The Famous Celebrity Death Of James Dean In His Reportedly Cursed Car
Wikimedia CommonsThe famous dead celebrity was on his way to a racing competition when he was killed in a car crash.
James Dean took Hollywood by storm at a young age thanks to his broody persona, perfectly coiffed hair, and signature style.
He gave unusually raw performances, which led many to predict that the newcomer would become the next Marlon Brando. Nothing could have prepared fans for the hurricane that was James Dean — or the weight of his tragic death.
A farm boy born and raised in Indiana, James Dean moved to New York City after dropping out of college to pursue his dream of acting. He made his debut as a model before he eventually landed small film roles and plays in his 20s.
The famous dead celebrity’s big break came in 1955 when he starred in East of Eden, the adaptation of John Steinbeck’s popular novel. The role, which nearly went to Marlon Brando, showcased his natural talent at playing the archetypical restless American youth.
Bettmann/Getty ImagesJames Dean as Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause.
Acclaim for the film led to his biggest movie ever, Rebel Without a Cause, which he starred in opposite Hollywood darling and fellow famous dead celebrity Natalie Wood. It was his biggest — and last — film before his death.
“What better way to die? It’s fast and clean and you go out in a blaze of glory.”
As his stardom rose, James Dean took to sports car racing. He planned to participate in the Salinas Road Race the same year that East of Eden premiered. He had just finished filming Rebel and used his time off to head to the races in his brand new Porsche Spyder, which the actor dubbed “Little Bastard.”
On Sep. 30, 1955, the Hollywood star took off for the race with his mechanic, Rolf Wütherich. The drive went smoothly at first, but then, at about 5:45 p.m., Dean noticed a Ford heading towards his car, preparing to make a left turn at the junction ahead of him. Dean’s notoriously speedy driving and his miscalculation caused the two vehicles to collide head-on.
Wütherich was catapulted from the car and suffered several broken bones. James Dean, meanwhile, was stuck inside the crushed vehicle. Witnesses rushed to try and save him, but the impact of the collision was too severe. The actor was pronounced dead upon arrival at Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital shortly after 6 p.m.
James Dean’s shocking death carried even more weight when his movie Rebel Without a Cause was released a few months after and was lauded by critics and fans alike. The film arguably cemented the actor as a bonafide star, though he never lived to see such fame.
John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty ImagesThe remains of famous dead celebrity James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder at the site of his tragic accident.
Because of his celebrity status, Dean’s famous death spawned many rumors. The most persistent theory was that his beloved “Little Bastard” was cursed.
The accident totaled the car, but some of its parts were salvaged and sold off separately. Rumor has it that terrible deaths befell many of the people who bought those pieces. A doctor who claimed to have purchased the Little Bastard’s engine reportedly died in a car crash the first time he used it, and a driver who obtained its tires was allegedly injured after they blew out.
Even those who didn’t have anything to do with the car’s disassembly allegedly fell victim to the curse, as the driver who steered the truck transporting the car’s shell skid off the road and died.
To this day, these deaths by the cursed car are still not corroborated, but the pain felt by fans after James Dean’s famous death remains.
