The workshop confirmed his decision to take acting more seriously. His start in Hollywood was modest. He worked his way up from walk-on roles to small parts in television and even as a stunt tester. He even earned his living by working as a parking attendant. He appeared in several television shows before being sent to Lee Strasberg’s Actors Studio to study method acting – a series of training and rehearsal techniques that allow the actor to identify, understand and experience a character’s inner motivations and emotions. Tries to perform honestly.
“The greatest school of theatre,” Dean wrote of the studio to his family. “It’s had great people like Marlon Brando, Julie Harris, Arthur Kennedy, Mildred Dunnock, Eli Wallach… Very few people get into it… It’s the best thing that can happen to an actor. I’m the least Belonging to one of the people of the age.”
Dean began to draw attention to his work on stage and television. His role as Bashir, a homosexual North African houseboy, in a theater production of André Gide in 1954 immoralist Called from Hollywood.
He had a breakthrough role in the adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Elia Kazan. east of eden, Steinbeck and Dean did not get along, but the author considered him perfect for the role of Cal, one of the main characters.
Dean’s performance in the film was largely unscripted, with several notable scenes being improvised. The most famous scene in the film is the one where Cal’s father, played by Raymond Massey, declines his gift of $5,000. After the rejection, the script asked Dean to run away. Instead, Dean turns to Maisie, hugs her, and breaks into tears. Kazan decides to keep the shot, and Maisie’s shocked reaction, in the film.
