James Dean

:This article is about the actor James Dean. You might also be looking for Jimmy Dean.

Acting career

Dean began his acting career with a Coca-Cola television commercial followed by a stint as a stunt tester in the game show Beat the Clock. He quit college to focus on his budding career but struggled to get jobs in Hollywood and succeeded in paying his bills only by working as a parking lot attendant at CBS studios.

Related Topics:
Coca-Cola - Television - Commercial - Game show - Beat the Clock - Hollywood - Parking lot

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Following the advice of friends Dean moved to New York City to pursue live stage acting, where he was accepted to study under Lee Strasberg in the storied Actors Studio. His career picked up and Dean did several episodes on early-1950s episodic television programs such as Kraft Television Theater, Studio One, Lux Video Theatre, Robert Montgomery Presents, Danger and General Electric Theater. Positive reviews for his role in André Gide's The Immoralist led to calls from Hollywood and film stardom.

Related Topics:
New York City - Lee Strasberg - Actors Studio - 1950s - Television - Kraft Television Theater - Studio One - Lux Video Theatre - Robert Montgomery Presents - Danger - General Electric Theater - André Gide - The Immoralist

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He appeared in several uncredited bit roles in forgettable films like Sailor Beware but gained recognition and success in 1955 with his first starring role, Cal Trask in East of Eden, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role (the first posthumous acting nomination in Academy Awards history). He followed this up in rapid succession with two more starring roles in Rebel Without a Cause and the posthumous 1956 release Giant, for which he was also nominated for an Academy Award.

Related Topics:
Sailor Beware - 1955 - East of Eden - Academy Award - Best Actor in a Leading Role - Rebel Without a Cause - 1956 - Giant

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