Arts & Entertainment
POLL: 'Rebel Without a Cause' Star James Dean Is Remembered Today, Sept. 30
The king of cool died on Sept. 30, 1955, he would have been 80. Local residents remember. Tell us what your favorite Dean flick is in our poll.
“Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.” —James Dean
James Dean oozed cool before cool was cool. He lived large, lived fast and he died too young, on Sept. 30, 1955.
The Hollywood heartthrob was killed in a car accident on a California highway. He was only 24. Dean and his mechanic, Rolf Wuetherich, were driving Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder—Little Bastard—to a car race in Salinas when they were involved in a head-on collision with a car driven by a 23-year-old Donald Turnupspeed. Dean died, but the mechanic survived being thrown from the car. Turnupseed escaped with only minor injuries. Dean is best known for Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant.
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In his 2001 TV biopic starring James Franco, the same home used for the film in Newport Beach was used for several scenes.
Laguna Niguel resident Marilyn Hansen said she couldn't recall which of his movies were her favorite, but she did remember something else.
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"I have been on the four-corner intersection where he met his final destination and saw his car in a restoration shop in Anaheim Hills," she said.
Added Jackie Mueller, another resident: "I loved him in Rebel Without a Cause. He was so cool, and when he died, I was in school. We all couldn't believe it. It was so sad. He was so talented, and I am sure he would have had a great career."
Greg LeNoue, general manager at in Laguna Niguel said Dean's films "dug deep into the misunderstood bad boy persona."
"I did like his role in Giant, where he played ranch hand Jeff Rink, who comes into some land and soon after, strikes rich oil in Texas. It is a powerful story that sprawls two generations and shows what money, and power can do to a man. It's an epic film that stars Liz Taylor and Rock Hudson. It's three hours long but has great symbolism and moral issues throughout."
You can rent any of his films at the local store at 32361 Golden Lantern St.
What is your favorite James Dean movie? Be sure to vote in our poll below.
