Who Was James Dean?

Who Was James Dean?

James Dean, whether people liked him or not, is a very influential popular icon. In my opinion, he had a positive impact on America, even still today. His films are legendary just as his acting style. His life was interesting, provocative and controversial, he was James Dean.
He was originally from Marion, Indiana. He seemed to have a pretty average childhood, if it weren’t for his mother dying at age eight and his father abandoning him to be raised by an aunt. After relocating to Fairmount, Indiana, he grew up playing high school basketball, was cast in the school plays, and rode his motorcycle everywhere. One of his main mentors was a local Methodist minister by the name of James DeWeerd. “DeWeerd was in his 30’s and unmarried, liked poetry and classical music, and was partial to the company of boys” (Martinac par.2). It was The Rev. DeWeerd who is suspected to having sexual relations with Dean, even though Dean’s sexual orientation was nev...