8. James Dean, born February 8, 1931, under the sign of Aquarius
According to some astrologers, Aquarius bestows upon those born under it, charm, vivacity, youthfulness, intelligence, and the ability to master one’s emotions. James Dean possessed such qualities when he burst upon the American scene in 1953’s East of Eden. Though some believed him to be an overnight success, he had been acting in television for several years, while attending acting school. East of Eden was his Hollywood breakthrough. He followed it with Rebel Without A Cause (1955) and Giant with Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor the following year. Dean was scheduled to film Somebody Up There Likes Me in the role of Rocky Graziano. After his death, the part was given to Paul Newman.
Dean dated several actresses during his short life. They included Liz Sheridan and Ursula Andress. He also loved speed, on his motorcycles and in his cars. He raced the latter in both amateur and professional events, and was on the way to participate in an automobile race in his Porsche 550 Spyder when he was killed in an accident in southern California. His death at a young age made his youthfulness a permanent part of his legacy. At his death, Humphrey Bogart said of Dean, “If he had lived, he never would have been able to live up to his publicity”. As of 2019, Dean’s estate continues to earn about $5 million per year.