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.