{"id":16965,"date":"2016-09-30T11:54:23","date_gmt":"2016-09-30T15:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=16965"},"modified":"2024-09-30T13:57:47","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T17:57:47","slug":"rebel-movie-star-james-deans-fatal-car-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/rebel-movie-star-james-deans-fatal-car-crash.html","title":{"rendered":"Rebel Movie Star James Dean\u2019s Fatal Car Crash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Early in the evening of 30 September 1955, young movie actor James Dean was driving his Porsche Spider car with his friend, Rolf Wutherich, on their way to a car race in Salinas, California. The future seemed bright for the 24-year-old who rocketed to fame when his first film, East of Eden<\/em>, was released on March 9 of that year.<\/p>\n

All that bright promise abruptly ended when a car coming from the opposite direction suddenly turned left directly into the path of Dean\u2019s car. The two vehicles collided head-on, and Dean died within ten minutes of massive injuries, including a broken neck. His life and career were over. His legacy had just begun.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: publicity still of James Dean for the film “Rebel Without a Cause,” 1955. Credit: Warner Bros.; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

James Dean has become such a fixture in American culture as the prototypical rebellious youth, it is hard to believe he only made three movies in his lifetime. His portrayal of the character Cal Trask in East of Eden<\/em> won him instant acclaim \u2013 but that was the only film released while he was alive. Shortly after finishing that film he played his second and most famous character, Jim Stark, in the film Rebel without a Cause<\/em>, which was released less than a month after Dean\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

He completed his scenes in his third and final film, Giant<\/em>, right before his accident (the film was released in 1956). Dean had a fondness for motorcycles and fast cars, and had begun competing in races such as the Palm Springs Road Races right after East of Eden<\/em> was released. His studio, Warner Brothers, prohibited him from racing while he was filming Giant<\/em>, but after wrapping his scenes for that film Dean was itching to compete in another race.<\/p>\n

That is what he was doing that fatal Friday night: heading north in his racing car for a road race scheduled for Sunday in Salinas.<\/p>\n

The driver who cut in front of Dean, 23-year-old Donald Turnupseed, said he did not see Dean coming, which led to rumors that Dean was speeding at the time of the crash. Years later, one of the first police officers on the scene said that he estimated Dean was only going about 55 miles per hour. However, just two hours before the fatal accident, Dean was issued a speeding ticket for going 65 miles per hour \u2013 and the timing of that citation and the distance Dean traveled before he died indicate that he averaged 75 miles per hour for the rest of his drive, the last two hours of his life.<\/p>\n

The impact of the crash hurled Dean\u2019s Spider 150 feet down the road. Along with a broken neck, he suffered massive internal injuries, many broken bones, and numerous deep cuts. He was still alive when the ambulance arrived shortly after the accident, but died en route to a nearby hospital. His passenger Wutherich broke his jaw but survived, and Turnupseed only received minor cuts and bruises.<\/p>\n

James Dean had striking good looks and remarkable talent, playing rebellious characters that defied authority and did things their own way. He lived fast and died young \u2013 and a legend was born.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: publicity still of James Dean, 1955. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The following three newspaper articles provide details about Dean\u2019s fatal car crash and the reaction of his fellow actors. The fourth article provides the startling news that Dean received a speeding ticket just two hours before his crash.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas), 1 October 1955, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this article:<\/p>\n

Car Collision Kills Actor James Dean<\/p>\n

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (UP). \u2013 James Dean, 24-year-old film star, was killed early Friday night in a head-on collision of his German sports car some 30 miles east of here.<\/p>\n

Dean, who shot to prominence in the film version of John Steinbeck\u2019s East of Eden, died instantly when his Porsche racing car crashed into a sedan at a highway intersection near the small Central California community of Cholame.<\/p>\n

The highway patrol said the driver of the second car, Donald Turnupseed, 23, of Tulare, Calif., attempted to turn left in front of Dean and the vehicles crashed head-on, some 150 miles north of Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

The young bachelor and his mechanic Rolf Wutherich, 29, of Hollywood were traveling to road races at Salinas in Northern California.<\/p>\n

They were taken immediately by ambulance to Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital.<\/p>\n

Turnupseed received minor injuries.<\/p>\n

A hospital doctor said Dean died instantly and put the time of death at about 5:40 p.m. He said the actor\u2019s body was \u201cterribly battered\u201d by the impact and that he suffered a broken neck, numerous broken bones, and cuts and bruises.<\/p>\n

The collision threw Dean\u2019s sports car 150 feet down the highway, the CHP said.<\/p>\n

Sanford Roth, a Warner Brothers still photographer, said he was following Dean\u2019s car a few miles behind. He said neither he nor his passenger, Bill Hickman, of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, saw the actual crash.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe came on the wreck after it happened,\u201d Roth said. \u201cOur only interest was to get an ambulance as fast as we could. It came fast \u2013 incredibly fast, but it didn\u2019t do us any good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The photographer said he had recently finished a layout series on Dean for a national magazine as well as a series of special shots for the studios.<\/p>\n

Dean had been working for several months on the as yet uncompleted \u201cGiant\u201d film version of Edna Ferber\u2019s book about Texas.<\/p>\n

In Hollywood, George Stevens, who directed Dean in the \u201cGiant,\u201d said the young actor\u2019s death was \u201ca great tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had extraordinary talent,\u201d the director said. \u201cHe was a boy cut right at the beginning [of his career].\u201d<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Taylor, one of Jimmy\u2019s co-stars in the Warner studio film, was crying so hard she could only say, \u201cI can\u2019t believe it. I\u2019m just stunned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dean\u2019s work in the picture was finished only a week ago. The studio had forbidden him to enter in any sports car races while the picture was in production.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe accident happened on a highway and not at a race at all,\u201d Stevens pointed out.<\/p>\n

The director said Jimmy planned to drive his station wagon and tow the sports car to the race at Salinas. However, at the last minute he let friends drive the station wagon and decided to drive the sports car himself.<\/p>\n

Miss Taylor, Rock Hudson and other members of the \u201cGiant\u201d company heard the news of Dean\u2019s death as they were sitting in a studio projection room looking at the day\u2019s \u201crushes.\u201d Stevens said the entire group was \u201cspeechless and just sat there crying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 1 October 1955, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this article:<\/p>\n

Smash Kills Young Actor<\/p>\n

HOLLYWOOD (INS) \u2013 James Dean, 24-year-old acting sensation who shot to stardom in his first picture, \u201cEast of Eden,\u201d was killed Friday in a traffic accident.<\/p>\n

While driving his recently-purchased Porsche Spider, he crashed head-on into another car and was killed outright.<\/p>\n

The crash occurred at the junction of highways 41 and 466 \u2013 31 miles east of Paso Robles. Paso Robles is midway between Hollywood and San Francisco.<\/p>\n

The California Highway Patrol reported that Donald Gene Turnupseed, 23, of Tulare, Cal., made a left turn directly in front of the young star.<\/p>\n

Dean Held Blameless<\/p>\n

The patrol preliminary investigation indicated Dean was blameless in the crash.<\/p>\n

Turnupseed escaped with minor injuries.<\/p>\n

At the War Memorial Hospital, Dean\u2019s companion was identified as his mechanic, Rolf Wutherich, about 27, of Hollywood. Wutherich was still in surgery, and the extent of his injuries were undetermined.<\/p>\n

The actor was en route to Salinas to compete in a sports car race on Sunday. His Porsche had a reported [top] speed of 160 miles an hour.<\/p>\n

Dean liked to ride motorcycles and drive fast cars and his studio \u2013 Warner Brothers \u2013 was fearful that he would meet the fate he met Friday.<\/p>\n

The studio insisted that he take no chances while he was working in a picture. The star agreed to that but said that when he was not in a picture his life was his own and that he intended to live as he wished.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Springfield Union (Springfield, Massachusetts), 2 October 1955, page 8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this article:<\/p>\n

Jimmie Dean\u2019s Death Is Shock to Hollywood<\/p>\n

Hollywood, Oct. 1 (AP) \u2013 James Dean, the sensitive, young actor who could well become Hollywood\u2019s first posthumous Academy Award winner, will be buried back home in Indiana.<\/p>\n

Funeral Planned<\/p>\n

From Paso Robles, Cal., near where the 24-year-old star was killed last night in his 150-mile-per-hour German sports car, his father announced these funeral arrangements:<\/p>\n

Services will be at 2 p.m. next Saturday at Hunt\u2019s funeral home in Fairmount, Ind. Burial will be in Grant\u2019s Memorial Park in nearby Marion, Dean\u2019s birthplace. The father, a dental technician, will leave tomorrow with the body.<\/p>\n

Fairmount is the town where Dean was a farm boy and starred in basketball, track and debating at the local high school. In 1949, he won first place in the National Forensic League contest.<\/p>\n

Here at Warner Brothers, the studio where Dean zoomed to stardom in \u201cEast of Eden,\u201d it was as if a hurricane had ravaged the lot. Everybody was stunned, especially on the set of \u201cGiant,\u201d his last movie. Jimmy finished his scenes only the day before his death.<\/p>\n

Four hours after the rest of the company had reported for work today, not a camera had turned. Elizabeth Taylor, his co-star, took it the hardest.<\/p>\n

Crying unashamedly, she said: \u201cI can\u2019t believe it. I\u2019m still stunned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Makeup men were unable to get her ready for shooting because of the tears. Dean, considered eccentric by some outsiders, was well-liked by the people with whom he worked. A nonconformist in the Brando tradition, he was hard to get to know. But those who knew him best all tagged him a nice fellow.<\/p>\n

News of his death last night in a head-on highway collision spread quickly around town and chilled a plush Hollywood gathering at the annual deb star ball of the make-up artists, hair stylists and body make-up guilds.<\/p>\n

By an ironic touch, Dean had taken out a full page ad in the ball program. It read simply: \u201cThanks, Hank. (signed) James Dean.\u201d It was a touching and tragic tribute to Hank Villardo, Jimmy\u2019s make-up man.<\/p>\n

Not since the screen debut of Marlon Brando had any actor made such a bow as had Dean in \u201cEast of Eden.\u201d Many critics tabbed it the male Oscar performance to beat.<\/p>\n

Dean had burst on the local sports racing scene last spring at Palm Springs in what many thought was a publicity stunt. Driving like there was no tomorrow, he amazed thousands by winning the first race he ever entered.<\/p>\n

As his fame for daring grew, his studio forbade him to enter any more races while working in \u201cGiant.\u201d He had intended to drive his station wagon north but changed his mind at the last minute and took the tiny racer. A friend said the studio ban had spurred him.<\/p>\n

As he whizzed on State Highway 41, a 1950 Ford turned left off U.S. Highway 466. There was an almost head-on collision. Suffering from multiple arm fractures, internal injuries and a broken neck, Dean was alive when lifted into an ambulance but died en route to War Memorial Hospital in Paso Robles.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Springfield Union (Springfield, Massachusetts), 3 October 1955, page 11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this article:<\/p>\n

Dean Got Ticket Just before Death<\/p>\n

Bakersfield, Cal., Oct. 2 (AP) \u2013 The State Highway Patrol disclosed today that Hollywood movie actor James Dean got a speeding ticket near here Friday less than two hours before he died in a head-on automobile crash near Paso Robles.<\/p>\n

The citation, charging Dean with driving 65 miles an hour in a 45-mile zone of the winding grapevine grade ridge route road south of Bakersfield, apparently failed to slow him down.<\/p>\n

Checking time of the citation with that of the fatal accident many miles to the north, officers reckoned the 24-year-old actor must have driven his Porsche Spider sports car all the way at an average speed of nearly 75 miles per hour.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/em><\/strong> An online collection of newspapers, such as GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>, is not only a great way to learn about the lives of your ancestors \u2013 the old newspaper articles also help you understand American history and the times your ancestors lived in, and the news they talked about and read in their local papers, as well as our own time. Do you remember hearing the news of James Dean\u2019s death? Please share your stories with us in the comments section.<\/p>\n

Explore over 330 years of newspapers and historical records in GenealogyBank. Discover your family story! Start a 7-Day Free Trial<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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