I went looking for a comprehensive list of all of James Dean’s television and film work and couldn’t find such a list. If you can’t find it, create it, right? No list of James Dean’s television work can be truly complete because several of the live television shows he appeared in are lost. I know. Tragic. Back in the early 1950’s, television had a voracious appetite for talent to create mostly live weekly and daily shows. Before the advent of analogue video tape, live shows were filmed via the kinescope process so the program could be shipped to the West Coast for later viewing. Sadly, the general attitude at the time toward kinescopes was one of a disposable commodity and a lot of those live programs have become orthicon ghosts.
ABOUT THIS LIST:
There’s plenty of material about James Dean’s three Hollywood films in which he starred, so this list focuses on work before those productions. This list includes 32 television credits (and 1 TV commercial) although there is evidence that Dean appeared in at least 40 TV shows. Not all of Dean’s TV shows were broadcast live and those that were filmed are so noted. Interestingly, some live TV shows incorporated filmed scenes which were used mostly for transition purposes. There are 6 film credits on this list, neatly halved by his work pre-New York City and work post-New York City. There is a bit of controversy surrounding whether or not Dean did indeed appear, uncredited as a Copyboy, in the Humphrey Bogart film, “Deadline, USA” (1952). Where applicable, or at least allowed, links are provided to view the works online.
Television Work
PEPSI COMMERCIAL — 12/13/1950
James Dean’s first paid acting gig. He was 19 and a student at UCLA.
FAMILY THEATER: “Hill Number One” as John — 3/25/51 (film)
Written by James D. Roche [uncredited]; Directed by Arthur Pierson — Dean’s first job in TV. He’s not very good as he anticipates his lines.
2) THE BIGELOW THEATRE: “T.K.O.” as Hank — 10/29/51 (film)
Written by Ted Thomas; Directed by Frank Woodruff
3) TROUBLE WITH FATHER: “Jackie Knows All” as Randy — ABC — 12/7/51 (film)
Written by Lee Leob; Directed by Howard Bretherton — An early situation comedy. Working with a rather young Martin Milner (“Adam-12”).
So ends Dean’s first stint in Los Angeles (see also, Film Work). On the advice of Charles Brackett and actor James Whitmore, Dean moved to New York City in October, 1951.
4) CBS TELEVISION WORKSHOP: “Into The Valley” as GI — CBS — 1/27/52
Written by John Hersey; Directed by unknown — Likely Dean’s earliest live television appearance after moving to New York City.
5) STUDIO ONE IN HOLLYWOOD: “Ten Thousand Horses Singing” as Hotel Bellboy [uncredited] — CBS — 3/3/52
Written by Worthington Miner [adaptation], Robert Carson [story]; Directed by Paul Nickell — Originally a silent part, Dean shows he’s learning how to attract attention and since it was a live gig, nothing could be done about it. This clip says it all.
6) LUX VIDEO THEATRE: “The Foggy, Foggy Dew” as Kyle McCallum — CBS — 3/17/52 (film)
Written by Albert Hirsch; Directed by Richard Goode — All that remains is this short and silent clip.
8) STUDIO ONE IN HOLLYWOOD: “Abraham Lincoln” as William Scott — CBS — 5/26/52
Written by John Drinkwater and David Shaw; Directed by Paul Nickell — Dean is effective in a small role.
9) HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: “Forgotten Children” as Bradford — NBC — 6/22/52
Written by Agnes Echkardt; Directed by William Corrigan — Yet another small part, in yet another historical drama. Dean also began to appear in off-Broadway and Broadway plays such as “See The Jaguar”.
10) THE KATE SMITH HOUR: “The Hound Of Heaven” as The Messenger — NBC — 1/15/53
Written by Earl Hamner, Jr.; Directed by unknown — 1953 was Dean’s busiest year in television, often appearing as a juvenile delinquent in melodramas, or “mellers” as the trade papers called them. However, in this production, written by future “The Waltons” creator, Earl Hamner, Jr., Dean is playing a hayseed…with wings.
11) TREASURY MEN IN ACTION: “The Case Of The Watchful Dog” as Randy Meeker — NBC — 1/29/53
Written by Albert Aley; Directed by Daniel Petrie
12) YOU ARE THERE: “The Capture Of Jesse James” as Bob Ford — CBS — 2/8/53
Directed by Sidney Lumet — In this early and famed recreation show, Dean plays Jesse James’ assassin.
13) DANGER: “No Room” — CBS — 4/14/53
Written by Maury Stern; Directed by Sidney Lumet
14) TREASURY MEN IN ACTION: “The Case Of The Sawed-off Shotgun” as Arbie Ferris — NBC — 4/16/53
Written by Albert Aley; Directed by David Pressman
15) TALES OF TOMORROW: “The Evil Within” as Ralph — ABC — 5/1/53
Written by David E. Durston and Manya Starr; Directed by Don Medford — An early science-fiction anthology series, this episode stars Rod Steiger, with Dean cast as one of the scientists. It’s a compelling performance and he’s wearing his own glasses!
16) CAMPBELL SUMMER SOUNDSTAGE: “Something for an Empty Briefcase” as Joe — NBC — 7/17/53
Written by S. Lee Pogostin; Directed by Don Medford — Dean once again plays a juvenile delinquent, a “hoodlum”, looking for new path.
17) STUDIO ONE: “Sentence of Death” as Joe Palica — CBS — 8/17/53
Written by Adrian Spies [teleplay] and Thomas Walsh [story]; Directed by Matt Harlib — An early major television role for Dean and he doesn’t disappoint.
18) DANGER: “Death Is My Neighbor” as J.B. — CBS — 8/25/53
Written by Frank Gregory; Directed by John Peyser
19) THE BIG STORY: “Rex Newman” as Rex Newman — NBC — 9/11/53
Written by Alvin Boretz; Directed by Leonard Valenta — Dean co-stars in this early crime “recreation” show. In the jail break scene he transcends the script.
20) OMNIBUS: “Glory in the Flower” as Bronco Evans — CBS — 10/4/53
Written by Tad Mosel [adaptation] and William Inge [play]; Directed by Bob Banner and Andrew McCullough
Written by S. Lee Pogoston [adaptation] and Margaret Kleckner [story]; Directed by Garry Simpson
23) KRAFT TELEVISION THEATRE: “A Long Time Till Dawn” as Joe Harris — NBC — 11/11/53
Written by Rod Serling; Directed by Richard Dunlap — Part of a busy November for Dean, in one of his most popular television performances, as an out of control juvie (watch for the bursts of violence preceded by him sucking on his shirt collar).
24) ARMSTRONG CIRCLE THEATRE: “The Bells of Cockaigne” as Joey — 11/17/53
Written by George Lowther; Directed by James Sheldon — One of the pitfalls of live television drama is having a bad night and/or no handle on the character.
25) ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESENTS: “Harvest” as Paul Zalinka — NBC — 11/23/53
Written by Sandra Mitchell; Directed by James Sheldon
26) DANGER: “The Little Woman” as Augie — CBS — 3/30/54
After a break of several months, in which Dean appeared on Broadway in “The Immoralist” and was cast in Elia Kazan’s upcoming film, “East Of Eden”, he reappears briefly on television for this series.
27) THE PHILCO-GOODYEAR PLAYHOUSE: “Run Like A Thief” as Robbie Warren — NBC — 9/5/54
Written by Sam Hall and Mann Rubin [story]; Directed by Jeffrey Hayden — With filming completed on “East Of Eden”, Dean was back on television to co-star in this drama.
28) DANGER: “Padlocks” as Felon — CBS — 11/9/54 (film)
Written by Louis S. Peterson; Directed by unknown — Dean returned to New York City and was hired to film this episode.
29) GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATRE: “I’m a Fool” as The Boy — CBS — 11/14/54
Written by Arnold Schulman [adaptation] and Sherwood Anderson [short story]; Directed by Don Medford — Back again in Los Angeles, Dean has his first appearance with Natalie Wood. This episode was repeated many times by CBS after Dean’s death.
30) GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATRE: “The Dark, Dark Hours” as Bud — CBS — 12/12/54
Written by Arthur Steuer [adaptation] and Henry Kane [story]; Directed by Don Medford — Dean appears once again as a “disaffected youth”, aka a “hood”, co-starring with series’ host, Ronald Reagan.
31) THE U.S. STEEL HOUR: “The Thief” as Fernand Lagarde — ABC — 1/4/55
Written by Arthur Arent [adaptation] and Henri Bernstein [play]; Directed by Vincent J. Donehue — Back again in New York City, Dean co-stars with Mary Astor in a live production. While the buzz in the entertainment industry about Dean was strong, based on early reports of “East Of Eden”, the film had yet to be released and the public only knew Dean as a TV actor, here billed fifth. This was his last live television performance.
32) SCHLITZ PLAYHOUSE OF THE STARS: “The Unlighted Road” as Jeffrey Latham — CBS — 5/6/55 (film)
Written by Walter C. Brown; Directed by Justus Addiss — The recent release of “East Of Eden” made James Dean a hot commodity and he was given the full star treatment for what would be his last television performance. Shot during the filming of “Rebel Without A Cause”, this was also his last performance released during his short lifetime.
Film Work
1)FIXED BAYONETS as Doggie [uncredited] — 20th Century Fox — 12/1951
Screenplay by Samuel Fuller, based on a novel by John Brophy; Directed by Samuel Fuller — During his early stint in Los Angeles, James Dean appeared in three films in uncredited parts. In his film debut, Dean appears toward the end of this Korean war story directed by Samuel Fuller.
2) SAILOR BEWARE as Boxing Second [uncredited] — Paramount — 2/1952
Screenplay by James Allardice and Martin Rackin, Elwood Ullman[adaptation], John Grant [additional dialogue], Kenyon Nicholson and Charles Robinson [play]; Directed by Hal Walker — Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and…James Dean!
3) HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY GAL as Soda Fountain Patron [uncredited] — Universal — 5/1953
Screenplay by Joseph Hoffman, Eleanor H. Porter [story based on]; Directed by Douglas Sirk — Dean’s last Hollywood film before going to New York City is his most memorable.
4) EAST OF EDEN as Cal Trask — Warner Bros. — 4/1955
Screenplay by Paul Osborn, John Steinbeck [novel based on]; Directed by Elia Kazan
5) REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE as Jim Stark — Warner Bros. — 10/1955
Screenplay by Stewart Stern, Nicholas Ray [story]; Directed by Nicholas Ray
6) GIANT as Jett Rink — Warner Bros. — 11/1956
Screenplay by Fred Guiol and Ivan Moffat, Edna Ferber [novel based on]; Directed by George Stevens
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