Dean was honored posthumously for his roles in East of Eden and Giant with two Academy Award nominations. But the victory in those nominations was bittersweet, since the man who touched so many and died so suddenly was not there to enjoy the honor.
With his death, James Dean became a hero to many young teens who felt that he had exactly portrayed their feelings and thoughts in Rebel Without a Cause. Parents were disturbed by it, and teens were obsessed by it.
Many rumors (some true, some false) abounded about Dean after his death, including tales of homosexuality, drugs and mental disorders. Ronald Martinetti's biography, The James Dean Story, is an easy read and tells a story of a young man who desperately wanted to make his mother proud. He befriended many men and women during his brief life, and touched many of his friends very deeply. Martinetti's book brings James Dean to life as a regular guy who just happened to sizzle onscreen. James Dean is worthy of being an American icon, and this book shows us why.
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