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In a letter dated August 12, 1954, agent Jane Deacy sought to advise her shopper James Dean about his plans to marry his girlfriend, Pier Angeli.
“I don’t know what to let you know,” Jane wrote. “I came upon that in case you get married, it’s important to advise your draft board, and whether or not they are going to reexamine you or reclassify you or what occurs, I can’t discover out.”
The Rebel Without a Cause star’s non-public world — together with the rumor that he had been exempted from navy service as a result of homosexuality — is examined in a brand new guide, Jimmy: The Secret Lifetime of James Dean, by Jason Colavito.
“His first concern was whether or not [marriage] would imply he could be eligible for the draft once more,” says Colavito, who examined lots of of pages of correspondence between the famed actor and his agent. “[Jane’s letter] is the one surviving proof proving that James had contemplated marrying Pier.”
James was launched to the Italian actress, who was born Anna Maria Pierangeli, by Paul Newman whereas filming East of Eden.
“Many individuals would say Pier was the love of his life, however they have been solely collectively for a few months,” says Colavito.
Their breakup was probably as a result of Pier’s mom’s disapproval of the non-Catholic actor. A short while later, Pier married singer Vic Damone.
“I sincerely hope that you’re not too badly damage and upset about this,” Jane wrote to James within the aftermath.
But rumors in regards to the actor’s sexuality had began in his New York theater days.
“James didn’t really feel he was a part of a homosexual or bisexual group. It wasn’t one thing he wished to determine as,” explains Colavito, who provides that James “discovered it extremely tough to kind bonds with different folks.”
The actor had motive to concern attachment. His beloved mom died when he was a toddler, and a minister he turned to for assist molested him.
“He has probably the most difficult histories you possibly can think about, but his life was so quick,” says Colavito.
Simply as James’ star started to rise in Hollywood, a former roommate he as soon as trusted, Rogers Brackett, sued him for the cash he supposedly spent once they lived collectively.
“He was mainly blackmailing James at a time when he couldn’t afford a scandal,” the writer explains.
James’ non-public life will all the time be open to interpretation, however his affect on American tradition can’t be underestimated.
“He turned the mannequin for what it means to be a younger man within the twentieth century,” says Colavito, who was shocked by how zealously the actor pursued stardom. “There was this virtually messianic religious facet to his persona that led him to consider there was a guiding power that laid out a street map for his life. He knew he was destined to attain greatness.”
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