James Dean, Why is he still immortal?

James Dean

Why is he still

immortal?

Let’s face it when we see the name James Byron Dean we instantly think rebel. It’s seemingly ironic that James Dean was the least bit of a rebel, in a certain sense. He was a guy who was ahead of his time, the ‘first teenager’ of the 50’s. Still now in 2012 he is a hero figure, a God, an idol, a friend and immortal. Does dying at a young age always make a celebrity immortal? Yes In the case of Marilyn Monroe, yes in the case of Jimmy, yes in the case of Rudolph Valentino. NO. I always think it goes deeper than this, the fact that they are still immortal. Everyone differs in their opinion of a good actor/actress, for example I think Gregory Peck was a dull actor; your opinion could of course differ. In the case of James Dean his acting ability isn’t questionable. He only played 3 parts in 3 films; Cal Trask in ‘East of Eden’, Jim Stark in ‘Rebel without a Cause’ and Jett Rink in ‘Giant’.  Many people believe that if he lived and made more films he would of eventually ‘died out’, of course there is no way of telling that but my feelings towards it is, no, he wouldn’t of died out. His acting ability would still be in tact but his personal demons and road to self-destruction would have bought down a load of critics on his case, maybe denting his acting career but it wouldn’t have ever happened off his own back. James Dean brought emotion to every role he acted in, as part of the audience you also wonder if he brought a bit of himself to the character when you watch him act you can’t help but feel sorry for him, just as many people felt about Marilyn Monroe, in a sense you want to mother them and protect them from anymore hurt. So firstly James’ brilliant talent as an actor helped him to stay immortal.

Another reason that adds to the factor of him remaining immortal is his story. At the age of 9 Jimmy’s mother died of cancer, subsequently his father couldn’t deal with the death himself so he could hardly help Jimmy through it. Instantly you think of a 9 year old boy all alone in the world, who wouldn’t want to mother him? Look after him and tell him everything will be okay? Jimmy had to find his own feet and go about his life his own way with a ‘burden’, which he carried around with him until his death. If you have great empathy for a human and maybe in some way can relate to them they instantly become immortal to you. You know that they would understand you and wouldn’t judge you. I think many people feel that way about Jimmy and why so many people believe they ‘understand’ him.

Unresolved issues. Is he or isn’t he gay? This question remains unsolved, a mystery, a secret. It’s when the rumour mill starts to spin. All the ‘old’, ‘dear’ friends come out of the wood work and make money off the stories they sell. These sort of unresolved issues create a mystery and spark about one’s character, thus keeping them alive while the debates go on and until the answer is found…. If it ever is? If it ever will.

Jimmy’s character. Jimmy has been reported of having a sensitive side, of crying, of not being afraid of flaring up or breaking down. He was true to himself and stood up for himself, he took no poop from anyone. Humans naturally admire that sort of behaviour, especially when it was in the time of the 1950’s. Everyone knows that in the 1950’s there wasn’t much ‘justice’ in the film industry and you had to be tough to get ahead. So here Jimmy is ahead of his time and here he somewhat acquires his rebel status. He gains a lot of respect for following his dreams. That’s why James Byron Dean remains immortal.