In the early 1950s, America was introduced to one of the most influential people of this time. While he may not have acted in many films, James Dean became very famous in the entertainment field even after his death. A star on screen, Dean's life outside of the cinema was sometimes sad and lonely. His other hobby, street racing, eventually led to his death at the young age of 24. Just as the Eagles stated in their hit song, James Dean was a great actor who "lived fast and died young." Even though he died at the age of 24, he still made an impact in Hollywood then and now. On February 8, 1931, James Bryon Dean was born to Winton and Mildred Dean in Marion, Indiana. Dean was extremely close to his mother, who called him James Bryon. On June 7, 1935, Dean's family moved to California when James was only five years old. On April 14, 1940, Dean lost his mother to cancer. He was then sent by his father to Indiana to live on a farm with his aunt and uncle, Marcus and Orlense Winslow at the young age of nine. He was filled with great grief over his mother's death for the rest of his life. Years later, in an interview, Dean stated: "My mother died on me when I was nine. What does she expect me to do? Do it on my own?" When Dean entered high school, his strengths were debate and drama. On April 14, 1949, the Fairmont News said, "James Dean is the first winner of the award in dramatic terms." He also graduated from high school in June of that year. Dean then returned to California and attended Santa Monica City College and lived with his father and stepmother, where he graduated with a prelaw degree. Dean earned C's and D's in law school classes, but A's and B's in acting. The following year he transferred to the University of California to study theater, but later dropped out to get as many auditions as possible, and during that time he worked as a parking attendant. His first professional acting role was in a soft drink commercial, which led to him playing John the Baptist, in an Easter television special called "Hill Number One". After these small roles, Dean continued to play other small parts in Hollywood films. such as "Sailor Beware" (1951), "Fixed Bayonets" (1951), and "Has Anybody Seen My Gal"?