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Marcus	
  Winslow	
  Jr.	
  and	
  James	
  
Dean:	
  sixty	
  years	
  later	
  	
  
	
  
By	
  Alex	
  Sessa	
  	
  
	
  
	
  
October,	
  2014	
  	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
  2	
  
It	
  was	
  a	
  Friday	
  night,	
  and	
  eleven-­‐year-­‐old	
  Marcus	
  was	
  in	
  his	
  bedroom	
  when	
  he	
  heard	
  
his	
  sister	
  Joanne	
  talking	
  on	
  the	
  phone.	
  	
  “She	
  was	
  upset,”	
  he	
  noted	
  emotionally.	
  	
  He	
  went	
  
to	
  his	
  bedroom	
  door	
  to	
  hear	
  more.	
  	
  His	
  parents,	
  Ortanse	
  and	
  Marcus	
  Sr.	
  were	
  out,	
  and	
  
his	
  immediate	
  concern	
  was	
  for	
  their	
  well	
  being.	
  	
  If	
  anything	
  were	
  to	
  have	
  gone	
  wrong,	
  
it	
  must	
  have	
  been	
  that	
  something	
  had	
  happened	
  to	
  his	
  parents.	
  	
  “It	
  never	
  occurred	
  to	
  
me	
  that	
  something	
  might	
  have	
  happened	
  to	
  Jimmy.”	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Marcus	
  Winslow	
  Jr.	
  is	
  the	
  first	
  cousin,	
  and	
  closest	
  living	
  relative,	
  of	
  screen	
  legend	
  
James	
  Dean,	
  who	
  rose	
  to	
  fame	
  after	
  starring	
  in	
  only	
  three	
  films,	
  and	
  died	
  tragically	
  in	
  
an	
  automobile	
  accident	
  at	
  the	
  age	
  of	
  twenty-­‐four.	
  	
  His	
  life	
  has	
  become	
  a	
  subject	
  of	
  
intense	
  speculation,	
  mystery,	
  and	
  legend.	
  	
  His	
  popularity	
  has	
  endured	
  for	
  close	
  to	
  sixty	
  
years,	
  and	
  to	
  this	
  day	
  fans	
  flock	
  to	
  his	
  hometown	
  of	
  Fairmount,	
  Indiana	
  where	
  he	
  lived	
  
with	
  his	
  Aunt	
  and	
  Uncle.	
  	
  Mr.	
  Winslow	
  was	
  generous	
  enough	
  to	
  invite	
  me	
  to	
  his	
  family	
  
farm,	
  which	
  led	
  me	
  on	
  a	
  700-­‐mile	
  (1,126	
  km)	
  journey	
  to	
  Indiana	
  where	
  we	
  discussed	
  
what	
  it	
  was	
  like	
  to	
  grow	
  up	
  with	
  James	
  Dean.	
  	
  I	
  had	
  my	
  own	
  expectations	
  going	
  into	
  the	
  
interview	
  –	
  I	
  was	
  nervous,	
  anxious	
  to	
  learn	
  as	
  much	
  as	
  possible,	
  and	
  convinced	
  that	
  I	
  
was	
  going	
  to	
  hear	
  stories	
  similar	
  to	
  those	
  of	
  a	
  mythic	
  legend.	
  	
  James	
  Dean	
  has	
  become	
  
so	
  deeply	
  ingrained	
  into	
  Popular	
  Culture,	
  and	
  Public	
  consciousness	
  that	
  I	
  expected	
  
nothing	
  less	
  than	
  tales	
  of	
  a	
  brash	
  and	
  moody	
  rebel,	
  similar	
  to	
  the	
  image	
  captured	
  on	
  
screen.	
  	
  Yet	
  after	
  speaking	
  to	
  Marcus,	
  I	
  found	
  the	
  truth	
  to	
  be	
  surprisingly	
  refreshing:	
  
Jimmy	
  was	
  an	
  average,	
  well	
  adjusted,	
  and	
  friendly	
  kid,	
  who	
  exhibited	
  signs	
  of	
  artistic	
  
genius	
  from	
  an	
  early	
  age.	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
  3	
  
As	
  I	
  prepared	
  for	
  the	
  interview,	
  I	
  knew	
  only	
  one	
  thing	
  to	
  be	
  true,	
  and	
  that	
  was	
  that	
  
James	
  Dean	
  is	
  an	
  old	
  topic.	
  	
  He	
  has	
  been	
  evaluated,	
  discussed,	
  and	
  psychoanalyzed	
  by	
  
fans,	
  Gossip	
  Columnists,	
  reporters,	
  fellow	
  thespians,	
  and	
  Historians	
  since	
  his	
  death	
  in	
  
1955.	
  	
  I	
  researched	
  the	
  topic	
  as	
  extensively	
  as	
  possible,	
  but	
  found	
  nothing	
  new.	
  	
  His	
  
name	
  and	
  true	
  identity	
  have	
  been	
  besmirched	
  with	
  scandal,	
  rumors,	
  and	
  allegations,	
  
ranging	
  from	
  his	
  alleged	
  homosexuality,	
  to	
  his	
  secret	
  desire	
  to	
  die.	
  	
  After	
  sixty	
  years,	
  I	
  
decided	
  that	
  I	
  wanted	
  to	
  set	
  the	
  record	
  straight	
  by	
  unearthing	
  the	
  true	
  identity	
  of	
  
Jimmy.	
  	
  My	
  ultimate	
  finding	
  has	
  been	
  that	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  a	
  unique,	
  quirky,	
  and	
  fun-­‐loving	
  
kid,	
  separate	
  from	
  the	
  persona	
  that	
  is	
  James	
  Dean.	
  	
  
	
  
The	
  world	
  that	
  young	
  Jimmy	
  entered	
  in	
  1931	
  was	
  vastly	
  different	
  from	
  the	
  one	
  he	
  left	
  
in	
  1955.	
  	
  He	
  was	
  born	
  in	
  the	
  midst	
  of	
  The	
  Depression,	
  and	
  grew	
  up	
  during	
  World	
  War	
  
II,	
  both	
  of	
  which	
  were	
  periods	
  of	
  significant	
  hardship	
  for	
  Americans.	
  	
  The	
  1950s,	
  
however,	
  would	
  usher	
  in	
  an	
  era	
  of	
  change	
  and	
  newfound	
  prosperity,	
  and	
  ultimately	
  
cultural	
  trends	
  would	
  morph	
  into	
  less	
  innocent	
  depictions	
  of	
  American	
  identity.	
  	
  While	
  
the	
  seed	
  of	
  a	
  rebellious	
  youth	
  culture	
  had	
  been	
  planted	
  with	
  the	
  release	
  of	
  J.D.	
  
Salinger’s	
  1951	
  novel,	
  The	
  Catcher	
  in	
  Rye	
  and	
  the	
  creation	
  of	
  Holden	
  Caulfield,	
  the	
  50s	
  
would	
  breed	
  new	
  protégé,	
  embodying	
  new	
  styles,	
  angst,	
  and	
  even	
  counter-­‐revolution.	
  	
  
Jimmy	
  was	
  among	
  this	
  new	
  generation	
  of	
  outside-­‐the-­‐box	
  artists	
  who	
  were	
  destined	
  to	
  
become	
  the	
  modern	
  symbol	
  of	
  the	
  American	
  teenager.	
  	
  
There	
  are	
  many	
  factors	
  that	
  made	
  Jimmy	
  who	
  he	
  was,	
  many	
  of	
  which	
  gave	
  rise	
  to	
  the	
  
phenomenon	
  of	
  James	
  Dean.	
  	
  Here,	
  I	
  will	
  describe	
  Jimmy	
  and	
  James	
  Dean	
  as	
  separate	
  
and	
  distinct	
  entities,	
  to	
  discern	
  each	
  as	
  having	
  their	
  own	
  qualities.	
  	
  I	
  began	
  my	
  
  4	
  
interview	
  with	
  Marcus	
  on	
  a	
  rainy	
  Tuesday	
  morning.	
  	
  Driving	
  up	
  to	
  the	
  Winslow	
  farm,	
  I	
  
couldn’t	
  help	
  notice	
  how	
  beautiful	
  and	
  majestic	
  the	
  property	
  is,	
  and	
  likely	
  was	
  during	
  
Jimmy’s	
  lifetime.	
  	
  Marcus	
  greeted	
  me	
  welcomingly,	
  which	
  was	
  a	
  relief	
  considering	
  my	
  
nerves	
  ahead	
  of	
  time.	
  	
  As	
  an	
  avid	
  James	
  Dean	
  fan,	
  my	
  excitement	
  rose	
  as	
  the	
  
conversation	
  ensued.	
  	
  I	
  sat	
  in	
  curiosity	
  and	
  anticipation	
  of	
  the	
  prospect	
  of	
  learning	
  
something	
  new,	
  or	
  uncovering	
  something	
  otherwise	
  unknown	
  about	
  the	
  iconic	
  rebel.	
  	
  
Yet,	
  the	
  story	
  relayed	
  to	
  me	
  was	
  touching,	
  and	
  sentimental.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Perhaps	
  my	
  biggest	
  finding	
  during	
  my	
  time	
  with	
  Mr.	
  Winslow	
  had	
  less	
  to	
  do	
  with	
  
James	
  Dean,	
  and	
  more	
  to	
  do	
  with	
  the	
  Winslow	
  family	
  in	
  general.	
  	
  My	
  knowledge	
  of	
  
Jimmy,	
  prior	
  to	
  the	
  interview,	
  was	
  common:	
  his	
  mother	
  had	
  died	
  when	
  he	
  was	
  nine-­‐
years-­‐old,	
  and	
  his	
  father	
  had	
  sent	
  him	
  away	
  to	
  live	
  with	
  relatives	
  on	
  a	
  farm	
  in	
  Indiana.	
  	
  
Like	
  many	
  James	
  Dean	
  enthusiasts,	
  I	
  thought	
  that	
  these	
  facts	
  were	
  straightforward,	
  but	
  
Marcus	
  introduced	
  me	
  to	
  the	
  workings	
  of	
  his	
  close-­‐knit	
  family,	
  and	
  the	
  dynamic	
  in	
  
which	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  raised.	
  	
  “His	
  Dad	
  kind	
  of	
  got	
  a	
  raw	
  deal,”	
  Marcus	
  said	
  to	
  me	
  frankly.	
  	
  
The	
  story	
  of	
  Jimmy’s	
  early	
  life	
  has	
  widely	
  been	
  depicted	
  as	
  that	
  of	
  hardship,	
  yet	
  I	
  came	
  
to	
  find	
  that	
  he	
  actually	
  had	
  a	
  very	
  privileged	
  childhood.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
When	
  Jimmy’s	
  mother	
  died,	
  his	
  father,	
  Winton,	
  had	
  faced	
  serious	
  financial	
  difficulties,	
  
and	
  would	
  ultimately	
  be	
  drafted	
  into	
  World	
  War	
  II.	
  	
  Marcus’s	
  parents	
  were	
  extremely	
  
generous,	
  and	
  being	
  a	
  deeply	
  devoted	
  family,	
  Ortanse	
  warmly	
  invited	
  her	
  nephew	
  to	
  
stay	
  with	
  them.	
  	
  “He’s	
  welcome	
  here	
  any	
  time,”	
  she	
  told	
  her	
  brother	
  Winton,	
  a	
  
struggling	
  Dentist,	
  who	
  wanted	
  nothing	
  more	
  than	
  for	
  his	
  son	
  to	
  have	
  a	
  stable	
  living	
  
  5	
  
condition.	
  	
  Winton	
  agreed	
  to	
  send	
  his	
  nine-­‐year-­‐old	
  son	
  to	
  live	
  with	
  his	
  sister	
  and	
  
brother-­‐in-­‐law	
  in	
  their	
  home	
  state	
  of	
  Indiana.	
  	
  The	
  life	
  to	
  which	
  Jimmy	
  returned	
  was	
  
surrounded	
  by	
  abounding	
  love,	
  and	
  encouragement.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
The	
  Winslows	
  can	
  trace	
  their	
  farming	
  roots	
  back	
  generations.	
  	
  Farming	
  is	
  an	
  old	
  
tradition	
  for	
  the	
  family	
  –	
  one	
  that	
  Marcus	
  discussed	
  proudly.	
  	
  	
  “My	
  grandfather	
  built	
  
this	
  house	
  in	
  1904,”	
  he	
  said,	
  glowing	
  with	
  pride.	
  	
  He	
  has	
  lived	
  on	
  the	
  farm	
  his	
  entire	
  
life,	
  and	
  has	
  since	
  raised	
  his	
  own	
  family	
  with	
  the	
  same	
  tradition.	
  	
  Today,	
  his	
  family	
  
helps	
  him	
  farm,	
  as	
  their	
  ancestors	
  have	
  done	
  since	
  they	
  settled	
  upon	
  the	
  land.	
  	
  
Whether	
  or	
  not	
  James	
  Dean	
  enthusiasts	
  choose	
  to	
  acknowledge	
  the	
  fact,	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  
also	
  a	
  part	
  of	
  this	
  rich	
  tradition,	
  and	
  was	
  influenced	
  by	
  the	
  values	
  set	
  forth	
  by	
  his	
  
relatives.	
  	
  The	
  death	
  of	
  Jimmy’s	
  mother	
  was	
  a	
  deeply	
  tragic	
  circumstance,	
  which	
  
undoubtedly	
  changed	
  the	
  course	
  of	
  his	
  young	
  life,	
  but	
  becoming	
  a	
  member	
  of	
  the	
  
Winslow	
  household,	
  he	
  was	
  immediately	
  showered	
  with	
  love,	
  praise,	
  and	
  
encouragement.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
As	
  Marcus	
  and	
  I	
  became	
  engrossed	
  in	
  conversation,	
  he	
  relayed	
  to	
  me	
  the	
  true	
  nature	
  of	
  
Jimmy’s	
  adolescent	
  personality.	
  	
  Marcus	
  has	
  early	
  memories	
  of	
  his	
  cousin,	
  which	
  are	
  
nothing	
  if	
  not	
  fond	
  and	
  loving.	
  	
  “He	
  excelled	
  at	
  anything	
  to	
  do	
  with	
  the	
  arts,”	
  he	
  told	
  me.	
  	
  
The	
  Jimmy	
  that	
  Mr.	
  Winslow	
  relayed	
  to	
  me	
  was	
  intensely	
  focused,	
  devoted	
  to	
  his	
  craft,	
  
and	
  knew	
  that	
  he	
  was	
  going	
  to	
  make	
  it	
  big	
  in	
  Hollywood.	
  	
  This	
  is	
  an	
  image	
  that	
  is	
  quite	
  
contrary	
  to	
  a	
  young	
  man	
  morbidly	
  fixated	
  with	
  death	
  and	
  haunted	
  by	
  memories	
  of	
  
abandonment,	
  as	
  often	
  depicted	
  in	
  popular	
  culture	
  and	
  Hollywood	
  rumors.	
  	
  “I	
  know	
  I	
  
  6	
  
can	
  make	
  it,”	
  Jimmy	
  would	
  tell	
  his	
  Aunt	
  Ortanse.	
  	
  He	
  was	
  convinced	
  that	
  if	
  he	
  could	
  just	
  
get	
  his	
  big	
  break,	
  he	
  would	
  be	
  a	
  star.	
  	
  He	
  read	
  books	
  on	
  the	
  subject	
  of	
  acting,	
  and	
  
intensely	
  devoted	
  himself	
  to	
  his	
  craft.	
  	
  Here,	
  on	
  this	
  tranquil	
  farm,	
  Jimmy’s	
  acting	
  
ambitions	
  were	
  developing,	
  and	
  his	
  craft	
  was	
  expanding.	
  	
  This	
  teenager	
  knew	
  
wholeheartedly	
  that	
  he	
  would	
  be	
  not	
  just	
  an	
  actor,	
  but	
  a	
  star.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Jimmy	
  was	
  intensely	
  focused	
  on	
  bettering	
  himself	
  as	
  a	
  performer,	
  at	
  an	
  age	
  where	
  
most	
  adolescents	
  are	
  unsure	
  of	
  what	
  they	
  want	
  to	
  do	
  with	
  their	
  lives,	
  and	
  in	
  a	
  
community	
  in	
  which	
  the	
  path	
  for	
  most	
  is	
  predetermined.	
  	
  From	
  what	
  I	
  have	
  deduced,	
  
Jimmy	
  was	
  more	
  than	
  talented	
  –	
  he	
  was	
  an	
  artistic	
  genius	
  –	
  perhaps	
  even	
  a	
  borderline	
  
prodigy	
  –	
  who	
  demonstrated	
  his	
  gifts	
  during	
  his	
  childhood.	
  	
  The	
  rarity	
  of	
  his	
  talents	
  
would	
  never	
  go	
  unnoticed,	
  but	
  the	
  full	
  extent	
  of	
  his	
  capabilities	
  would	
  remain	
  forever	
  
unknown	
  as	
  the	
  result	
  of	
  his	
  early	
  death.	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
“He	
  was	
  very	
  confident,”	
  Marcus	
  continued,	
  “and	
  he	
  was	
  a	
  very	
  good	
  athlete…he	
  liked	
  
to	
  have	
  fun.”	
  	
  Jimmy’s	
  personality	
  was	
  not	
  one	
  to	
  go	
  unnoticed,	
  neither	
  in	
  Fairmount,	
  
nor	
  in	
  Hollywood.	
  	
  “I	
  think	
  he	
  was	
  just	
  unique,”	
  Marcus	
  described,	
  “and	
  (Directors	
  and	
  
Producers)	
  took	
  notice.”	
  	
  In	
  1949,	
  at	
  the	
  age	
  of	
  eighteen,	
  Jimmy	
  briefly	
  returned	
  to	
  
living	
  with	
  his	
  father,	
  which	
  had	
  to	
  have	
  been	
  a	
  strange	
  experience	
  after	
  having	
  spent	
  
the	
  previous	
  nine	
  years	
  of	
  his	
  upbringing	
  with	
  his	
  Aunt	
  and	
  Uncle.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Jimmy	
  had	
  become	
  well	
  adjusted	
  to	
  farm	
  life.	
  	
  The	
  Winslow	
  farm	
  was	
  his	
  home–	
  it	
  
signified	
  his	
  roots,	
  the	
  basis	
  for	
  his	
  beliefs	
  and	
  values,	
  and	
  was	
  the	
  residence	
  of	
  his	
  
  7	
  
family.	
  	
  Winton,	
  however,	
  had	
  a	
  very	
  different	
  approach	
  to	
  parenting	
  than	
  his	
  sister	
  
and	
  brother-­‐in-­‐law.	
  	
  “My	
  parents	
  couldn’t	
  say	
  ‘no,’”	
  Marcus	
  explained.	
  	
  They	
  likely	
  
spoiled	
  Jimmy	
  after	
  the	
  death	
  of	
  his	
  mother,	
  in	
  an	
  attempt	
  to	
  ease	
  his	
  grief	
  and	
  accept	
  
him	
  into	
  their	
  family.	
  	
  While	
  Jimmy’s	
  relationship	
  with	
  his	
  father	
  may	
  have	
  had	
  some	
  
strain,	
  it	
  likely	
  had	
  more	
  to	
  do	
  with	
  a	
  lack	
  of	
  familiarity	
  –	
  one	
  which	
  may	
  have	
  
disappeared	
  altogether	
  had	
  Jimmy	
  lived	
  longer.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
However,	
  Jimmy	
  broke	
  the	
  mold	
  in	
  his	
  family.	
  	
  He	
  was	
  only	
  a	
  true	
  rebel,	
  perhaps	
  in	
  the	
  
respect,	
  that	
  he	
  was	
  willing	
  to	
  defy	
  his	
  father’s	
  dream	
  of	
  him	
  becoming	
  a	
  lawyer,	
  
dropping	
  out	
  of	
  college,	
  leaving	
  the	
  farm	
  and	
  family	
  he	
  had	
  come	
  to	
  know	
  and	
  love,	
  and	
  
move	
  to	
  New	
  York	
  to	
  pursue	
  an	
  acting	
  career.	
  	
  No	
  other	
  member	
  of	
  his	
  family	
  had	
  ever	
  
taken	
  such	
  a	
  bold	
  step.	
  	
  Imagine	
  the	
  courage	
  of	
  a	
  young	
  man,	
  barely	
  out	
  of	
  high	
  school,	
  
not	
  even	
  quite	
  an	
  adult,	
  moving	
  to	
  a	
  big	
  city	
  after	
  having	
  lived	
  a	
  very	
  sheltered	
  life	
  in	
  a	
  
small	
  farming	
  community.	
  	
  While	
  Jimmy	
  faced	
  his	
  share	
  of	
  struggles	
  breaking	
  into	
  the	
  
business,	
  his	
  family	
  watched	
  in	
  amazement	
  when	
  he	
  began	
  landing	
  bit	
  parts	
  in	
  live	
  
television	
  appearances.	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
The	
  Winslows,	
  and	
  the	
  people	
  of	
  Fairmount,	
  marveled	
  at	
  seeing	
  Jimmy	
  on	
  the	
  small	
  
screen.	
  	
  Marcus	
  went	
  on	
  to	
  describe	
  the	
  spectacle	
  of	
  Jimmy’s	
  apparent	
  success:	
  “We	
  got	
  
our	
  first	
  television	
  in	
  1950…when	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  on	
  television,	
  the	
  phone	
  would	
  ring	
  off	
  
the	
  hook.	
  	
  We	
  only	
  had	
  one	
  phone	
  back	
  then,	
  and	
  it	
  wasn’t	
  in	
  the	
  living	
  room.	
  	
  You	
  can	
  
imagine	
  how	
  hard	
  it	
  was	
  to	
  use	
  the	
  phone,”	
  he	
  laughed.	
  	
  “People	
  would	
  call	
  wanting	
  to	
  
know	
  what	
  he’d	
  be	
  in	
  next,”	
  he	
  continued.	
  	
  Suddenly,	
  Jimmy	
  defied	
  the	
  odds:	
  he	
  had	
  
  8	
  
gone	
  against	
  the	
  traditional	
  life	
  of	
  farming,	
  and	
  set	
  out	
  on	
  his	
  own,	
  leaving	
  behind	
  
everything	
  he	
  had	
  known	
  to	
  pursue	
  a	
  dream.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Yet,	
  the	
  path	
  to	
  success	
  could	
  not	
  have	
  been	
  easy	
  in	
  New	
  York	
  for	
  an	
  Indiana	
  
transplant.	
  	
  Jimmy,	
  who	
  had	
  always	
  been	
  dedicated	
  to	
  his	
  craft,	
  and	
  wanted	
  to	
  be	
  the	
  
best,	
  stood	
  up	
  to	
  the	
  challenge.	
  	
  I	
  realized	
  the	
  frustration	
  he	
  must	
  have	
  suffered:	
  a	
  
creatively	
  gifted	
  young	
  man,	
  always	
  wanting	
  to	
  expand	
  his	
  talent,	
  trying	
  to	
  get	
  work	
  in	
  
a	
  city	
  where	
  actors	
  are	
  bought	
  and	
  sold	
  for	
  the	
  cheap.	
  	
  For	
  the	
  first	
  time	
  in	
  his	
  life,	
  he	
  
was	
  exposed	
  to	
  a	
  wide	
  variety	
  of	
  different	
  people,	
  several	
  of	
  whom	
  he	
  had	
  brought	
  
back	
  with	
  him	
  to	
  visit	
  Fairmount.	
  	
  Marcus	
  recalled	
  when	
  he	
  brought	
  home	
  several	
  
friends	
  from	
  New	
  York	
  –	
  Elizabeth	
  Sheridan	
  (later	
  known	
  for	
  her	
  role	
  as	
  Helen	
  
Seinfeld,	
  on	
  the	
  90s	
  sitcom	
  Seinfeld)	
  and	
  would-­‐be	
  screenwriter,	
  William	
  Bast,	
  who	
  
would	
  later	
  recount	
  the	
  visit	
  in	
  his	
  70s	
  TV	
  movie	
  James	
  Dean.	
  	
  Through	
  all	
  of	
  his	
  
hardships	
  in	
  New	
  York,	
  and	
  repeated	
  rejections,	
  Jimmy	
  always	
  found	
  solace	
  in	
  
returning	
  home	
  to	
  the	
  Winslow	
  farm,	
  and	
  the	
  embrace	
  of	
  his	
  loving	
  family.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Marcus	
  further	
  described	
  an	
  instance	
  in	
  which	
  Jimmy	
  headed	
  to	
  New	
  York	
  on	
  his	
  
motorcycle,	
  which	
  made	
  Ortanse	
  nervous	
  because	
  of	
  the	
  cold.	
  	
  Marcus	
  laughed	
  as	
  he	
  
explained	
  Jimmy	
  heading	
  out	
  wearing	
  a	
  mask	
  covering	
  his	
  entire	
  head,	
  which	
  revealed	
  
nothing	
  but	
  his	
  eyes,	
  and	
  holes	
  through	
  which	
  to	
  breathe.	
  	
  After	
  his	
  bike	
  broke	
  down	
  
on	
  the	
  Pennsylvania	
  Turnpike,	
  he	
  was	
  forced	
  to	
  trade	
  it	
  for	
  an	
  Indianhead	
  Motorcycle,	
  
with	
  which	
  he	
  continued	
  to	
  New	
  York.	
  	
  It	
  was,	
  perhaps,	
  at	
  this	
  point	
  in	
  the	
  interview	
  
that	
  I	
  noticed	
  a	
  pattern	
  in	
  Jimmy’s	
  behavior:	
  he	
  was	
  a	
  risk	
  taker.	
  	
  However,	
  when	
  I	
  
  9	
  
considered	
  how	
  horrifying	
  the	
  prospect	
  of	
  traveling	
  to	
  New	
  York	
  City	
  from	
  Fairmount	
  
on	
  a	
  motorcycle	
  might	
  be,	
  it	
  suddenly	
  occurred	
  to	
  me	
  the	
  kind	
  of	
  risks	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  
taking.	
  	
  Marcus	
  described	
  his	
  cousin’s	
  behavior:	
  “He	
  liked	
  to	
  drive	
  fast…Dad	
  always	
  
said,	
  ‘maybe	
  if	
  he’d	
  gotten	
  hurt’,	
  broken	
  his	
  leg	
  or	
  something,	
  he	
  might	
  have	
  lived.”	
  	
  	
  
	
  
From	
  my	
  perspective,	
  I	
  observed	
  that	
  Jimmy	
  had	
  never	
  failed	
  at	
  anything.	
  	
  His	
  life	
  had	
  
been	
  one	
  success	
  after	
  another,	
  and	
  the	
  fact	
  he	
  had	
  never	
  been	
  hurt	
  enough	
  may	
  have	
  
prevented	
  him	
  from	
  taking	
  the	
  necessary	
  precautions	
  on	
  the	
  road	
  that	
  might	
  have	
  
saved	
  his	
  life.	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
For	
  the	
  time	
  being,	
  however,	
  Jimmy’s	
  road	
  to	
  success	
  was	
  continually	
  expanding,	
  and	
  
he	
  had	
  a	
  break	
  in	
  Hollywood	
  when	
  he	
  was	
  discovered	
  at	
  age	
  twenty-­‐three	
  by	
  
legendary	
  filmmaker	
  Elia	
  Kazan.	
  	
  Kazan	
  was	
  directing	
  a	
  film	
  production	
  of	
  John	
  
Steinbeck’s	
  classic	
  novel,	
  East	
  of	
  Eden,	
  and	
  he	
  was	
  looking	
  for	
  the	
  right	
  young	
  man	
  to	
  
play	
  the	
  lead	
  role,	
  Cal	
  Trask.	
  	
  Marcus	
  said	
  that	
  East	
  of	
  Eden	
  (1955)	
  is	
  his	
  favorite	
  of	
  
Jimmy’s	
  films	
  because	
  it	
  depicts	
  him	
  the	
  way	
  he	
  truly	
  was:	
  “That	
  was	
  the	
  way	
  he	
  
was…the	
  way	
  he	
  spoke,	
  and	
  moved.”	
  	
  He	
  further	
  explained	
  to	
  me	
  that	
  since	
  the	
  release	
  
of	
  East	
  of	
  Eden,	
  there	
  has	
  been	
  misinformation	
  about	
  how	
  true	
  to	
  life	
  Jimmy’s	
  
performance	
  was	
  –	
  in	
  the	
  film,	
  Cal,	
  a	
  quiet,	
  moody	
  loner,	
  tries	
  to	
  buy	
  his	
  father	
  
(Raymond	
  Massey)’s	
  love.	
  	
  In	
  actuality,	
  Jimmy’s	
  relationship	
  with	
  his	
  own	
  father	
  was	
  
not	
  nearly	
  as	
  strained.	
  	
  Any	
  notion	
  to	
  the	
  contrary,	
  according	
  to	
  Marcus,	
  is	
  a	
  myth.	
  
	
  
  10	
  
During	
  filming,	
  Kazan	
  encouraged	
  Jimmy	
  to	
  utilize	
  his	
  Method	
  Acting	
  training,	
  
particularly	
  when	
  working	
  opposite	
  Massey.	
  	
  In	
  an	
  early	
  scene,	
  Jimmy	
  read	
  aloud	
  from	
  
a	
  Bible.	
  	
  On	
  set,	
  Kazan	
  instructed	
  him	
  to	
  curse	
  under	
  his	
  breath	
  while	
  reading	
  passages,	
  
which	
  infuriated	
  Massey	
  and	
  perpetuated	
  their	
  animosity,	
  both	
  on-­‐screen	
  and	
  off.	
  	
  “He	
  
was	
  interested	
  in	
  the	
  development	
  of	
  the	
  character,”	
  Marcus	
  described,	
  “he	
  wanted	
  to	
  
go	
  on	
  to	
  become	
  a	
  director.”	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
After	
  filming	
  had	
  wrapped	
  on	
  East	
  of	
  Eden,	
  Jimmy	
  returned	
  to	
  Fairmount	
  for	
  a	
  final	
  
time.	
  	
  “I	
  remember	
  he	
  was	
  very	
  nervous,”	
  Marcus	
  explained,	
  “because	
  he	
  knew	
  that	
  
East	
  of	
  Eden	
  was	
  going	
  to	
  be	
  very	
  successful,	
  and	
  that	
  he	
  would	
  become	
  a	
  star.”	
  	
  The	
  
prospect	
  of	
  becoming	
  famous	
  must	
  have	
  been	
  daunting	
  for	
  the	
  young	
  actor,	
  who	
  once	
  
again	
  retreated	
  to	
  his	
  home	
  for	
  comfort.	
  	
  When	
  a	
  local	
  newspaper	
  wanted	
  to	
  interview	
  
Jimmy	
  for	
  his	
  upcoming	
  film,	
  he	
  modestly	
  declined,	
  stating	
  that	
  he	
  would	
  return	
  to	
  
Fairmount	
  the	
  following	
  year,	
  after	
  the	
  film	
  was	
  released,	
  unaware	
  that	
  this	
  day	
  would	
  
never	
  come.	
  	
  “He	
  was	
  very	
  modest,”	
  Marcus	
  continued,	
  “he	
  always	
  made	
  time	
  for	
  his	
  
fans.”	
  	
  Jimmy	
  left	
  Fairmount,	
  only	
  to	
  return	
  for	
  his	
  burial.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
After	
  making	
  East	
  of	
  Eden,	
  he	
  went	
  on	
  to	
  make	
  two	
  other	
  films:	
  Rebel	
  Without	
  A	
  Cause	
  
(1955),	
  directed	
  by	
  Nicholas	
  Ray,	
  and	
  Starring	
  opposite	
  Natalie	
  Wood,	
  and	
  Sal	
  Mineo,	
  
and	
  finally	
  GIANT	
  (1956),	
  directed	
  by	
  George	
  Steven,	
  starring	
  opposite	
  Elizabeth	
  
Taylor	
  and	
  Rock	
  Hudson.	
  	
  However,	
  only	
  East	
  of	
  Eden	
  would	
  be	
  released	
  prior	
  to	
  his	
  
death.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
  11	
  
By	
  this	
  time,	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  being	
  offered	
  movie	
  deals,	
  which	
  would	
  have	
  made	
  him	
  the	
  
highest-­‐paid	
  actor	
  in	
  Hollywood	
  history,	
  according	
  to	
  his	
  cousin.	
  	
  Had	
  he	
  survived,	
  he	
  
would	
  have	
  gone	
  on	
  to	
  become	
  an	
  actor	
  of	
  unprecedented	
  fame	
  –	
  perhaps	
  the	
  most	
  
famous	
  actor	
  up	
  until	
  that	
  time.	
  	
  His	
  plans	
  for	
  the	
  future	
  were	
  big.	
  	
  He	
  wanted	
  to	
  get	
  
married,	
  and	
  have	
  his	
  own	
  children.	
  	
  
	
  
Sadly,	
  this	
  would	
  never	
  happen.	
  	
  As	
  most	
  people	
  know,	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  killed	
  driving	
  his	
  
Porsche	
  Spider	
  along	
  a	
  lonely	
  stretch	
  of	
  road	
  in	
  Chalome,	
  California	
  on	
  September	
  30,	
  
1955,	
  shortly	
  after	
  completing	
  work	
  on	
  his	
  third	
  and	
  ultimately,	
  final	
  film.	
  	
  Marcus	
  was	
  
upstairs	
  in	
  his	
  bedroom	
  when	
  his	
  older	
  sister	
  was	
  on	
  the	
  phone.	
  	
  Without	
  knowing	
  
what	
  had	
  happened,	
  he	
  went	
  back	
  to	
  bed.	
  	
  The	
  next	
  day,	
  his	
  sister’s	
  Mother-­‐in-­‐law	
  told	
  
him	
  the	
  awful	
  news	
  –	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  dead.	
  	
  During	
  our	
  discussion,	
  Marcus	
  held	
  back	
  his	
  
emotion	
  as	
  he	
  described	
  how	
  his	
  older	
  cousin	
  departed	
  this	
  life.	
  	
  “My	
  parents	
  went	
  out	
  
to	
  visit	
  Jimmy	
  in	
  California,	
  right	
  before	
  he	
  died,”	
  he	
  said,	
  “remember	
  that	
  in	
  those	
  days	
  
word	
  traveled	
  slowly.	
  	
  When	
  they	
  got	
  back	
  the	
  following	
  Sunday,	
  they	
  still	
  didn’t	
  
know.”	
  	
  At	
  Jimmy’s	
  funeral,	
  the	
  impact	
  of	
  his	
  fame	
  became	
  apparent	
  to	
  Marcus:	
  “People	
  
started	
  coming	
  to	
  Fairmount,	
  and	
  since	
  then,	
  nothing’s	
  been	
  the	
  same.”	
  	
  Fans	
  poured	
  
into	
  the	
  small	
  farming	
  community,	
  and	
  they	
  haven’t	
  stopped	
  coming	
  for	
  nearly	
  sixty	
  
years.	
  	
  Jimmy	
  died,	
  and	
  a	
  significant	
  piece	
  of	
  Americana	
  was	
  born	
  in	
  Fairmount	
  –	
  the	
  
legend	
  of	
  James	
  Dean.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
	
  
  12	
  
Following	
  his	
  death,	
  rumors	
  abounded	
  surrounding	
  James	
  Dean.	
  	
  Magazines	
  were	
  
publishing	
  salacious	
  stories,	
  many	
  of	
  which	
  were	
  dumbfounded.	
  	
  Marcus	
  explained,	
  
“My	
  parents	
  were	
  horrified	
  by	
  some	
  of	
  the	
  things	
  they	
  were	
  writing	
  about	
  him.”	
  	
  Since	
  
then,	
  public	
  opinion	
  of	
  James	
  Dean	
  has	
  formed,	
  and	
  fact	
  and	
  fiction	
  have	
  become	
  
indistinguishable.	
  	
  Many	
  people	
  associate	
  him	
  with	
  the	
  characters	
  he	
  portrayed:	
  angry,	
  
brash,	
  and	
  rebellious.	
  	
  Some	
  have	
  suggested	
  that,	
  in	
  fact,	
  he	
  had	
  wanted	
  to	
  die.	
  	
  More	
  
men	
  than	
  women	
  have	
  claimed	
  to	
  have	
  slept	
  with	
  Jimmy,	
  giving	
  rise	
  to	
  the	
  popular	
  
belief	
  that	
  he	
  was	
  gay.	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
“I	
  don’t	
  think	
  he	
  was	
  (gay),”	
  Marcus	
  continued.	
  	
  He	
  attributes	
  Jimmy’s	
  sense	
  of	
  humor	
  
to	
  the	
  creation	
  of	
  such	
  a	
  rumor.	
  	
  “He	
  liked	
  to	
  say	
  things	
  to	
  get	
  a	
  reaction	
  out	
  of	
  people,”	
  
he	
  chuckled,	
  and	
  went	
  on	
  to	
  explain,	
  “I	
  don’t	
  think	
  (my	
  parents)	
  would	
  have	
  thought	
  
less	
  of	
  him	
  (had	
  he	
  actually	
  been	
  gay),	
  but	
  they	
  wouldn’t	
  have	
  wanted	
  it	
  to	
  get	
  out.”	
  	
  In	
  
a	
  different	
  time	
  and	
  different	
  place,	
  being	
  gay	
  was	
  not	
  something	
  one	
  would	
  have	
  
mentioned	
  lightly.	
  	
  Marcus	
  alluded	
  to	
  the	
  fact	
  that	
  Jimmy,	
  “might	
  have	
  experimented,”	
  
but	
  does	
  not	
  believe	
  that	
  he	
  identified	
  as	
  being	
  gay.	
  	
  In	
  all	
  likelihood,	
  allegations	
  of	
  his	
  
cousin’s	
  homosexuality	
  have	
  been	
  grossly	
  distorted,	
  as	
  have	
  numerous	
  other	
  aspects	
  of	
  
his	
  personality,	
  such	
  as	
  the	
  fact	
  that	
  he	
  was	
  morbid,	
  fixated	
  with	
  death,	
  and	
  associated	
  
with	
  dangerous	
  people.	
  	
  While	
  the	
  Jimmy	
  that	
  Marcus	
  described	
  clearly	
  had	
  a	
  colorful	
  
sense	
  of	
  humor,	
  there	
  is	
  nothing	
  to	
  indicate	
  that	
  he	
  was	
  anything	
  but	
  stable	
  and	
  
devoted	
  to	
  further	
  developing	
  his	
  acting	
  talent.	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
  13	
  
Jimmy,	
  having	
  come	
  from	
  a	
  rural	
  background,	
  and	
  having	
  been	
  fostered	
  by	
  protective	
  
guardians,	
  might	
  have	
  seemed	
  somewhat	
  out	
  of	
  place	
  to	
  his	
  more	
  pretentious	
  
contemporaries.	
  	
  Rumors,	
  in	
  turn,	
  have	
  likely	
  been	
  exaggerated	
  about	
  his	
  many	
  
eccentricities	
  and	
  “wild”	
  behavior.	
  	
  Yet,	
  here	
  is	
  a	
  glimpse	
  into	
  a	
  genuinely	
  American	
  
story:	
  a	
  boy	
  with	
  a	
  dream,	
  who	
  travels	
  to	
  a	
  big	
  city,	
  makes	
  significant	
  sacrifices	
  for	
  his	
  
work,	
  and	
  makes	
  it	
  big.	
  	
  There’s	
  a	
  mystical	
  element	
  to	
  his	
  life	
  story	
  –	
  an	
  energy	
  in	
  
which	
  many	
  people	
  have	
  longed	
  to	
  share.	
  	
  Sadly,	
  however	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  on	
  a	
  streak,	
  
which	
  came	
  to	
  a	
  tragic,	
  and	
  abrupt	
  end.	
  	
  I	
  am	
  often	
  reminded	
  of	
  the	
  saying,	
  “The	
  House	
  
always	
  wins,”	
  a	
  reference	
  to	
  the	
  fact	
  that	
  every	
  winning	
  streak	
  a	
  casino	
  endures	
  must	
  
inevitably	
  end.	
  	
  During	
  his	
  lifetime,	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  incredibly	
  successful,	
  almost	
  avoiding	
  
failure	
  altogether.	
  	
  Had	
  he	
  had	
  more	
  losing	
  streaks,	
  had	
  he	
  gotten	
  physically	
  hurt,	
  had	
  
he	
  run	
  out	
  of	
  money	
  to	
  buy	
  fast	
  cars,	
  he	
  might	
  very	
  well	
  have	
  lived,	
  and	
  might	
  very	
  well	
  
still	
  be	
  alive	
  today	
  at	
  age	
  eighty-­‐three.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Today,	
  James	
  Dean	
  remains	
  elusive	
  to	
  his	
  fans:	
  someone	
  never	
  to	
  be	
  fully	
  known	
  or	
  
genuinely	
  understood,	
  except	
  perhaps	
  to	
  those	
  who	
  knew	
  him	
  personally:	
  a	
  small	
  
group	
  of	
  people,	
  which	
  is	
  steadily	
  shrinking.	
  	
  To	
  most,	
  however,	
  he	
  appears	
  to	
  be	
  
perfect	
  –	
  an	
  individual	
  who	
  was	
  physically	
  attractive,	
  talented,	
  and	
  rose	
  to	
  fame	
  in	
  a	
  
short	
  time.	
  	
  Jimmy	
  did	
  not	
  live	
  long	
  enough	
  for	
  the	
  world	
  to	
  have	
  a	
  glimpse	
  into	
  his	
  
shortcomings,	
  nor	
  had	
  he	
  an	
  opportunity	
  to	
  share	
  his	
  personal	
  story	
  with	
  the	
  world.	
  
“They	
  started	
  writing	
  a	
  lot	
  about	
  him	
  after	
  he	
  died,”	
  Marcus	
  said.	
  	
  When	
  the	
  legend	
  of	
  
James	
  Dean	
  was	
  born,	
  Jimmy	
  had	
  barely	
  experienced	
  fame.	
  	
  After,	
  his	
  untimely	
  death,	
  
his	
  life	
  and	
  personal	
  story	
  had	
  been	
  forever	
  hijacked	
  by	
  Hollywood.	
  	
  	
  
  14	
  
	
  
Most	
  people	
  lack	
  understanding	
  of	
  the	
  many	
  frustrations	
  associated	
  with	
  
Entertainment.	
  	
  	
  For	
  many,	
  it	
  can	
  be	
  a	
  deeply	
  unsatisfying	
  business	
  for	
  the	
  artistically	
  
talented	
  –	
  one	
  that	
  exploits	
  those	
  associated	
  therein.	
  	
  A	
  Capitalistic	
  enterprise,	
  its	
  sole	
  
mission	
  is	
  to	
  make	
  a	
  profit	
  however	
  possible,	
  and	
  at	
  the	
  expense	
  of	
  others,	
  with	
  little	
  
regard	
  for	
  the	
  artists	
  who	
  generate	
  this	
  enterprise.	
  	
  Jimmy	
  has	
  been	
  no	
  exception,	
  and	
  
so	
  too	
  have	
  the	
  Winslows	
  suffered	
  scandalous	
  rumors	
  about	
  their	
  loved	
  one,	
  most	
  of	
  
which	
  were	
  fabricated	
  to	
  turn	
  a	
  profit.	
  	
  Although	
  proud	
  of	
  Jimmy,	
  the	
  Winslows	
  have	
  
endured	
  much	
  of	
  the	
  burden	
  associated	
  with	
  his	
  fame,	
  as	
  they	
  have	
  watched	
  their	
  quiet	
  
farming	
  existence	
  become	
  a	
  circus	
  for	
  James	
  Dean	
  enthusiasts.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Marcus	
  agrees	
  that	
  Jimmy	
  and	
  James	
  Dean	
  are	
  not	
  the	
  same	
  person.	
  	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  a	
  boy,	
  
devoted	
  to	
  his	
  craft,	
  and	
  full	
  of	
  potential.	
  	
  James	
  Dean	
  is	
  a	
  commodity,	
  which	
  has	
  been	
  
marketed	
  by	
  Hollywood	
  for	
  public	
  consumption,	
  and	
  driven	
  by	
  a	
  deeply	
  consumerist	
  
youth	
  culture.	
  	
  Every	
  girl	
  wants	
  to	
  date	
  him,	
  and	
  every	
  guy	
  wants	
  to	
  be	
  him.	
  	
  He	
  has	
  
had	
  a	
  significant	
  impact	
  on	
  Popular	
  Culture,	
  from	
  film	
  and	
  television,	
  to	
  music.	
  	
  But	
  
what	
  is	
  it	
  about	
  James	
  Dean	
  that	
  still	
  has	
  everyone	
  talking,	
  so	
  many	
  years	
  later?	
  	
  
	
  
For	
  starters,	
  Jimmy	
  had	
  the	
  look.	
  	
  He	
  was	
  more	
  than	
  photogenic	
  –	
  he	
  was	
  
photographically	
  gifted,	
  and	
  he	
  knew	
  it	
  to	
  be	
  true.	
  	
  “He	
  always	
  loved	
  being	
  in	
  front	
  the	
  
camera,	
  and	
  behind	
  it,”	
  Marcus	
  explained	
  (alluding	
  to	
  Jimmy’s	
  potential	
  career	
  as	
  a	
  
Director.	
  	
  “I’m	
  very	
  grateful	
  that	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  photographed	
  by	
  truly	
  talented	
  
Photographers,”	
  he	
  continued,	
  referencing	
  Jimmy’s	
  photographs,	
  taken	
  by	
  Dennis	
  
  15	
  
Stock	
  (many	
  of	
  which	
  were	
  featured	
  in	
  LIFE	
  Magazine).	
  	
  Some	
  of	
  the	
  photographs	
  
featuring	
  Jimmy	
  and	
  Marcus	
  together	
  are	
  now	
  considered	
  iconic	
  images	
  of	
  James	
  Dean.	
  	
  
“Some	
  of	
  those	
  things	
  I	
  probably	
  wouldn’t	
  remember,”	
  he	
  said,	
  considering	
  how	
  
different	
  his	
  recollection	
  of	
  those	
  events	
  might	
  have	
  been	
  otherwise.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
In	
  addition	
  to	
  having	
  the	
  right	
  look,	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  talented,	
  motivated,	
  and	
  intelligent.	
  
Jimmy	
  knew	
  that	
  Directors	
  and	
  Producers	
  wanted	
  to	
  capitalize	
  off	
  of	
  him,	
  and	
  he	
  
exploited	
  the	
  hell	
  out	
  of	
  this.	
  	
  Yet,	
  there’s	
  more	
  to	
  James	
  Dean	
  than	
  just	
  talent	
  and	
  a	
  
little	
  bit	
  of	
  luck.	
  	
  There	
  has	
  never	
  been,	
  and	
  likely	
  never	
  will	
  be,	
  another	
  talent	
  to	
  match	
  
Jimmy’s.	
  	
  I	
  would	
  argue	
  that	
  he	
  had	
  far	
  more	
  artistic	
  potential,	
  and	
  more	
  uniqueness	
  
than	
  his	
  contemporaries,	
  such	
  as	
  Marlon	
  Brando,	
  Paul	
  Newman,	
  and	
  Montgomery	
  Clift.	
  	
  
Jimmy	
  demanded	
  to	
  be	
  taken	
  seriously	
  as	
  an	
  actor,	
  and	
  it	
  paid	
  off.	
  	
  He	
  took	
  command	
  
of	
  the	
  screen,	
  and	
  in	
  doing	
  so,	
  he	
  portrayed	
  American	
  Youth	
  in	
  manner	
  unlike	
  anything	
  
seen	
  before,	
  or	
  since	
  his	
  brief	
  career.	
  	
  When	
  Jimmy	
  performed,	
  people	
  took	
  notice,	
  both	
  
in	
  Fairmount,	
  and	
  in	
  the	
  acting	
  world.	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Finally,	
  and	
  possibly	
  most	
  poignantly,	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  ageless.	
  	
  There	
  is	
  something	
  
fundamentally	
  attractive	
  about	
  youth,	
  and	
  people	
  will	
  forever	
  perceive	
  James	
  Dean	
  as	
  
being	
  twenty-­‐four	
  years	
  old.	
  	
  People	
  need	
  to	
  believe	
  in	
  James	
  Dean	
  –	
  they	
  need	
  to	
  
believe	
  that	
  someone	
  can	
  represent	
  their	
  fears	
  and	
  anxieties	
  about	
  entering	
  adult	
  life.	
  	
  
To	
  uncover	
  the	
  truth	
  about	
  Jimmy,	
  and	
  his	
  life	
  aside	
  from	
  his	
  public	
  image	
  would	
  
distort	
  this	
  fantasy.	
  	
  In	
  turn,	
  the	
  mysticism	
  surrounding	
  this	
  icon	
  will	
  forever	
  endure.	
  	
  
Overall,	
  however,	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  first	
  and	
  foremost	
  an	
  actor.	
  	
  	
  
  16	
  
	
  
Cal	
  Trask,	
  Jim	
  Stark,	
  and	
  Jett	
  Rhink	
  were	
  not	
  real	
  people.	
  	
  A	
  gifted	
  performer,	
  who	
  sadly	
  
did	
  not	
  have	
  the	
  opportunity	
  to	
  develop	
  more	
  range,	
  beautifully	
  created	
  these	
  
characters	
  from	
  words	
  on	
  a	
  script.	
  	
  Few	
  have	
  the	
  ability,	
  and	
  the	
  integrity,	
  to	
  take	
  
meaningless	
  words	
  and	
  transform	
  them	
  into	
  genuine	
  emotions.	
  	
  Jimmy,	
  however,	
  was	
  
among	
  the	
  few	
  who	
  wholeheartedly	
  possessed	
  this	
  ability,	
  and	
  harnessed	
  it	
  unlike	
  
anyone	
  else.	
  	
  Consider	
  how	
  few	
  celebrities	
  remain	
  popular	
  after	
  their	
  lives	
  become	
  
disinteresting	
  to	
  their	
  fans.	
  	
  Fads	
  come	
  and	
  go,	
  and	
  with	
  the	
  passage	
  of	
  one,	
  comes	
  the	
  
birth	
  of	
  another.	
  	
  Will	
  teenagers	
  still	
  be	
  discussing	
  Justin	
  Bieber	
  in	
  six	
  decades?	
  	
  In	
  all	
  
likelihood,	
  no	
  –	
  people	
  will	
  probably	
  lose	
  interest,	
  and	
  the	
  world	
  of	
  Entertainment	
  will	
  
claim	
  its	
  next	
  victim.	
  James	
  Dean	
  is	
  a	
  rare	
  exception.	
  	
  Interest	
  in	
  his	
  life,	
  his	
  work,	
  and	
  
his	
  talents	
  have	
  never	
  waned,	
  and	
  show	
  no	
  sign	
  of	
  doing	
  so	
  in	
  the	
  conceivable	
  future.	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
The	
  flames	
  of	
  legends,	
  rumors,	
  and	
  downright	
  lies	
  continue	
  to	
  be	
  fed	
  by	
  people’s	
  
fantasies	
  about	
  James	
  Dean.	
  	
  He	
  is	
  an	
  unofficial	
  symbol	
  for	
  gay	
  culture,	
  despite	
  the	
  fact	
  
that	
  he	
  was	
  likely	
  not	
  gay.	
  	
  He	
  is	
  depicted	
  as	
  a	
  hero	
  for	
  loners	
  and	
  outcasts,	
  despite	
  the	
  
fact	
  that	
  his	
  cousin	
  describes	
  him	
  as	
  fun	
  loving	
  and,	
  a	
  kind	
  and	
  generous	
  person.	
  	
  He	
  is	
  
often	
  perceived	
  as	
  being	
  out	
  of	
  control,	
  despite	
  the	
  fact	
  that	
  he	
  was	
  career	
  driven	
  and	
  
level	
  headed.	
  	
  Yet,	
  as	
  long	
  as	
  Hollywood	
  and	
  its	
  fantasies	
  endure,	
  James	
  Dean	
  will	
  be	
  
forever	
  remembered	
  as	
  a	
  brash,	
  moody,	
  and	
  an	
  unhappy	
  loner,	
  whose	
  sole	
  mission	
  in	
  
life	
  is	
  to	
  speak	
  for	
  the	
  world’s	
  restless	
  youth.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
  17	
  
In	
  actuality,	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  only	
  rebellious	
  in	
  the	
  respect	
  that	
  he	
  represented	
  a	
  change	
  in	
  
Hollywood.	
  	
  He	
  was	
  a	
  young	
  actor,	
  fresh	
  off	
  the	
  street,	
  with	
  a	
  different	
  acting	
  style,	
  and	
  
was	
  now	
  being	
  offered	
  big	
  money	
  to	
  star	
  in	
  major	
  films.	
  	
  This	
  was	
  likely	
  a	
  frightening	
  
prospect	
  not	
  only	
  to	
  seasoned	
  Hollywood	
  veterans,	
  but	
  also	
  to	
  young	
  moviegoers	
  and	
  
their	
  parents.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Today,	
  so	
  many	
  years	
  later,	
  Marcus	
  works	
  hard	
  to	
  keep	
  his	
  cousin’s	
  memory	
  alive.	
  	
  
While	
  he	
  is	
  always	
  willing	
  to	
  speak	
  to	
  fans,	
  he	
  is	
  sometimes	
  offended	
  by	
  the	
  manner	
  in	
  
which	
  Jimmy	
  is	
  depicted	
  biographically,	
  particularly	
  with	
  the	
  2002	
  biopic,	
  James	
  Dean,	
  
starring	
  James	
  Franco.	
  	
  “I	
  read	
  the	
  script	
  ahead	
  of	
  time,”	
  he	
  mentioned,	
  describing	
  
various	
  elements	
  of	
  the	
  film’s	
  plot,	
  which	
  are	
  disrespectful	
  to	
  his	
  family.	
  	
  “To	
  say	
  that	
  
Jimmy’s	
  mother	
  had	
  had	
  an	
  affair,	
  and	
  that	
  Winton	
  might	
  not	
  have	
  been	
  his	
  father	
  is	
  
nonsense,”	
  Marcus	
  elaborated,	
  “he	
  looked	
  just	
  like	
  him.”	
  	
  
	
  
He	
  further	
  explained	
  that	
  Jimmy	
  is	
  still	
  exploited	
  for	
  personal	
  gain	
  –	
  many	
  people	
  
(including	
  the	
  film’s	
  director,	
  Mark	
  Rydell),	
  claim	
  to	
  have	
  been	
  his	
  closest	
  friends,	
  but	
  
elaborate	
  the	
  facts	
  to	
  promote	
  themselves.	
  	
  As	
  evidenced,	
  Jimmy	
  did	
  not	
  live	
  long	
  
enough	
  to	
  publicly	
  explain	
  the	
  difference	
  between	
  fact	
  and	
  fiction	
  in	
  his	
  own	
  life.	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Marcus	
  thoroughly	
  confirmed	
  to	
  me	
  that	
  many	
  of	
  the	
  legends	
  surrounding	
  his	
  cousin	
  
are	
  fabrications,	
  conceived	
  out	
  of	
  greed.	
  	
  Even	
  the	
  rumor	
  that	
  the	
  notorious	
  Porsche	
  
Spider	
  that	
  took	
  his	
  life	
  –	
  alleged	
  to	
  be	
  cursed	
  –	
  mysteriously	
  vanished,	
  is	
  simply	
  a	
  
rumor.	
  	
  According	
  to	
  the	
  Winslows,	
  it	
  was	
  scrapped,	
  and	
  the	
  story	
  only	
  arose	
  as	
  
  18	
  
someone	
  else’s	
  chance	
  at	
  fame.	
  	
  He	
  also	
  cites	
  that	
  Jack	
  Simmons,	
  Jimmy’s	
  friend,	
  was	
  
likely	
  the	
  culprit	
  behind	
  the	
  disappearance	
  of	
  many	
  of	
  his	
  belongings	
  following	
  his	
  
death.	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
As	
  for	
  Jimmy’s	
  father,	
  Winton	
  Dean	
  seldom	
  spoke	
  publicly	
  about	
  his	
  son.	
  	
  “Aunt	
  Ethel	
  
(Winton’s	
  second	
  wife,	
  and	
  Jimmy’s	
  stepmother),	
  was	
  very	
  protective	
  of	
  him,”	
  
according	
  to	
  Marcus.	
  	
  In	
  an	
  attempt	
  to	
  keep	
  her	
  husband	
  out	
  of	
  the	
  public	
  eye,	
  she	
  did	
  
not	
  allow	
  him	
  to	
  be	
  interviewed.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Winton	
  Dean	
  lived	
  the	
  remainder	
  of	
  his	
  life	
  quietly,	
  and	
  often	
  moved	
  to	
  various	
  places	
  
without	
  anyone	
  ever	
  knowing	
  that	
  he	
  was	
  James	
  Dean’s	
  father.	
  	
  So	
  too,	
  the	
  legend	
  grew	
  
that	
  he	
  was	
  a	
  feckless	
  parent	
  who	
  denied	
  his	
  son	
  love,	
  as	
  portrayed	
  in	
  East	
  of	
  Eden.	
  	
  
Quite	
  contrarily,	
  according	
  to	
  Marcus,	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  becoming	
  closer	
  to	
  his	
  father,	
  and	
  
even	
  met	
  with	
  him	
  for	
  lunch	
  the	
  day	
  that	
  he	
  died.	
  	
  Winton	
  offered	
  his	
  son	
  money,	
  
which	
  he	
  then	
  used	
  to	
  pay	
  for	
  everyone’s	
  lunch,	
  Winton	
  recalled	
  with	
  a	
  slight	
  chuckle.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Yet,	
  the	
  person	
  that	
  Marcus	
  Winslow	
  lovingly	
  describes	
  today,	
  so	
  many	
  years	
  after	
  his	
  
cousin’s	
  death	
  is	
  far	
  from	
  the	
  brash	
  exterior	
  I	
  had	
  known	
  as	
  James	
  Dean.	
  	
  Instead,	
  I	
  
came	
  to	
  know	
  a	
  boy	
  –	
  not	
  quite	
  a	
  man	
  –	
  who	
  was	
  driven	
  and	
  ambitious,	
  but	
  loyal	
  to	
  his	
  
loved	
  ones	
  and	
  motivated	
  by	
  the	
  values	
  set	
  forth	
  by	
  his	
  Aunt	
  and	
  Uncle.	
  	
  Had	
  he	
  lived,	
  
in	
  my	
  opinion,	
  he	
  might	
  have	
  tired	
  of	
  Hollywood	
  altogether,	
  and	
  eventually	
  returned	
  to	
  
his	
  home	
  with	
  his	
  own	
  family.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
  19	
  
Jimmy	
  was	
  young,	
  and	
  his	
  life	
  was	
  completely	
  undetermined	
  –	
  a	
  clean	
  and	
  blank	
  slate,	
  
with	
  which	
  he	
  could	
  do	
  anything.	
  	
  Think	
  of	
  all	
  he	
  had	
  done	
  in	
  just	
  twenty-­‐four	
  years;	
  
imagine	
  what	
  he	
  might	
  have	
  done	
  with	
  another	
  sixty.	
  	
  But	
  then	
  again,	
  no	
  one	
  will	
  ever	
  
know.	
  	
  The	
  public	
  will,	
  however,	
  remain	
  attracted	
  to	
  his	
  wide	
  popularity	
  and	
  the	
  
mystery	
  surrounding	
  whom	
  he	
  might	
  one	
  day	
  have	
  been,	
  but	
  to	
  most,	
  the	
  true	
  identity	
  
of	
  this	
  rebel	
  with,	
  or	
  without,	
  a	
  cause,	
  will	
  remain	
  simply	
  Jimmy	
  –	
  a	
  beloved	
  friend	
  and	
  
loved	
  one.	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
As	
  Marcus	
  and	
  I	
  concluded	
  our	
  time	
  together	
  I	
  took	
  a	
  moment	
  to	
  absorb	
  the	
  rich	
  
history	
  of	
  his	
  family	
  farm.	
  	
  The	
  Winslow	
  Farm	
  has	
  a	
  long	
  and	
  prosperous	
  history,	
  and	
  
James	
  Dean,	
  no	
  matter	
  how	
  brief	
  his	
  life,	
  was	
  a	
  part	
  of	
  that	
  history.	
  	
  Fans	
  visit	
  
Fairmount,	
  and	
  always	
  stop	
  to	
  ask	
  Marcus	
  about	
  his	
  famous	
  cousin.	
  	
  “I’ve	
  seen	
  it	
  all,”	
  he	
  
said	
  nonchalantly,	
  as	
  we	
  discussed	
  the	
  colorful	
  characters	
  that	
  have	
  come	
  through	
  this	
  
otherwise	
  sleepy	
  farming	
  community,	
  often	
  sporting	
  James	
  Dean	
  tattoos,	
  many	
  of	
  
which	
  are	
  of	
  extraordinary	
  likeness.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Today,	
  Marcus	
  and	
  his	
  family	
  live	
  an	
  otherwise	
  serene	
  farming	
  life.	
  	
  He	
  has	
  a	
  stunning	
  
collection	
  of	
  antique	
  cars,	
  which	
  he	
  proudly	
  showed	
  me	
  during	
  our	
  interview,	
  
including	
  the	
  car	
  in	
  which	
  Jimmy	
  took	
  his	
  prom	
  date.	
  	
  The	
  glamour	
  of	
  Hollywood	
  is	
  
pleasantly	
  absent	
  from	
  their	
  home,	
  but	
  the	
  cultural	
  phenomenon	
  surrounding	
  James	
  
Dean	
  is	
  ever	
  present	
  as	
  memories	
  of	
  Jimmy	
  flourish.	
  	
  I	
  was	
  honored	
  and	
  touched	
  by	
  his	
  
story,	
  and	
  by	
  the	
  fact	
  that	
  he	
  was	
  so	
  willing	
  to	
  meet	
  with	
  me	
  to	
  discuss	
  his	
  famous	
  
cousin.	
  	
  I	
  realized	
  that	
  he	
  is	
  truly	
  a	
  generous	
  and	
  remarkable	
  man,	
  who	
  comes	
  from	
  an	
  
  20	
  
extraordinary	
  American	
  family	
  –	
  the	
  same	
  family	
  from	
  which	
  an	
  icon	
  was	
  born	
  and	
  
raised.	
  	
  Without	
  the	
  Winslows,	
  perhaps	
  there	
  would	
  be	
  no	
  James	
  Dean,	
  and	
  the	
  world	
  
would	
  sadly	
  lack	
  an	
  iconic	
  hero.	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
“I’m	
  proud	
  of	
  Jimmy,”	
  Marcus	
  said	
  firmly,	
  “what	
  he	
  did	
  is	
  extraordinary.	
  	
  You	
  don’t	
  see	
  
young	
  people	
  making	
  such	
  a	
  big	
  deal	
  out	
  of	
  any	
  other	
  actors	
  from	
  that	
  era.”	
  	
  Ultimately,	
  
I	
  came	
  to	
  find	
  that	
  Jimmy	
  was	
  indeed	
  special,	
  and	
  that	
  the	
  true	
  person	
  behind	
  the	
  
legend	
  was	
  even	
  more	
  fascinating	
  than	
  the	
  icon.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Yet,	
  my	
  own	
  dreams	
  about	
  James	
  Dean	
  had	
  died,	
  as	
  I	
  suddenly	
  came	
  to	
  the	
  realization	
  
that	
  the	
  beloved	
  rebel	
  was	
  an	
  illusion,	
  created	
  by	
  an	
  acting	
  genius,	
  and	
  the	
  allure	
  of	
  
Hollywood.	
  	
  Nonetheless,	
  film	
  preserves	
  an	
  image,	
  and	
  it	
  preserves	
  James	
  Dean	
  forever	
  
young,	
  and	
  bigger	
  than	
  life	
  –	
  no	
  different	
  from	
  the	
  moment	
  he	
  first	
  appeared	
  on	
  screen,	
  
nearly	
  sixty	
  years	
  ago.	
  	
  We	
  ended	
  our	
  interview	
  on	
  a	
  positive	
  note:	
  our	
  shared	
  belief	
  
that	
  Jimmy	
  is	
  somewhere	
  above,	
  protectively	
  watching	
  down	
  on	
  his	
  beloved	
  home,	
  as	
  
life	
  continues	
  for	
  Marcus	
  and	
  his	
  family.	
  	
  
  21	
  
	
  
	
  
I	
  concluded	
  by	
  asking	
  him	
  what	
  he	
  would	
  say	
  to	
  Jimmy	
  today	
  if	
  he	
  had	
  the	
  opportunity.	
  	
  
“I	
  never	
  thought	
  about	
  it…it’s	
  impossible,”	
  he	
  shrugged,	
  but	
  went	
  on	
  to	
  explain,	
  “I	
  
suppose	
  I’ll	
  find	
  out	
  when	
  I	
  get	
  up	
  there,”	
  as	
  he	
  pointed	
  upward	
  toward	
  the	
  sky.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

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Oral History - Marcus Winslow Jr. REVISED

  • 1.       Marcus  Winslow  Jr.  and  James   Dean:  sixty  years  later       By  Alex  Sessa         October,  2014                    
  • 2.   2   It  was  a  Friday  night,  and  eleven-­‐year-­‐old  Marcus  was  in  his  bedroom  when  he  heard   his  sister  Joanne  talking  on  the  phone.    “She  was  upset,”  he  noted  emotionally.    He  went   to  his  bedroom  door  to  hear  more.    His  parents,  Ortanse  and  Marcus  Sr.  were  out,  and   his  immediate  concern  was  for  their  well  being.    If  anything  were  to  have  gone  wrong,   it  must  have  been  that  something  had  happened  to  his  parents.    “It  never  occurred  to   me  that  something  might  have  happened  to  Jimmy.”         Marcus  Winslow  Jr.  is  the  first  cousin,  and  closest  living  relative,  of  screen  legend   James  Dean,  who  rose  to  fame  after  starring  in  only  three  films,  and  died  tragically  in   an  automobile  accident  at  the  age  of  twenty-­‐four.    His  life  has  become  a  subject  of   intense  speculation,  mystery,  and  legend.    His  popularity  has  endured  for  close  to  sixty   years,  and  to  this  day  fans  flock  to  his  hometown  of  Fairmount,  Indiana  where  he  lived   with  his  Aunt  and  Uncle.    Mr.  Winslow  was  generous  enough  to  invite  me  to  his  family   farm,  which  led  me  on  a  700-­‐mile  (1,126  km)  journey  to  Indiana  where  we  discussed   what  it  was  like  to  grow  up  with  James  Dean.    I  had  my  own  expectations  going  into  the   interview  –  I  was  nervous,  anxious  to  learn  as  much  as  possible,  and  convinced  that  I   was  going  to  hear  stories  similar  to  those  of  a  mythic  legend.    James  Dean  has  become   so  deeply  ingrained  into  Popular  Culture,  and  Public  consciousness  that  I  expected   nothing  less  than  tales  of  a  brash  and  moody  rebel,  similar  to  the  image  captured  on   screen.    Yet  after  speaking  to  Marcus,  I  found  the  truth  to  be  surprisingly  refreshing:   Jimmy  was  an  average,  well  adjusted,  and  friendly  kid,  who  exhibited  signs  of  artistic   genius  from  an  early  age.          
  • 3.   3   As  I  prepared  for  the  interview,  I  knew  only  one  thing  to  be  true,  and  that  was  that   James  Dean  is  an  old  topic.    He  has  been  evaluated,  discussed,  and  psychoanalyzed  by   fans,  Gossip  Columnists,  reporters,  fellow  thespians,  and  Historians  since  his  death  in   1955.    I  researched  the  topic  as  extensively  as  possible,  but  found  nothing  new.    His   name  and  true  identity  have  been  besmirched  with  scandal,  rumors,  and  allegations,   ranging  from  his  alleged  homosexuality,  to  his  secret  desire  to  die.    After  sixty  years,  I   decided  that  I  wanted  to  set  the  record  straight  by  unearthing  the  true  identity  of   Jimmy.    My  ultimate  finding  has  been  that  Jimmy  was  a  unique,  quirky,  and  fun-­‐loving   kid,  separate  from  the  persona  that  is  James  Dean.       The  world  that  young  Jimmy  entered  in  1931  was  vastly  different  from  the  one  he  left   in  1955.    He  was  born  in  the  midst  of  The  Depression,  and  grew  up  during  World  War   II,  both  of  which  were  periods  of  significant  hardship  for  Americans.    The  1950s,   however,  would  usher  in  an  era  of  change  and  newfound  prosperity,  and  ultimately   cultural  trends  would  morph  into  less  innocent  depictions  of  American  identity.    While   the  seed  of  a  rebellious  youth  culture  had  been  planted  with  the  release  of  J.D.   Salinger’s  1951  novel,  The  Catcher  in  Rye  and  the  creation  of  Holden  Caulfield,  the  50s   would  breed  new  protégé,  embodying  new  styles,  angst,  and  even  counter-­‐revolution.     Jimmy  was  among  this  new  generation  of  outside-­‐the-­‐box  artists  who  were  destined  to   become  the  modern  symbol  of  the  American  teenager.     There  are  many  factors  that  made  Jimmy  who  he  was,  many  of  which  gave  rise  to  the   phenomenon  of  James  Dean.    Here,  I  will  describe  Jimmy  and  James  Dean  as  separate   and  distinct  entities,  to  discern  each  as  having  their  own  qualities.    I  began  my  
  • 4.   4   interview  with  Marcus  on  a  rainy  Tuesday  morning.    Driving  up  to  the  Winslow  farm,  I   couldn’t  help  notice  how  beautiful  and  majestic  the  property  is,  and  likely  was  during   Jimmy’s  lifetime.    Marcus  greeted  me  welcomingly,  which  was  a  relief  considering  my   nerves  ahead  of  time.    As  an  avid  James  Dean  fan,  my  excitement  rose  as  the   conversation  ensued.    I  sat  in  curiosity  and  anticipation  of  the  prospect  of  learning   something  new,  or  uncovering  something  otherwise  unknown  about  the  iconic  rebel.     Yet,  the  story  relayed  to  me  was  touching,  and  sentimental.         Perhaps  my  biggest  finding  during  my  time  with  Mr.  Winslow  had  less  to  do  with   James  Dean,  and  more  to  do  with  the  Winslow  family  in  general.    My  knowledge  of   Jimmy,  prior  to  the  interview,  was  common:  his  mother  had  died  when  he  was  nine-­‐ years-­‐old,  and  his  father  had  sent  him  away  to  live  with  relatives  on  a  farm  in  Indiana.     Like  many  James  Dean  enthusiasts,  I  thought  that  these  facts  were  straightforward,  but   Marcus  introduced  me  to  the  workings  of  his  close-­‐knit  family,  and  the  dynamic  in   which  Jimmy  was  raised.    “His  Dad  kind  of  got  a  raw  deal,”  Marcus  said  to  me  frankly.     The  story  of  Jimmy’s  early  life  has  widely  been  depicted  as  that  of  hardship,  yet  I  came   to  find  that  he  actually  had  a  very  privileged  childhood.         When  Jimmy’s  mother  died,  his  father,  Winton,  had  faced  serious  financial  difficulties,   and  would  ultimately  be  drafted  into  World  War  II.    Marcus’s  parents  were  extremely   generous,  and  being  a  deeply  devoted  family,  Ortanse  warmly  invited  her  nephew  to   stay  with  them.    “He’s  welcome  here  any  time,”  she  told  her  brother  Winton,  a   struggling  Dentist,  who  wanted  nothing  more  than  for  his  son  to  have  a  stable  living  
  • 5.   5   condition.    Winton  agreed  to  send  his  nine-­‐year-­‐old  son  to  live  with  his  sister  and   brother-­‐in-­‐law  in  their  home  state  of  Indiana.    The  life  to  which  Jimmy  returned  was   surrounded  by  abounding  love,  and  encouragement.         The  Winslows  can  trace  their  farming  roots  back  generations.    Farming  is  an  old   tradition  for  the  family  –  one  that  Marcus  discussed  proudly.      “My  grandfather  built   this  house  in  1904,”  he  said,  glowing  with  pride.    He  has  lived  on  the  farm  his  entire   life,  and  has  since  raised  his  own  family  with  the  same  tradition.    Today,  his  family   helps  him  farm,  as  their  ancestors  have  done  since  they  settled  upon  the  land.     Whether  or  not  James  Dean  enthusiasts  choose  to  acknowledge  the  fact,  Jimmy  was   also  a  part  of  this  rich  tradition,  and  was  influenced  by  the  values  set  forth  by  his   relatives.    The  death  of  Jimmy’s  mother  was  a  deeply  tragic  circumstance,  which   undoubtedly  changed  the  course  of  his  young  life,  but  becoming  a  member  of  the   Winslow  household,  he  was  immediately  showered  with  love,  praise,  and   encouragement.         As  Marcus  and  I  became  engrossed  in  conversation,  he  relayed  to  me  the  true  nature  of   Jimmy’s  adolescent  personality.    Marcus  has  early  memories  of  his  cousin,  which  are   nothing  if  not  fond  and  loving.    “He  excelled  at  anything  to  do  with  the  arts,”  he  told  me.     The  Jimmy  that  Mr.  Winslow  relayed  to  me  was  intensely  focused,  devoted  to  his  craft,   and  knew  that  he  was  going  to  make  it  big  in  Hollywood.    This  is  an  image  that  is  quite   contrary  to  a  young  man  morbidly  fixated  with  death  and  haunted  by  memories  of   abandonment,  as  often  depicted  in  popular  culture  and  Hollywood  rumors.    “I  know  I  
  • 6.   6   can  make  it,”  Jimmy  would  tell  his  Aunt  Ortanse.    He  was  convinced  that  if  he  could  just   get  his  big  break,  he  would  be  a  star.    He  read  books  on  the  subject  of  acting,  and   intensely  devoted  himself  to  his  craft.    Here,  on  this  tranquil  farm,  Jimmy’s  acting   ambitions  were  developing,  and  his  craft  was  expanding.    This  teenager  knew   wholeheartedly  that  he  would  be  not  just  an  actor,  but  a  star.         Jimmy  was  intensely  focused  on  bettering  himself  as  a  performer,  at  an  age  where   most  adolescents  are  unsure  of  what  they  want  to  do  with  their  lives,  and  in  a   community  in  which  the  path  for  most  is  predetermined.    From  what  I  have  deduced,   Jimmy  was  more  than  talented  –  he  was  an  artistic  genius  –  perhaps  even  a  borderline   prodigy  –  who  demonstrated  his  gifts  during  his  childhood.    The  rarity  of  his  talents   would  never  go  unnoticed,  but  the  full  extent  of  his  capabilities  would  remain  forever   unknown  as  the  result  of  his  early  death.             “He  was  very  confident,”  Marcus  continued,  “and  he  was  a  very  good  athlete…he  liked   to  have  fun.”    Jimmy’s  personality  was  not  one  to  go  unnoticed,  neither  in  Fairmount,   nor  in  Hollywood.    “I  think  he  was  just  unique,”  Marcus  described,  “and  (Directors  and   Producers)  took  notice.”    In  1949,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  Jimmy  briefly  returned  to   living  with  his  father,  which  had  to  have  been  a  strange  experience  after  having  spent   the  previous  nine  years  of  his  upbringing  with  his  Aunt  and  Uncle.         Jimmy  had  become  well  adjusted  to  farm  life.    The  Winslow  farm  was  his  home–  it   signified  his  roots,  the  basis  for  his  beliefs  and  values,  and  was  the  residence  of  his  
  • 7.   7   family.    Winton,  however,  had  a  very  different  approach  to  parenting  than  his  sister   and  brother-­‐in-­‐law.    “My  parents  couldn’t  say  ‘no,’”  Marcus  explained.    They  likely   spoiled  Jimmy  after  the  death  of  his  mother,  in  an  attempt  to  ease  his  grief  and  accept   him  into  their  family.    While  Jimmy’s  relationship  with  his  father  may  have  had  some   strain,  it  likely  had  more  to  do  with  a  lack  of  familiarity  –  one  which  may  have   disappeared  altogether  had  Jimmy  lived  longer.         However,  Jimmy  broke  the  mold  in  his  family.    He  was  only  a  true  rebel,  perhaps  in  the   respect,  that  he  was  willing  to  defy  his  father’s  dream  of  him  becoming  a  lawyer,   dropping  out  of  college,  leaving  the  farm  and  family  he  had  come  to  know  and  love,  and   move  to  New  York  to  pursue  an  acting  career.    No  other  member  of  his  family  had  ever   taken  such  a  bold  step.    Imagine  the  courage  of  a  young  man,  barely  out  of  high  school,   not  even  quite  an  adult,  moving  to  a  big  city  after  having  lived  a  very  sheltered  life  in  a   small  farming  community.    While  Jimmy  faced  his  share  of  struggles  breaking  into  the   business,  his  family  watched  in  amazement  when  he  began  landing  bit  parts  in  live   television  appearances.             The  Winslows,  and  the  people  of  Fairmount,  marveled  at  seeing  Jimmy  on  the  small   screen.    Marcus  went  on  to  describe  the  spectacle  of  Jimmy’s  apparent  success:  “We  got   our  first  television  in  1950…when  Jimmy  was  on  television,  the  phone  would  ring  off   the  hook.    We  only  had  one  phone  back  then,  and  it  wasn’t  in  the  living  room.    You  can   imagine  how  hard  it  was  to  use  the  phone,”  he  laughed.    “People  would  call  wanting  to   know  what  he’d  be  in  next,”  he  continued.    Suddenly,  Jimmy  defied  the  odds:  he  had  
  • 8.   8   gone  against  the  traditional  life  of  farming,  and  set  out  on  his  own,  leaving  behind   everything  he  had  known  to  pursue  a  dream.         Yet,  the  path  to  success  could  not  have  been  easy  in  New  York  for  an  Indiana   transplant.    Jimmy,  who  had  always  been  dedicated  to  his  craft,  and  wanted  to  be  the   best,  stood  up  to  the  challenge.    I  realized  the  frustration  he  must  have  suffered:  a   creatively  gifted  young  man,  always  wanting  to  expand  his  talent,  trying  to  get  work  in   a  city  where  actors  are  bought  and  sold  for  the  cheap.    For  the  first  time  in  his  life,  he   was  exposed  to  a  wide  variety  of  different  people,  several  of  whom  he  had  brought   back  with  him  to  visit  Fairmount.    Marcus  recalled  when  he  brought  home  several   friends  from  New  York  –  Elizabeth  Sheridan  (later  known  for  her  role  as  Helen   Seinfeld,  on  the  90s  sitcom  Seinfeld)  and  would-­‐be  screenwriter,  William  Bast,  who   would  later  recount  the  visit  in  his  70s  TV  movie  James  Dean.    Through  all  of  his   hardships  in  New  York,  and  repeated  rejections,  Jimmy  always  found  solace  in   returning  home  to  the  Winslow  farm,  and  the  embrace  of  his  loving  family.         Marcus  further  described  an  instance  in  which  Jimmy  headed  to  New  York  on  his   motorcycle,  which  made  Ortanse  nervous  because  of  the  cold.    Marcus  laughed  as  he   explained  Jimmy  heading  out  wearing  a  mask  covering  his  entire  head,  which  revealed   nothing  but  his  eyes,  and  holes  through  which  to  breathe.    After  his  bike  broke  down   on  the  Pennsylvania  Turnpike,  he  was  forced  to  trade  it  for  an  Indianhead  Motorcycle,   with  which  he  continued  to  New  York.    It  was,  perhaps,  at  this  point  in  the  interview   that  I  noticed  a  pattern  in  Jimmy’s  behavior:  he  was  a  risk  taker.    However,  when  I  
  • 9.   9   considered  how  horrifying  the  prospect  of  traveling  to  New  York  City  from  Fairmount   on  a  motorcycle  might  be,  it  suddenly  occurred  to  me  the  kind  of  risks  Jimmy  was   taking.    Marcus  described  his  cousin’s  behavior:  “He  liked  to  drive  fast…Dad  always   said,  ‘maybe  if  he’d  gotten  hurt’,  broken  his  leg  or  something,  he  might  have  lived.”         From  my  perspective,  I  observed  that  Jimmy  had  never  failed  at  anything.    His  life  had   been  one  success  after  another,  and  the  fact  he  had  never  been  hurt  enough  may  have   prevented  him  from  taking  the  necessary  precautions  on  the  road  that  might  have   saved  his  life.           For  the  time  being,  however,  Jimmy’s  road  to  success  was  continually  expanding,  and   he  had  a  break  in  Hollywood  when  he  was  discovered  at  age  twenty-­‐three  by   legendary  filmmaker  Elia  Kazan.    Kazan  was  directing  a  film  production  of  John   Steinbeck’s  classic  novel,  East  of  Eden,  and  he  was  looking  for  the  right  young  man  to   play  the  lead  role,  Cal  Trask.    Marcus  said  that  East  of  Eden  (1955)  is  his  favorite  of   Jimmy’s  films  because  it  depicts  him  the  way  he  truly  was:  “That  was  the  way  he   was…the  way  he  spoke,  and  moved.”    He  further  explained  to  me  that  since  the  release   of  East  of  Eden,  there  has  been  misinformation  about  how  true  to  life  Jimmy’s   performance  was  –  in  the  film,  Cal,  a  quiet,  moody  loner,  tries  to  buy  his  father   (Raymond  Massey)’s  love.    In  actuality,  Jimmy’s  relationship  with  his  own  father  was   not  nearly  as  strained.    Any  notion  to  the  contrary,  according  to  Marcus,  is  a  myth.    
  • 10.   10   During  filming,  Kazan  encouraged  Jimmy  to  utilize  his  Method  Acting  training,   particularly  when  working  opposite  Massey.    In  an  early  scene,  Jimmy  read  aloud  from   a  Bible.    On  set,  Kazan  instructed  him  to  curse  under  his  breath  while  reading  passages,   which  infuriated  Massey  and  perpetuated  their  animosity,  both  on-­‐screen  and  off.    “He   was  interested  in  the  development  of  the  character,”  Marcus  described,  “he  wanted  to   go  on  to  become  a  director.”           After  filming  had  wrapped  on  East  of  Eden,  Jimmy  returned  to  Fairmount  for  a  final   time.    “I  remember  he  was  very  nervous,”  Marcus  explained,  “because  he  knew  that   East  of  Eden  was  going  to  be  very  successful,  and  that  he  would  become  a  star.”    The   prospect  of  becoming  famous  must  have  been  daunting  for  the  young  actor,  who  once   again  retreated  to  his  home  for  comfort.    When  a  local  newspaper  wanted  to  interview   Jimmy  for  his  upcoming  film,  he  modestly  declined,  stating  that  he  would  return  to   Fairmount  the  following  year,  after  the  film  was  released,  unaware  that  this  day  would   never  come.    “He  was  very  modest,”  Marcus  continued,  “he  always  made  time  for  his   fans.”    Jimmy  left  Fairmount,  only  to  return  for  his  burial.         After  making  East  of  Eden,  he  went  on  to  make  two  other  films:  Rebel  Without  A  Cause   (1955),  directed  by  Nicholas  Ray,  and  Starring  opposite  Natalie  Wood,  and  Sal  Mineo,   and  finally  GIANT  (1956),  directed  by  George  Steven,  starring  opposite  Elizabeth   Taylor  and  Rock  Hudson.    However,  only  East  of  Eden  would  be  released  prior  to  his   death.        
  • 11.   11   By  this  time,  Jimmy  was  being  offered  movie  deals,  which  would  have  made  him  the   highest-­‐paid  actor  in  Hollywood  history,  according  to  his  cousin.    Had  he  survived,  he   would  have  gone  on  to  become  an  actor  of  unprecedented  fame  –  perhaps  the  most   famous  actor  up  until  that  time.    His  plans  for  the  future  were  big.    He  wanted  to  get   married,  and  have  his  own  children.       Sadly,  this  would  never  happen.    As  most  people  know,  Jimmy  was  killed  driving  his   Porsche  Spider  along  a  lonely  stretch  of  road  in  Chalome,  California  on  September  30,   1955,  shortly  after  completing  work  on  his  third  and  ultimately,  final  film.    Marcus  was   upstairs  in  his  bedroom  when  his  older  sister  was  on  the  phone.    Without  knowing   what  had  happened,  he  went  back  to  bed.    The  next  day,  his  sister’s  Mother-­‐in-­‐law  told   him  the  awful  news  –  Jimmy  was  dead.    During  our  discussion,  Marcus  held  back  his   emotion  as  he  described  how  his  older  cousin  departed  this  life.    “My  parents  went  out   to  visit  Jimmy  in  California,  right  before  he  died,”  he  said,  “remember  that  in  those  days   word  traveled  slowly.    When  they  got  back  the  following  Sunday,  they  still  didn’t   know.”    At  Jimmy’s  funeral,  the  impact  of  his  fame  became  apparent  to  Marcus:  “People   started  coming  to  Fairmount,  and  since  then,  nothing’s  been  the  same.”    Fans  poured   into  the  small  farming  community,  and  they  haven’t  stopped  coming  for  nearly  sixty   years.    Jimmy  died,  and  a  significant  piece  of  Americana  was  born  in  Fairmount  –  the   legend  of  James  Dean.          
  • 12.   12   Following  his  death,  rumors  abounded  surrounding  James  Dean.    Magazines  were   publishing  salacious  stories,  many  of  which  were  dumbfounded.    Marcus  explained,   “My  parents  were  horrified  by  some  of  the  things  they  were  writing  about  him.”    Since   then,  public  opinion  of  James  Dean  has  formed,  and  fact  and  fiction  have  become   indistinguishable.    Many  people  associate  him  with  the  characters  he  portrayed:  angry,   brash,  and  rebellious.    Some  have  suggested  that,  in  fact,  he  had  wanted  to  die.    More   men  than  women  have  claimed  to  have  slept  with  Jimmy,  giving  rise  to  the  popular   belief  that  he  was  gay.               “I  don’t  think  he  was  (gay),”  Marcus  continued.    He  attributes  Jimmy’s  sense  of  humor   to  the  creation  of  such  a  rumor.    “He  liked  to  say  things  to  get  a  reaction  out  of  people,”   he  chuckled,  and  went  on  to  explain,  “I  don’t  think  (my  parents)  would  have  thought   less  of  him  (had  he  actually  been  gay),  but  they  wouldn’t  have  wanted  it  to  get  out.”    In   a  different  time  and  different  place,  being  gay  was  not  something  one  would  have   mentioned  lightly.    Marcus  alluded  to  the  fact  that  Jimmy,  “might  have  experimented,”   but  does  not  believe  that  he  identified  as  being  gay.    In  all  likelihood,  allegations  of  his   cousin’s  homosexuality  have  been  grossly  distorted,  as  have  numerous  other  aspects  of   his  personality,  such  as  the  fact  that  he  was  morbid,  fixated  with  death,  and  associated   with  dangerous  people.    While  the  Jimmy  that  Marcus  described  clearly  had  a  colorful   sense  of  humor,  there  is  nothing  to  indicate  that  he  was  anything  but  stable  and   devoted  to  further  developing  his  acting  talent.          
  • 13.   13   Jimmy,  having  come  from  a  rural  background,  and  having  been  fostered  by  protective   guardians,  might  have  seemed  somewhat  out  of  place  to  his  more  pretentious   contemporaries.    Rumors,  in  turn,  have  likely  been  exaggerated  about  his  many   eccentricities  and  “wild”  behavior.    Yet,  here  is  a  glimpse  into  a  genuinely  American   story:  a  boy  with  a  dream,  who  travels  to  a  big  city,  makes  significant  sacrifices  for  his   work,  and  makes  it  big.    There’s  a  mystical  element  to  his  life  story  –  an  energy  in   which  many  people  have  longed  to  share.    Sadly,  however  Jimmy  was  on  a  streak,   which  came  to  a  tragic,  and  abrupt  end.    I  am  often  reminded  of  the  saying,  “The  House   always  wins,”  a  reference  to  the  fact  that  every  winning  streak  a  casino  endures  must   inevitably  end.    During  his  lifetime,  Jimmy  was  incredibly  successful,  almost  avoiding   failure  altogether.    Had  he  had  more  losing  streaks,  had  he  gotten  physically  hurt,  had   he  run  out  of  money  to  buy  fast  cars,  he  might  very  well  have  lived,  and  might  very  well   still  be  alive  today  at  age  eighty-­‐three.         Today,  James  Dean  remains  elusive  to  his  fans:  someone  never  to  be  fully  known  or   genuinely  understood,  except  perhaps  to  those  who  knew  him  personally:  a  small   group  of  people,  which  is  steadily  shrinking.    To  most,  however,  he  appears  to  be   perfect  –  an  individual  who  was  physically  attractive,  talented,  and  rose  to  fame  in  a   short  time.    Jimmy  did  not  live  long  enough  for  the  world  to  have  a  glimpse  into  his   shortcomings,  nor  had  he  an  opportunity  to  share  his  personal  story  with  the  world.   “They  started  writing  a  lot  about  him  after  he  died,”  Marcus  said.    When  the  legend  of   James  Dean  was  born,  Jimmy  had  barely  experienced  fame.    After,  his  untimely  death,   his  life  and  personal  story  had  been  forever  hijacked  by  Hollywood.      
  • 14.   14     Most  people  lack  understanding  of  the  many  frustrations  associated  with   Entertainment.      For  many,  it  can  be  a  deeply  unsatisfying  business  for  the  artistically   talented  –  one  that  exploits  those  associated  therein.    A  Capitalistic  enterprise,  its  sole   mission  is  to  make  a  profit  however  possible,  and  at  the  expense  of  others,  with  little   regard  for  the  artists  who  generate  this  enterprise.    Jimmy  has  been  no  exception,  and   so  too  have  the  Winslows  suffered  scandalous  rumors  about  their  loved  one,  most  of   which  were  fabricated  to  turn  a  profit.    Although  proud  of  Jimmy,  the  Winslows  have   endured  much  of  the  burden  associated  with  his  fame,  as  they  have  watched  their  quiet   farming  existence  become  a  circus  for  James  Dean  enthusiasts.         Marcus  agrees  that  Jimmy  and  James  Dean  are  not  the  same  person.    Jimmy  was  a  boy,   devoted  to  his  craft,  and  full  of  potential.    James  Dean  is  a  commodity,  which  has  been   marketed  by  Hollywood  for  public  consumption,  and  driven  by  a  deeply  consumerist   youth  culture.    Every  girl  wants  to  date  him,  and  every  guy  wants  to  be  him.    He  has   had  a  significant  impact  on  Popular  Culture,  from  film  and  television,  to  music.    But   what  is  it  about  James  Dean  that  still  has  everyone  talking,  so  many  years  later?       For  starters,  Jimmy  had  the  look.    He  was  more  than  photogenic  –  he  was   photographically  gifted,  and  he  knew  it  to  be  true.    “He  always  loved  being  in  front  the   camera,  and  behind  it,”  Marcus  explained  (alluding  to  Jimmy’s  potential  career  as  a   Director.    “I’m  very  grateful  that  Jimmy  was  photographed  by  truly  talented   Photographers,”  he  continued,  referencing  Jimmy’s  photographs,  taken  by  Dennis  
  • 15.   15   Stock  (many  of  which  were  featured  in  LIFE  Magazine).    Some  of  the  photographs   featuring  Jimmy  and  Marcus  together  are  now  considered  iconic  images  of  James  Dean.     “Some  of  those  things  I  probably  wouldn’t  remember,”  he  said,  considering  how   different  his  recollection  of  those  events  might  have  been  otherwise.         In  addition  to  having  the  right  look,  Jimmy  was  talented,  motivated,  and  intelligent.   Jimmy  knew  that  Directors  and  Producers  wanted  to  capitalize  off  of  him,  and  he   exploited  the  hell  out  of  this.    Yet,  there’s  more  to  James  Dean  than  just  talent  and  a   little  bit  of  luck.    There  has  never  been,  and  likely  never  will  be,  another  talent  to  match   Jimmy’s.    I  would  argue  that  he  had  far  more  artistic  potential,  and  more  uniqueness   than  his  contemporaries,  such  as  Marlon  Brando,  Paul  Newman,  and  Montgomery  Clift.     Jimmy  demanded  to  be  taken  seriously  as  an  actor,  and  it  paid  off.    He  took  command   of  the  screen,  and  in  doing  so,  he  portrayed  American  Youth  in  manner  unlike  anything   seen  before,  or  since  his  brief  career.    When  Jimmy  performed,  people  took  notice,  both   in  Fairmount,  and  in  the  acting  world.             Finally,  and  possibly  most  poignantly,  Jimmy  was  ageless.    There  is  something   fundamentally  attractive  about  youth,  and  people  will  forever  perceive  James  Dean  as   being  twenty-­‐four  years  old.    People  need  to  believe  in  James  Dean  –  they  need  to   believe  that  someone  can  represent  their  fears  and  anxieties  about  entering  adult  life.     To  uncover  the  truth  about  Jimmy,  and  his  life  aside  from  his  public  image  would   distort  this  fantasy.    In  turn,  the  mysticism  surrounding  this  icon  will  forever  endure.     Overall,  however,  Jimmy  was  first  and  foremost  an  actor.      
  • 16.   16     Cal  Trask,  Jim  Stark,  and  Jett  Rhink  were  not  real  people.    A  gifted  performer,  who  sadly   did  not  have  the  opportunity  to  develop  more  range,  beautifully  created  these   characters  from  words  on  a  script.    Few  have  the  ability,  and  the  integrity,  to  take   meaningless  words  and  transform  them  into  genuine  emotions.    Jimmy,  however,  was   among  the  few  who  wholeheartedly  possessed  this  ability,  and  harnessed  it  unlike   anyone  else.    Consider  how  few  celebrities  remain  popular  after  their  lives  become   disinteresting  to  their  fans.    Fads  come  and  go,  and  with  the  passage  of  one,  comes  the   birth  of  another.    Will  teenagers  still  be  discussing  Justin  Bieber  in  six  decades?    In  all   likelihood,  no  –  people  will  probably  lose  interest,  and  the  world  of  Entertainment  will   claim  its  next  victim.  James  Dean  is  a  rare  exception.    Interest  in  his  life,  his  work,  and   his  talents  have  never  waned,  and  show  no  sign  of  doing  so  in  the  conceivable  future.                   The  flames  of  legends,  rumors,  and  downright  lies  continue  to  be  fed  by  people’s   fantasies  about  James  Dean.    He  is  an  unofficial  symbol  for  gay  culture,  despite  the  fact   that  he  was  likely  not  gay.    He  is  depicted  as  a  hero  for  loners  and  outcasts,  despite  the   fact  that  his  cousin  describes  him  as  fun  loving  and,  a  kind  and  generous  person.    He  is   often  perceived  as  being  out  of  control,  despite  the  fact  that  he  was  career  driven  and   level  headed.    Yet,  as  long  as  Hollywood  and  its  fantasies  endure,  James  Dean  will  be   forever  remembered  as  a  brash,  moody,  and  an  unhappy  loner,  whose  sole  mission  in   life  is  to  speak  for  the  world’s  restless  youth.        
  • 17.   17   In  actuality,  Jimmy  was  only  rebellious  in  the  respect  that  he  represented  a  change  in   Hollywood.    He  was  a  young  actor,  fresh  off  the  street,  with  a  different  acting  style,  and   was  now  being  offered  big  money  to  star  in  major  films.    This  was  likely  a  frightening   prospect  not  only  to  seasoned  Hollywood  veterans,  but  also  to  young  moviegoers  and   their  parents.         Today,  so  many  years  later,  Marcus  works  hard  to  keep  his  cousin’s  memory  alive.     While  he  is  always  willing  to  speak  to  fans,  he  is  sometimes  offended  by  the  manner  in   which  Jimmy  is  depicted  biographically,  particularly  with  the  2002  biopic,  James  Dean,   starring  James  Franco.    “I  read  the  script  ahead  of  time,”  he  mentioned,  describing   various  elements  of  the  film’s  plot,  which  are  disrespectful  to  his  family.    “To  say  that   Jimmy’s  mother  had  had  an  affair,  and  that  Winton  might  not  have  been  his  father  is   nonsense,”  Marcus  elaborated,  “he  looked  just  like  him.”       He  further  explained  that  Jimmy  is  still  exploited  for  personal  gain  –  many  people   (including  the  film’s  director,  Mark  Rydell),  claim  to  have  been  his  closest  friends,  but   elaborate  the  facts  to  promote  themselves.    As  evidenced,  Jimmy  did  not  live  long   enough  to  publicly  explain  the  difference  between  fact  and  fiction  in  his  own  life.           Marcus  thoroughly  confirmed  to  me  that  many  of  the  legends  surrounding  his  cousin   are  fabrications,  conceived  out  of  greed.    Even  the  rumor  that  the  notorious  Porsche   Spider  that  took  his  life  –  alleged  to  be  cursed  –  mysteriously  vanished,  is  simply  a   rumor.    According  to  the  Winslows,  it  was  scrapped,  and  the  story  only  arose  as  
  • 18.   18   someone  else’s  chance  at  fame.    He  also  cites  that  Jack  Simmons,  Jimmy’s  friend,  was   likely  the  culprit  behind  the  disappearance  of  many  of  his  belongings  following  his   death.             As  for  Jimmy’s  father,  Winton  Dean  seldom  spoke  publicly  about  his  son.    “Aunt  Ethel   (Winton’s  second  wife,  and  Jimmy’s  stepmother),  was  very  protective  of  him,”   according  to  Marcus.    In  an  attempt  to  keep  her  husband  out  of  the  public  eye,  she  did   not  allow  him  to  be  interviewed.         Winton  Dean  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life  quietly,  and  often  moved  to  various  places   without  anyone  ever  knowing  that  he  was  James  Dean’s  father.    So  too,  the  legend  grew   that  he  was  a  feckless  parent  who  denied  his  son  love,  as  portrayed  in  East  of  Eden.     Quite  contrarily,  according  to  Marcus,  Jimmy  was  becoming  closer  to  his  father,  and   even  met  with  him  for  lunch  the  day  that  he  died.    Winton  offered  his  son  money,   which  he  then  used  to  pay  for  everyone’s  lunch,  Winton  recalled  with  a  slight  chuckle.         Yet,  the  person  that  Marcus  Winslow  lovingly  describes  today,  so  many  years  after  his   cousin’s  death  is  far  from  the  brash  exterior  I  had  known  as  James  Dean.    Instead,  I   came  to  know  a  boy  –  not  quite  a  man  –  who  was  driven  and  ambitious,  but  loyal  to  his   loved  ones  and  motivated  by  the  values  set  forth  by  his  Aunt  and  Uncle.    Had  he  lived,   in  my  opinion,  he  might  have  tired  of  Hollywood  altogether,  and  eventually  returned  to   his  home  with  his  own  family.        
  • 19.   19   Jimmy  was  young,  and  his  life  was  completely  undetermined  –  a  clean  and  blank  slate,   with  which  he  could  do  anything.    Think  of  all  he  had  done  in  just  twenty-­‐four  years;   imagine  what  he  might  have  done  with  another  sixty.    But  then  again,  no  one  will  ever   know.    The  public  will,  however,  remain  attracted  to  his  wide  popularity  and  the   mystery  surrounding  whom  he  might  one  day  have  been,  but  to  most,  the  true  identity   of  this  rebel  with,  or  without,  a  cause,  will  remain  simply  Jimmy  –  a  beloved  friend  and   loved  one.             As  Marcus  and  I  concluded  our  time  together  I  took  a  moment  to  absorb  the  rich   history  of  his  family  farm.    The  Winslow  Farm  has  a  long  and  prosperous  history,  and   James  Dean,  no  matter  how  brief  his  life,  was  a  part  of  that  history.    Fans  visit   Fairmount,  and  always  stop  to  ask  Marcus  about  his  famous  cousin.    “I’ve  seen  it  all,”  he   said  nonchalantly,  as  we  discussed  the  colorful  characters  that  have  come  through  this   otherwise  sleepy  farming  community,  often  sporting  James  Dean  tattoos,  many  of   which  are  of  extraordinary  likeness.         Today,  Marcus  and  his  family  live  an  otherwise  serene  farming  life.    He  has  a  stunning   collection  of  antique  cars,  which  he  proudly  showed  me  during  our  interview,   including  the  car  in  which  Jimmy  took  his  prom  date.    The  glamour  of  Hollywood  is   pleasantly  absent  from  their  home,  but  the  cultural  phenomenon  surrounding  James   Dean  is  ever  present  as  memories  of  Jimmy  flourish.    I  was  honored  and  touched  by  his   story,  and  by  the  fact  that  he  was  so  willing  to  meet  with  me  to  discuss  his  famous   cousin.    I  realized  that  he  is  truly  a  generous  and  remarkable  man,  who  comes  from  an  
  • 20.   20   extraordinary  American  family  –  the  same  family  from  which  an  icon  was  born  and   raised.    Without  the  Winslows,  perhaps  there  would  be  no  James  Dean,  and  the  world   would  sadly  lack  an  iconic  hero.             “I’m  proud  of  Jimmy,”  Marcus  said  firmly,  “what  he  did  is  extraordinary.    You  don’t  see   young  people  making  such  a  big  deal  out  of  any  other  actors  from  that  era.”    Ultimately,   I  came  to  find  that  Jimmy  was  indeed  special,  and  that  the  true  person  behind  the   legend  was  even  more  fascinating  than  the  icon.         Yet,  my  own  dreams  about  James  Dean  had  died,  as  I  suddenly  came  to  the  realization   that  the  beloved  rebel  was  an  illusion,  created  by  an  acting  genius,  and  the  allure  of   Hollywood.    Nonetheless,  film  preserves  an  image,  and  it  preserves  James  Dean  forever   young,  and  bigger  than  life  –  no  different  from  the  moment  he  first  appeared  on  screen,   nearly  sixty  years  ago.    We  ended  our  interview  on  a  positive  note:  our  shared  belief   that  Jimmy  is  somewhere  above,  protectively  watching  down  on  his  beloved  home,  as   life  continues  for  Marcus  and  his  family.    
  • 21.   21       I  concluded  by  asking  him  what  he  would  say  to  Jimmy  today  if  he  had  the  opportunity.     “I  never  thought  about  it…it’s  impossible,”  he  shrugged,  but  went  on  to  explain,  “I   suppose  I’ll  find  out  when  I  get  up  there,”  as  he  pointed  upward  toward  the  sky.