James Dean is one of the icons of film in the 20th century, but he only made three films in his short career where he had a leading role.
Born in Indiana, his family moved to California as a child. When his mother died when he was just seven years old his mother died, and he was sent back to Indiana to be raised by his aunt and uncle.
He returned to California to go to university and study law but soon switched to acting. He dropped out of UCLA in 1951 to pursue an acting career first time.
For the next few years, he appeared in television commercials and small parts in film and television, often uncredited. In 1953 he was cast in Elia Kazan’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. Soon after this he was cast in the teen drama Rebel Without a Cause opposite Natalie Wood. The following year he filmed Giant with Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson.
On 30th September 1955 Dean was killed when the car he was driving collided with another vehicle that had strayed over the centre line of the road. The cars hit almost head on, throwing Dean’s car into several cartwheels before landing in a gully. The actor was killed instantly.
After his death he was posthumously nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his work on Giant, but the award went to Yul Bryner for his performance in The King and I.
Since his death there has been speculation about the actor’s sexuality, and many stories have emerged suggesting he was bisexual. His college roommate spoke about them having a sexual relationship, and co-star Elizabeth Taylor also described him many years later as being gay, as did Rebel Without a Cause director Nicholas Ray.
Former Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby devotes a chapter of his book A Private Life: fragments, memories, friends to his teenage recollections of seeing East of Eden and feeling a connection to the star, and later in life making a pilgrimage to Dean’s hometown in Indiana.
Author Truman Capote was born on this day in 1924
American author and playwright Truman Capote was born on this day in 1924. Many of his works have been hailed a literary classic including In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Capote was born in New Orleans but spent his early years being raised by distant relatives of his mother in Alabama. One of his neighbours as a child was Harper Lee who would go on to write the classic To Kill a Mockingbird. They would remain life-long friends.
He first found success writing short stories and in 1948 released his first novel Other Voices, Other Rooms. which included a transgender character, something that was considered scandalous at the time.
He would go on to write several books and plays, but while his work was acclaimed, he was just as well known for being a celebrity and raconteur. Capote never made any secret of his sexuality and out and proud.
He died in 1984 in Los Angeles his death attributed to liver disease and multiple drug intoxication. His final years were brought to the screen in the television series Capote vs The Swans where he was portrayed by actor Tom Hollander.
He was also portrayed by Philip Seymour Hoffman in 2005 film Capote, while Toby Jones played the author in the 2006 film Infamous.
