James Dean (1931-1955) was an American actor who became a generational icon and a symbol of post-war tormented youth. His brief but intense film career is inextricably linked to just three main films that made him a legend:

* *East of Eden* (1955), where he played Cal Trask, a misunderstood young man searching for paternal affection.
* *Rebel Without a Cause* (1955), his most iconic role as Jim Stark, which crystallized his image as the fragile and sensitive young rebel.
* *Giant* (1956), in the role of the crude oilman Jett Rink, a complex and solitary character.

Renowned for his introspective and intense acting style, influenced by the Method, Dean excelled at embodying youthful anguish, rebellion, and vulnerability. His tragic and premature death in a car accident at just 24 years old consecrated him as an enduring Hollywood myth.