Why Would Dylan Borrow a Jacket from James Dean?
Most remembered as the rebel without a cause in the film with the same name, James Dean is the embodiment of rebellion and alienated youth that fits so well with Bob Dylan’s impact on American music in the same period. His portrayal of a rebellious and fragile teenager in “Rebel without a Cause” (1955) made Dean the symbol of youth in disarray and catapulted him to stardom.
American actor James Dean (1931 – 1955) holds American actor Natalie Wood (1938 – 1981) in a scene from ‘Rebel Without A Cause,’ directed by Nicholas Ray, 1955. (Photo by Warner Bros./Courtesy of Getty Images)
His tragic and premature death in a car accident right when his glory was beginning contributed to the creation of the Dean myth and his entry into the pantheon of American cinema. Dean was the first actor to be nominated for the Best Actor Oscar award posthumously and win it. He is also one of the few actors (five in total) to be nominated in this category for their first film role. Dean is also known for his movies “East of Eden” (1955) and “Giant” (1956), which was released posthumously.