Back in 1955, James Dean tragically died in a car crash at just 24 having only starred in three movies. Before getting his big break in East of Eden, the cultural icon acted in smaller roles in five movies and it turns out the last of these was a John Wayne classic.
The movie in question was 1953’s Trouble Along the Way, which hit cinemas 70 years ago this month. Wayne starred opposite It’s A Wonderful Life’s Donna Reed in the black and white classic. Duke played a once-famous American football coach turned bookie called Steve Williams. To earn enough money to hold custody of his daughter, he accepts a job taking over a football programme at an impoverished college in New York City.
During the filming of a tackle stunt, the star injured his right arm and ended up wearing a sling when not on camera. As a result, he learnt to throw and write left-handed as his character. But have you ever spotted the James Dean cameo in this movie?
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Since 1951 Dean had already had uncredited cameos in four other Hollywood movies, starring acting legends like Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Humphrey Bogart and Rock Hudson.
When it came to Wayne’s Trouble Along the Way, the young actor had another unbilled role as a Football Spectator. After this he hit the big time, beating Paul Newman to star in East of Eden, for which he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar.
The 24-year-old followed up with Rebel Without a Cause and his 1956 posthumous release Giant, for which he also received an Academy Award nomination for his final role.
