James Dean became a Hollywood legend portraying moody, sensitive and often rebellious characters. He represented the disaffected and misunderstood teens of the 1950s and gained cult icon status after his untimely death at the young age of 24.

Dean got his start in television and stage before starring in the three films, East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant that would catapult him to stardom and earn him the title "Moody New Star" by Life magazine. His spontaneous style of acting and fondness for racecars didn't sit well with studio heads, but helped fuel his bad boy image.

James Dean died in a car crash, just as his star was rising -a mere six months after East of Eden premiered, and one month before Rebel Without a Cause would premiere. When his final film Giant opened more than a year after his death, the premiere was a veritable tribute to a talented actor who would never realize the full potential of his talents, and the incredible fame that was to come.