American actor (1931–1955) best known for his star turns in three 1950s screen classics: East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant. His untimely death in a high-speed car crash came to represent the very embodiment of the “live fast, die young” philosophy—and elevated him to the status of a legend that remains unique in the annals of Hollywood. Vintage ink signature, “James Dean,” on a light pink 5.5 x 4.25 album page. A collector’s notation at the bottom indicates that the signature was obtained at Bob J. Norton’s Diner in California on March 15, 1955. The year 1955 marked the apex of Dean’s legend, with the release of both East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause, and in March of that year he raced his Porsche 356 Speedster in the Palm Springs Road Races, coming in second. Six short months later Dead would be killed in a different Porsche, the victim of a head-on collision en route to another race. Double matted and framed with a large portrait of Dean to an overall size of 17 x 25.5. In fine condition, with notations as described and rough left edge (not affecting signature in the slightest). A crisply penned example, measuring an impressive five inches, signed at the height of an all-too-short career. RRAuction COA. Oversized.
