Acting Career
While studying at UCLA, Dean was selected from a group of 350 actors to play Malcolm in “ Macbeth ” and during this time, he also attended James Whitmore’s acting workshop. In 1951, Dean dropped out of UCLA and pursued a full-time acting career
Dean’s first acting work was a soft drink commercial, which led to some small roles in Sailor Beware , Has Anybody Seen My Gal and Fixed Bayonets . Dean later moved to New York as advised by James Whitmore and was given a speaking role in the television Easter Special Hill Number One , where he played John the Baptist. He also appeared in Kraft Television Theatre, Omnibus, and General Electric Theater after his appearance in Hill Number One .
(Original Caption) 1955-James Dean and Julie Harris sit together at a table while Dick Davalos stands above them in a scene from 1955 film, ‘East of Eden’.
In 1953, Dean had a Broadway role in the drama “ Jaguar ” and played a blackmailing homosexual houseboy in the stage adaptation of André Gide’s “ The Immoralist ” in 1954. The Immoralist led Dean to a leading role in the movie “ East of Eden ” (1955) directed by Elia Kazan. Dean portrayed a troubled teenager Cal Trask, and during filming, he made many improvisations, which perpetuated his reputation as an actor.