Corey Allen, Last 'Rebel Without a Cause,' Dies at 75

By PopEater Staff Posted Jun 29th 2010 09:31AM

Corey Allen, an actor-turned-director who played James Dean's leather-clad nemesis in 'Rebel Without a Cause' and who was the last surviving member of the film's main cast, died of natural causes on Sunday. Allen, pictured with Dean, was two days away from his 76th birthday.

Playing Buzz Gunderson, Allen dogged Dean throughout the classic 1955 film, but, of course, he was on the losing end of the "chicken" race scene. He became the last surviving member of the principal cast when Dennis Hopper died on May 29.

Allen quit acting in the early 1960s and turned to directing for television, a craft in which he became prolific.

Name a hit show in the 1970s and 1980s and Allen probably directed an episode or two. 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'Ironside,' 'Lou Grant,' 'The Rockford Files' and 'Magnum, P.I.' to name a few. He collected an Emmy Award for a 1983 episode of 'Hill Street Blues.' According to IMDB, he last worked in 1994, when he directed episodes of 'The Cosby Mysteries' and 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.'

Allen hailed from Cleveland, Ohio.

Tags: Corey Allen, Rebel Without a Cause

Comments

(26)

Tuesday 29 June

By Joseph Ward

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I remember Corey from a play at the Players Ring Theatre on Santa Monica Blvd...it was My 3 Angels, also in the play was Joe Flynn...Dennis Hopper was to audition for Tea and Sympathy but was called away to do Giant....and he went...great memories.

By audiolaw

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Corey Allen did NOT "last work" in 1994. Into the new century, he worked at teaching new film makers about acting and directing. He was a professor at Columbia College - Hollywood, a small, non-profit film school which continues to teach students who seek careers in film, television and new media.

Corey Allen was one of those Hollywood pros who did not live life in the tabloids. Rather he contributed to his art and, by his teaching, contributed to the industry and to the art of the future.

By sally

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it says he last worked as a director in 1994. he may have worked after that but not as a director. read it again

By john

@ Sally, I read it again. It says "he last worked in 1994, When he directed....." That indicates that it was his last job. It doesn't say that he last worked as a director in 1994.

By Bob

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Rebel will always be one of my favorite films. Great cast, great story, great everything.
I try and introduce someone new to the awesomeness that is Rebel Without a Cause whenever I have a chance.

By Diane Goldman

This article is about COREY ALLEN - NOT Cameron Diaz, or her mouth.

By MAGOOS

A talented and able man who gave much to the entertainment industry. Makes my own mortality starker! I was the same age as James Dean when I saw that movie way back when it hit the theaters for the first time.

By Kai Ferano

OMG! I thought Corey Allen had died years ago, along with the rest of the leading cast of "Rebel." Kudos to him for keeping his life private and led in a way to keep him healthy and productive. "Rebel" so represents the angst of teenage America in the 1950s, in an exaggerated way, of course. I miss those days.

By Pat

The headline is wrong. There are a few cast members of that film alive and still working.

By Duane

Article is correct. There may be minor cast members still alive but the article states he was the last of the "MAIN" Cast.

By Evil Jack

You're right - Cameron's mouth is freakishly large - I said something about that when I met her and she said - 'The better to eat you with my dear' - All I could say was - I'm Ok with that.

By tmar148

I'll be 75 in August. James Dean. One of my favorites
of the era.

By JEANNE

'A GOOD LOOKING YOUNG MAN

By Cooper

I had no idea Dennis Hopper was in Rebel Without a Cause! I though his first movie was Easy Rider. . . But, both were a little before my time. The first movie I ever saw with Dennis Hopper in it was Apocalypse Now! I think I'll have to go find a copy of Rebel and watch it.

By DONNYLYONS

YES YOU WILL HAVE TO GO WATCH A COPY..HE WAS IN THE FLIM//MAY COREY ''REST IN PEACE! ALONG WITH ALL THE'MAIN' CAST GOD BLESS THEM ALL

By RalphS

Cooper, you may also want to check out "Giant" (1956) which starred Dean and featured Hopper. In fact, Dean died during post-production and Hopper dubbed in Dean's speech at the banquet.

By yellowbearfish

I was crushed when Dennis died and now Corey? -sigh- This is what I get for adoring movies from the forties, fifties, and sixties. Corey will really be missed.

By Robert

Ho Hum. What in the hell was Rebel without a cause?

Friday 02 July

By BlueOnBlue

What was it? It defined the 1950s youth. How stupid can you be? Or are you just a total a- -hole? Or both.

By xpmarko

I saw this movie when it came out in the 1950s.It made a lot of sense to the kids living at that time under the "colonialism" of uptight parents.If you did not live through that time,you won't get this movie for all its worth.I remember James Dean's red jacket, and all of a sudden all the boys in Junior High and High School were wearing red jackets.

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