Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2014 September 29

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September 29

Last paragraph of the early life section of "James Dean" needs some clarification

I am confused with one of the facts presented in the article relating to James Dean. He died in September of 1955 however in last sentence of the early life section he is stated to have returned to UCLA in 1959 and graduated. "He later returned to UCLA and graduated in 1959." This would not be possible after his death. Am I not understanding this article, or is this a mistake? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.92.126.24 (talk) 20:54, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

This was vandalism to the article, which has been corrected. Thanks for picking it up! Tevildo (talk) 21:18, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

I actually think it was a good faith error, not vandalism.

The text about him graduating in 1959 was added based on this list from UCLA, which includes Dean among "Notable Alumni Actors". Dean is an alumnus of UCLA, having attended as a student, but he is not a graduate. For some reason, he is shown as a member of the class of 1959. I am not sure why that is, but someone interpreted that to mean that he graduated in 1959. (Perhaps he received an honorary diploma? I'm trying to track that down.) - Eron^Talk 21:23, 29 September 2014 (UTC)

Just speculation... Is it the James Dean, or just some other person who happened to be named James Dean who graduated in 1959. It is not unfathomable to have multiple people with that name... --Jayron32 01:53, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Could be. I mean, the entry on the UCLA list of Notable Alumni Actors is clearly the James Dean - it references his films and notes he is deceased. Maybe another Dean graduated in '59 and there was a glitch when the list was compiled.

I also wondered if 1959 was his class year, i.e. when he would have graduated had he not dropped out to concentrate on his acting. But he entered the undergrad program in 1951, so class of 1959 seems unlikely. Then I wondered if he'd been given an honorary or posthumous degree in 1959, but I couldn't find anything about that either. It's an interesting little mystery. (Or, a boring little typo, I suppose.) - Eron^Talk 02:30, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

(Thickening the plot, several of the Notable Alumni Actors who dropped out of UCLA don't have years by their names (e.g. Carol Burnett). So the implication is that, one way or another, James Dean was a member of the UCLA Class of 1959.) - Eron^Talk 02:36, 30 September 2014 (UTC)