James Dean - When he died at 24 he had only made three films; yet, James Deans' legend endures. This Rebel Without a Cause epitomized an era of challenging the status quo and represented an entire generation of misunderstood, disenchanted youth. It's no wonder that kids who felt immortal were crushed to lose a hero they thought could never die. Driving his beloved Porsche 550 Spyder on California's route 466, James Dean had a collision with a 23 year-old Cal Poly student who crossed without warning into the actor's lane. Dean was the only fatality, dying before the ambulance reached the hospital; the date was September 30, 1955. For years, rumors persisted that Dean was speeding at the time of the accident (lent credence by a speeding ticket he received earlier in the day) but evidence now indicates that wasn't true. Dean seemed to understand that some souls are destined for short stays, hence his motto: "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."