In a soft Californian twilight on a quiet road on the evening of September 30th 1955, a young man in a high-powered sports car was involved in a fatal accident. All such deaths are tragic for the family and friends of the victim, but this tragedy traumatised a generation and took from the world an actor who, although he had only just started out in Hollywood, had already ensured our enduring fascination with the three films he had completed and with his extra-ordinary and unique talent. His name was James Dean.

Dennis Hopper: "I think he was pure gold--that image he created on the screen--The three roles that played are as contemporary today as they were when they were made."

Alone among actors of his day James Dean used his own harsh and difficult experiences of life to bring his roles so successfully to life

Rod Steiger/actor-friend: I think he tried to find, search and educate himself through discovering the truth in front of an audience. That's what the best actors do. "

But is wasn't just his films that made James Dean a legend, perhaps more crucially it was the whole way he so successfully represented the painful growing process we all go through as we come to terms with the world during our teens and early twenties - he struck a chord for all generations.

Graham Nash/Musician: "He was the image of all that frustration out of which a lot of great rock 'n' roll is born. No wonder Dylan loves James Dean, no wonder Axl Rose carries The Mutant King around in his back pocket, no wonder Bruce looks like he does. No wonder we're all still wearing t-shirts - chimes I've got one on today."

So why are we still wearing his T shirts and watching his films, naming Radio Stations after him and putting his image on our walls and our mobile phones? What were the influences that made him, what was his route from farmboy to filmstar, what is it that keeps us fascinated by him today, debating everything from his acting style and dress sense to his sexuality and his continuing influence on popular culture. It is now 50 years since he lost his life on that warm Californian evening and time to ask - Who was James Dean?