James Dean: The Biography

by Val Holley

“What’s important about Jimmy is that in spite of his short life, he had really lived-and with his beauty, he acted in ways that other actors only dream about.” — Terese Hayden, producer, Camino Real Killed in a car crash at only 24, James Dean has become a tragic legend. Dean rose to fame in the film East of Eden, based on the novel by John Steinbeck. American teenagers particularly related to Dean through his role in Rebel Without a Cause, where he portrayed an emotionally confused teen. This is the most comprehensive biography of James Dean ever written, based upon over one hundred interviews with people who have never before spoken on record. Val Holley delves into Dean’s early life and training on stage and in television using research that is astounding in its detail and frequently lets his sources speak in their own voices. Praise for Val Holley “Val Holley allows James Dean to be as wily, controlling, beautiful, seductive, sexually ambivalent, and actory as he apparently was. It’s like suddenly having the gift of a fourth, posthumous movie to slip on the shelf” - Brad Gooch, author of City The Life and Times of Frank O’Hara “I was drawn in by its legwork and detail, surprising interviews, sweet reasoning, and vivid characterization. This immortal of the screen stacks up as an American enigma” - Patrick McGilligan, author of George A Double Life, “Val Holley’s James Dean is obviously a labor of love, and very thorough” - Washington Post Book World “The most definitive biography yet written...” - Booklist Val Holley has written numerous articles on James Dean and H. L. Mencken. He lives in Washington, D.C. James Dean was his first full biography.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Film

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Sean Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The problem with James Dean is that it seemed he was as much of a mystery to himself as he was to anybody who associated with him, therefore it's pretty tricky for a biographer to make any sense out of it at all. The biggest failing of this tome is that Dean's ascendency into a Hollywood star is dealt with in only the last forty pages - surely this should have been an area where there would have been a bigger wealth of material to draw upon?

[Dustin Henson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great biography of James Dean written by Val Holley. A lot of input is written here from those who worked with Dean, knew him, or had any kind of relationship with the actor. Dean spent his childhood growing up in Fairmount, Indiana with his Aunt Ortense and Uncle, Marcus Winslow. Deans mother died when she was just 29, and Dean eight. His Father had moved out to California for work, so when Dean was sent back to Fairmount to live with his Aunt and Uncle, he would spend his young years there and attending Fairmount High School, taking up basketball and other sports, and eventually becoming interested in acting.

The story is detailed, and much is written and said about his early years and rise to fame. The book concludes very quickly with a mention of the accident that ultimately ended his life. It is said that at the end of Dean’s life, he had a very big interest in racing, which is where he was heading to the day of his fatal accident, September 30, 1955, at just 24 years old.

[Hal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second bio I have read on James Dean and it was a mix of filling in some of the holes but with an as abrupt ending as was his demise. Jimmy has to go down as one of the more complex characters of the many similar that become famous actors. His antics, orientation, and genius were a cut a bit different to say the least.

There is much detail provided here, sometimes it seemed too much but it did give a very good profile of these unusual man. More emphasis is put on his earlier years trying to establish himself in acting on many levels. By the time he makes Hollywood and what eventually made him, the author speeds up and detail is much more sketchy. He does not go into a great deal of detail on these three sets. And with in a few pages he is gone with a simple mention of the accident. It was a bit strange in concluding, much like the strangeness of his life.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great bio

Quite intriguing and informative; probably second only to Daltons "The Mutant King", and not as pretentious as that book sometimes is.