James Dean Tribute on TCM Sept. 30

Turner Classic Movies has a tribute to James Dean on Tuesday, September 30, to mark the star’s 70th anniversary of the star’s untimely death.

James Dean on TCM

James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was one of the most influential figures in Hollywood in the 1950s, despite a career that lasted only five years. His impact on cinema and popular culture was profound, even though he appeared in just three major films: Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which he portrayed a disillusioned and rebellious teenager, East of Eden (1955), which showcased his intense emotional range, and Giant (1956), a sprawling drama. All three have been preserved in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for their “cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance”, and all three will be shown on TCM Sept. 30. Also showing are Dean’s TV appearance in 1953, and a documentary about film maker George Stevens, who directed Dean in Giant.

The TCM tribute to Dean for Sept. 30 is:

8:00 PM Campbell Summer Soundstage: Life Sentence (1953)
8:45 PM East of Eden (1955)
11:00 PM Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
1:00 AM Giant (1956)
4:30 AM George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey (1984)

Dean was killed in a car accident at the age of 24 in 1955, leaving him a lasting symbol of rebellion, youthful defiance, and the restless spirit. He was the first actor to receive a posthumous Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in East of Eden. The following year, he earned a second nomination for his performance in Giant, making him the only actor to receive two posthumous acting nominations. In 1999, he was honored by the American Film Institute, being ranked as the 18th greatest male film star from Golden Age Hollywood on their “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Stars” list. Time magazine recognized Dean as one of the “All-Time Most Influential Fashion Icons.”

Also on TCM in September 2025 are tributes to Peter Sellers (Star of the Month), Edith Head, William Wyler, and more movie icons.

Tribute to Peter Sellers Mondays

Monday, September 8, 2025 marks the 100th birthday of British actor Peter Sellers (8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980), and TCM will pay tribute on Mondays by showing his best known films. Highlights include:

On Monday, Sept, 8, see Sellers in his early character roles in 1950s British comedies, notably The Ladykillers (1955).
On Monday, September 15, Sellers plays three major roles in Stanley Kubrick’s have created Dr. Strangelove (1964).
On Monday, September 22, Sellers stars in his best known role, the bumbling Inspector Clouseau, in two Pink Panther films.
On Monday, September 29, Sellers stars in several major 1960s and 1970s films, including Being There (1979) and There’s a Girl in My Soup (1970) .

Read more at TCM: TCM Star of the Month: Peter Sellers

TCM Highlights for September

Here are the TCM highlights for September:

Monday, Sept. 1: Tarzan
Tuesday, Sept. 2: Hawks and Grant
Wednesday, Sept. 3: Edit Head
Thursday, Sept. 4: Manhattan
Friday, Sept. 5: Interracial Romance Pt 1
Saturday, Sept. 6: Western Comedies
Sunday, Sept. 7: Starring Elsa Lanchester

Monday, Sept. 8: Star of the month Peter Sellers
Tuesday, Sept. 9: Paddy Chayefsky
Wednesday, Sept. 10: Edith Head
Thursday, Sept. 11: Directed by William Wyler Pt 1
Friday, Sept. 12: Interracial Romance Pt 2
Saturday, Sept. 13: Bogart and Huston
Sunday, Sept. 14: Doris Day

Monday, Sept. 15: Agatha Christie, Peter Sellers
Tuesday, Sept. 16: Lauren Bacall, Fernando Lamas
Wednesday, Sept. 17: Edith Head
Thursday, Sept. 18: Directed by William Wyler Pt 2
Friday, Sept. 19: June Allyson, Neil Simon
Saturday, Sept. 20: Luci & Desi
Sunday, Sept. 21: Bill Murray

Monday, Sept. 22: Star of the month Peter Sellers
Tuesday, Sept. 23: Hispanic Heritage
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Edith Head
Thursday, Sept. 25: George Hamilton, UCLA Film and TV Archive
Friday, Sept. 26: Guest Programmer Paul Thomas Anderson
Saturday, Sept. 27: Carol Reed Intrigue
Sunday, Sept. 28: Family Musicals

Monday, Sept. 29: Silent Movie Day then Star of the month Peter Sellers
Tuesday, Sept. 30: James Dean

Below is a preview of what’s on TCM in September. Read more at:

TCM Star of the Month: Peter Sellers

TCM Spotlight: Edith Head

TCM Spotlight: Interracial Romance

TCM Spotlight: Hispanic Heritage

TCM Spotlight: UCLA Film Archives

TCM Guest Programmer: Paul Thomas Anderson

TCM Highlights for September