Jimmy: The Secret Life of James Dean

by Jason Colavito

A fresh and long-overdue reassessment of James Dean, examining his life and legacy as a queer man.

Although he died at a heartbreakingly young age and appeared in only a handful of movies, James Dean revolutionized American manhood. As a celebrity and icon, he melded vulnerability with determination, sensitivity with strength, in a way that offered a bracing and—for some—threatening new vision of masculinity. His massive influence and the fascination he has always inspired are inseparable from his identity as a queer man whose complex sexuality shattered the norms of midcentury American society. (When asked whether he was a homosexual, he reportedly said, “I’m certainly not going through life with one hand tied behind my back.”)

Today, even though it is widely accepted that Dean was gay or bisexual, the story of his life and personal character continue to be colored by the prejudices of an earlier era and the work of often unscrupulous biographers and journalists. Drawing on exhaustive new research (including more than four hundred previously secret pages of Dean’s personal and business records), The Secret Life of James Dean is a revelatory reassessment of the man and his legacy. Free from sensationalism—but unafraid to confront the difficult facts of Dean’s life—it deploys modern insights into sexual diversity to transform our understanding of James Dean’s story, and the stories of boys and men like him.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 19, 2024

Reviews

[Faeryglamour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge Deaner! I really appreciated this book and how the author respected and honored Dean. I would like to share my personal thoughts. When someone is dead, especially a celebrity, there is a temptation to make them into who we want them to be. I think it’s important to state that there are some things about Jimmy we will never truly know and that maybe, in a beautiful way, all of the contradictions are true. Understanding the historical aspect of the 1950’s culture and the way queerness was viewed at the time in America is key to understanding the life of Dean in certain aspects, absolutely. I won’t deny that. However, Dean being a queer icon is only something that can be seen in retrospect and it is a title that is imposed upon him. With an open mind I objectively ask- would James Dean want to be known for his sexuality or his acting? Would he want to be known for both? Being given the title of queer icon should only enhance his contributions to film - it should not supersede or replace his contribution to film.

I personally think he was bisexual. I do believe his love for Pier Angeli was real. I appreciate the author’s extensive research and find his passion for Jimmy palpable and relatable. It’s clear that the author is very inspired by Dean and I think that is wonderful. As much information as there is about Dean, comparatively to other celebrities, there is very little that gives us a concrete definitive insight into Deans psyche and inner world. In my opinion, I think it’s amazing that Dean is so layered (specifically the question of his sexuality and his feelings of not being of this world) and these layers contribute to the genius of his artistry.

James Dean is an icon in many ways. His craft and his genius clearly affects people in a unique and divine way. I appreciate the book focusing on his sexuality and trying to get clear answers because historically, it is important.

Personally, at the end of the day, his acting reveals all we need to know about James Dean. He was a true artist and a once in a lifetime talent that changed the world and cinema.

I would definitely recommend this biography as it helps ask questions and it brings to the table more conversation about Jimmy. ❤️

[Cristian Estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who sees the James Dean rabbit hole as a void I can’t look away from and feels reflected in it, I respect this book. Unlike many other books on Jimmy this one uses actual hard evidence, like his verified personal documents, to make any claims. If you’re someone who goes into this book with very little knowledge on Jimmy or the culture around him then you won’t appreciate having such straightforward information. For years there have been an immense amount of claims made about Jimmy across various books, magazines, fan blogs, and movies, few of which have had any substance. James Dean the legend is not the same as James Byron Dean the friend, lover, and artist. If you’ve done the research the information offered in this book won’t shock you, it’ll just verify a lot which was already said, and result in an image of Jimmy that’s a bit more clear.

[Matthew Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and well researched book about James Dean’s life and sexuality. I would recommend it!

[Chip · Rating 1 out of 5]

Deserves zero stars. Nothing wrong if gays want Dean as icon. There is something wrong with creating an incomplete and inaccurate record of who he was. He had many affairs with women throughout his short career. But author seems to challenge those affairs as unrequited love on women’s part. He downgrades any relationship with women and challenges anyone who could validate these relationships. Dean’s gay relationships except one with one long time friend, were very toxic and unhealthy. These included a former lover who extorted Dean threatening to expose their relationship which was career ending in the 1950s and producers who despite Dean’s talent,
forced him into sex in order to get a part he was already qualified for. Sounds like early gay Weinstein. There are many who said Dean was heterosexual including a gay man like Tab Hunter, Jack Grinnage an actor on RWAC, Martin Landau, Bob Hickel, dialogue coach on Giant, and as mentioned above many of his female friends and sexual partners. They knew Dean and who he was. What he would have evolved into no one knows. But to say he was gay or bisexual and not even mention, heterosexual is not the truth. Stay away from this author’s self serving portrait of a great actor. The author wants to make Dean into what he wants him to be and not who he was.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Colavito (2024) JIMMY: THE SECRET LIFE OF JAMES DEAN
London. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars

The sleeve reads, "A fresh and long-overdue reassessment of James Dean, examining his life and legacy as a queer man. Although he died at a heartbreakingly young age and appeared in only a handful of movies, James Dean revolutionized American manhood. As a celebrity and icon, he melded vulnerability with determination, sensitivity with strength, in a way that offered a bracing and—for some—threatening new vision of masculinity. His massive influence and the fascination he has always inspired are inseparable from his identity as a queer man whose complex sexuality shattered the norms of midcentury American society. (When asked whether he was a homosexual, he reportedly said, “I’m certainly not going through life with one hand tied behind my back.”) Today, even though it is widely accepted that Dean was gay or bisexual, the story of his life and personal character continue to be colored by the prejudices of an earlier era and the work of often unscrupulous biographers and journalists. Drawing on exhaustive new research (including more than four hundred previously secret pages of Dean’s personal and business records), Jimmy: The Secret Life of James Dean is a revelatory reassessment of the man and his legacy. Free from sensationalism—but unafraid to confront the difficult facts of Dean’s life—it deploys modern insights into sexual diversity to transform our understanding of James Dean’s story, and the stories of boys and men like him."

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My umpteenth James Dean biography that I've read. This one is a bit different as it focuses on and centres around Jimmy's sexuality whereas in the other biographies the focus has been elsewhere. Gay, straight, bi, whatever?! I couldn't care less how he identified. Jimmy Dean was is and always will God in my eyes!
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[Kristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I far too often end up regretting reading a terrible book. Almost never am I ASHAMED of reading a book and the supposed "author" who wrote it. Colvato is blogger who specializes in the study of fringe theories. His writing is terrible and has many run-on sentences with no inner consistency. He likes to throw in big words to pretend he understands them I loved: Dean hoped to "bifurcate his life into two parts". THE IDIOT SHOULD HAVE STOPPED WITH A PERIOD AFTER LIFE!!! Frankly I would love to see someone bifurcate into 3 or 4 or 12 parts.... If I could give this book a rating of -10 I would. The book uses anything that can be found to denigrate James Dean and homosexuals. If there was a complementary sentence about Jame Dean in this book, I missed it. We do not need to know that Dean liked to urinate on objects when he was angry. TOO BAD HE ISN'T HERE TO URINATE ON THIS BOOK. PLEASE SAVE YOUR TIME AND MONEY BY SKIPPING THIS MONSTROSITY. Kristi & Abby Tabby Childless Cat Lady

[Charlie Egon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I barely knew anything about James Dean before reading this book. Jason Colavito focuses on the years between Dean's highschool time until his early death; both illustrating the hypermasculinity and heteronormativity of the US-American 1950s, and all the ways that Dean queered it: his unfulfilled search for a male lover, his relationships and friendships with women, his struggle of suiting societal norms, his larger-than-life fame after his death, becoming an icon in the gay community.

I did expect this to read like a memoir, but it is more of a thorough historical study. Colavito grounds his findings on meticulous analysis of the scarce self-testimonies, and many, many, speculative sources that accompanied Dean's fame and mystic symbolisation. That the appendix makes up more than a third of this book says enough.

Anyone looking for a verified examination of all we know and not know about James Dean's sexuality, should pick up this book.

[William Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author carefully builds a portrait of James Dean that gives us glimpses of Dean’s personality and psyche — as well as anyone can 70 years after the star’s premature death. Dean was ahead of his time, the society he was born into too conservative for him to be truly who he knew himself to be. A fascinating depiction of a queer icon and an immense talent snuffed out too soon. An excellent read!

[Pamela Zuckerman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spectacularly bad. Not only poorly written, but really not needed. There will be some press for this bad book, but it's just gossip. Nothing in this book illuminates who and what James Dean was--it just hovers around his sexuality.

Applause Books often rose above its past history of badly written, fannish books: This book pushes the house back down to its shameful roots.

[Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't read a biography of James Dean since the Mutant King and was looking forward to this one. The author's theory is that James Dean was a gay man and not a bisexual and he makes a good case of it, with thorough research. He has, however, a very pompous and prolix style with long run on sentences. This detracts from the interesting material. Read at your own risk.

[Darren St. James · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time and money.