It’s been more than sixty years since James Dean split for his home planet at age 24, leaving behind a relatively small body of work, which consisted of starring roles in three major films (East of Eden, Rebel Without A Cause and Giant), a couple of Broadway shows, a few television commercials and a little over a dozen rarely-seen TV appearances. Today, February 8, marks what would have been the 85th birthday for the man who changed what it meant to be an American teen. Still, the legend lives on with countless magazine articles, books and movies that try to decipher the qualities that made the bi heartthrob’s appeal so timeless. Most curiously, for a man who got to spend a quarter century on earth, there were thousands and thousands of photos taken. How did he manage to get anything done with all the photo shoots?
Related: Two Guys Hit The Open Road To Relive James Dean’s Last Day
Since you already know all the more iconic images, here are a few of the lesser-seen but equally evocative photos of Dean, courtesy of the Instagram account managed by the late actor’s estate.
Dean went shirtless to beat the intense Texas heat while making the 1956 oil-drilling epic Giant.
Dean’s love of all things artistic was well known. Here he tries his hand at sculpting.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
A photo posted by James Dean (@jamesdean) on
He loved pussycats.
He didn’t hesitate to get a little piggy from time to time.
A photo posted by James Dean (@jamesdean) on
He need a good strong cup of Joe in the a.m. just like the rest of us.
He was sometimes prone to sulking.
Definition of cool ? #jamesdean #cool #rebel #legend #icon #handsome #stud #hunk #classic
A photo posted by James Dean (@jamesdean) on
He championed an invigorating game of table tennis on occasion.
Is that a camera between his legs or is he just excited to see you?
A photo posted by James Dean (@jamesdean) on
That time he went for a ride with Marlon Brando.
He just wanted a little off the sides.
Suave. ? #jamesdean #icon #legend #classic #rebel #stud #handsome #hunk
A photo posted by James Dean (@jamesdean) on
Billy Budd
He was gorgeous. I have his photo in my bedroom.
Stache
Secret to being immortalized. 1. Star in a string of hit movies. 2. Die in either car crash or drug over doze immediately after. 3. Be young and gorgeous.
Stache
James Dean would be 85 today. It’s interesting that he was only 5’8.
James Dean Quotes:
Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.
Only the gentle are ever really strong.
If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he’s dead, then maybe he was a great man.
The gratification comes in the doing, not in the results.
Brian
Thank goodness he didn’t live at a time of gay identity politics. The gay media would have snapped him up as one of theirs and spat him out when he had served his poster-child purposes for said media.
Again, thank goodness that he didn’t live at a time of gay identity politics.
da90027
I doubt he would have lived to 85 he probably would have died before 50 from lung cancer or emphysema I’ve rarely seen a pic of him without a cigarette in his mouth. Even at 24 he looked 35.
Glücklich
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x6SYcGLJ_Y
@Brian:
GOD WOULD YOU FUCK OFF ALREADY?! Are you mute? If you ever heard your crazy bullshit coming from your own abscessed mouth you’d blow your brains out!
CWM85
He was definitely bisexual at least. He was probably pansexual.
Brian
Nobody cares about your inane commentary…and nobody ever will.
Sansacro
@da90027: What a moronic comment.The difference between a 25 and 35 year old is one of maturity–not health or, as you suggest, looking “old.” Further, genetics have more to do with how long we live, if not the quality of our lives. But thanks for sharing!
1EqualityUSA
Sansacro, Cigarettes cause changes in DNA, “within seconds, as though given an injection.”
http://news.discovery.com/human/genetics/smoking-cigarettes-genetic-damage-110115.htm