their on-screen clashes. However, according to Hudson's ex-wife Phyllis Gates, he cried after hearing the news of Dean's death. Gates wrote, "Rock couldn't be reached. He was overcome by guilt and shame, almost as though he himself had killed James Dean." At the time of his death, Dean did not leave behind a will. So, most of his possessions went to his father, Winton, whose relationship with him was distant at most. Was engaged to Elizabeth Sheriden who wrote a book about their love named Dizzy and Jimmy. Dean's acting breakthrough came on Broadway in the drama "See the Jaguar", despite its run of less than a week (only 4 days). Along with Martin Sheen and Steve McQueen, is mentioned in R.E.M.'s song "Electrolite". Referenced by name in the John Cougar Mellencamp song "Jack and Diane."