James Dean Short Biography

James Dean was a famous actor in the 1950's who also loved to race cars. Dean was an up and coming new actor when tragedy struck. James was traveling in California when he rammed into the back of another car, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. This changed the movie world and it made people realize that tragedy can strike whenever, wherever. James Dean was born on February 8, 1931, in Indiana, to Winton Dean and Mildred Wilson. Soon after James was born, his dad became a dentist and left the farming industry. The whole family then moved to California and left Indiana in the rearview mirror. After several years of living in California, Dean's mom died of cancer and his dad sent him back to Indiana to live with his aunt and uncle's quaker farm. While he was back in Indiana, Dean went to counseling with his pastor, Rev. James Deweerd. Deweerd is the man who got James Dean hooked on racing cars. In school, Dean was exceptional, and he was also considered to be a popular student and having played on the baseball and varsity basketball teams, studied drama, and competed in public speaking through the Indiana High School Forensic Association. He was not a kid who was afraid to get engaged and be involved in the school he was attending. His first year of college he was studying pre-law at Santa Monica College. After one
He quit college to act full-time and was cast in his first speaking part, as John the Beloved Disciple in Hill Number One, an Easter television special reenacting the resurrection of Jesus. In October 1951, Dean moved to New York City to try and pursue his acting career. Soon after Dean moved to New York City, he appeared in episodes of several CBS television series, The Web, Studio One, and Lux Video Theatre, before gaining admission to the legendary Actors Studio to study method acting under Lee Strasberg. This was an incredible opportunity for