James Dean was one of the rare stars whose personality was more famous than his films, and he only saw the release of one of those films.

It seemed as though James Dean's star had extinguished just as it was rising. He was only 24 years old at his death, and indeed, James Dean's death - however frightening and untimely - solidified him as a cultural icon.

Bettmann/Getty ImagesJames Dean as Jim Stark in the 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause.

Early Life and Passion for Racing

James Byron Dean was born on February 8, 1931, in Indiana, and after living there for a few years, they moved to California due to his father's job. His mother passed away when he was nine years old.

Dean always exhibited artistic talent and skill. He played the violin, tap danced, and sculpted. In a statement he gave to his high school principal, Dean expressed one of his most iconic traits:

“My hobby or what I do in my spare time is riding motorcycles. I know them mechanically very well and I love to ride. I participated in a few races and got good results.”

Dean later enrolled in the Junior College of the University of California in 1949 but left school to pursue a career in New York on the recommendation of his drama teacher.

After a few years of doing small roles and commercials, James Dean moved to New York in 1951 to train under the famous acting coach Lee Strasberg. Over the next few years, he developed a signature (and at the time unusual) acting technique and took roles in several television shows and Broadway plays.

His big break finally came in 1955 when he starred in the film East of Eden, an adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1952 novel. Dean's largely improvised performance and representation of the rebellious American youth of the '50s received widespread acclaim, and it seemed his path to stardom was assured.

His meteoric rise to fame could not have predicted James Dean's death - however sudden and horrific it may have been.

James Dean's Death

Despite consistently working in acting throughout his twenties, James Dean never abandoned another lifelong passion: auto racing. The year East of Eden was released, Dean participated in both the Palm Springs Road Races and the Santa Barbara Road Races. He had also purchased a brand new Porsche Spyder, which he named “Little Bastard,” and planned to drive it in the Salinas Road Race in California.

Bettman/Getty ImagesActor James Dean giving a thumbs up with his Porsche 550 Spyder, Little Bastard, parked on Vine Street in Hollywood.

Dean had initially considered having the Porsche transported to Salinas by trailer, but at the last minute, he decided to drive it himself.

On September 30, 1955, the Hollywood star set out toward Salinas with Little Bastard, accompanied by his mechanic Rolf Wütherich. Dean was stopped for a speed check around 3:30 PM, had a meal at a diner around 4:45 PM, and then set off again. At around 5:45 PM, Dean noticed a Ford coming towards him that was turning left at an intersection ahead. Dean reportedly reassured Wütherich by saying, “that guy has to stop, he’ll see us,” and the two vehicles collided head-on.

Wütherich was thrown from the vehicle and suffered several broken bones.

The Ford spun off the highway and came to a stop, with its driver, 23-year-old Donald Turnupseed, escaping with only minor injuries.

In contrast, the Porsche was flipped into the air by the impact of the collision and crashed down with a terrible noise, rolling off the side of the road, all while James Dean was still inside.

John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty ImagesThe wreckage of James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder.

Witnesses ran to rescue him from the crushed metal wreckage, but they were horrified to see how much the accident had deformed him. The exact cause of the accident is unknown; Turnupseed was never blamed, and witnesses claimed that Dean was not speeding despite his previous conviction. Regardless of the circumstances, James Dean was pronounced dead when he arrived at Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital at six in the evening.

The Curse of Little Bastard

James Dean's death solidified his legend and positioned him as a rebellious icon with unseen, perhaps dark depths.

There was another legend that quickly emerged around James Dean's death, which was related to his beloved Porsche. Fans immediately pointed out that Dean had previously filmed a public service announcement for safe driving, warning viewers to "drive slow, the life you save may be mine." This coincidence was spontaneously eerie, but soon strange events related to Little Bastard began to be reported.

Warner Bros. photo, via Getty ImagesJames Dean sitting at the wheel of a sports car in a scene from the documentary The James Dean Story.

Although the car was completely unusable, some parts were salvaged and sold separately. However, strange things happened to those who purchased these parts. The engine was sold to a doctor who died in an accident the first time he used it. Another driver, who bought two tires for the car, was injured when both tires blew out simultaneously. The driver of the truck carrying the body went off the road and lost his life.

Many incidents related to the "curse" after James Dean's death are nearly unconfirmable (because the individual parts of the Porsche are difficult to track), but there are a few unsettling coincidences that cannot be ignored.

One of these comes from Sir Alec Guinness, who tells the strange story of his first and only encounter with James Dean in 1977.

The British actor met the American rebel in Hollywood on the same night of Dean's death year, and Dean proudly showed off his newly purchased Porsche. He declared he could reach speeds of 150 MPH, but admitted he hadn't even gotten into the car yet.

Guinness recalled that moment:

“A strange feeling came over me. I almost said in a different voice… Please don’t get in that car, because… if you get in that car, it’s now Thursday… 10 o'clock at night, and if you’ve gotten in that car at 10 o'clock next Thursday evening, you will be dead.”

It was strange, and Dean did not heed the warning. Guinness continued that the two had “a pleasant dinner” and that Dean died the following Thursday afternoon.

People still visit the site of James Dean's death, leaving mementos like alcohol and women's underwear.