Sal Mineo

Sal Mineo became a major star when he played Plato, the best friend of James Dean's character in Rebel Without a Cause. Though Plato is not openly gay in the film, Mineo's portrayal of the character is often credited as the first gay teenager in film. After Rebel, Mineo became a huge star, often playing tough juvenile delinquints (nicknamed "the switchblade kid" and eventually more serious roles. His popularity wained in his mid to late twenties and he had fewer and fewer jobs. He received very good reviews for his last job, playing a bi-sexual burglar in a play in San Francisco and LA. He was murdered after a rehearsal on the day I was born. He was 37 years old.

Appearance in the Novel: 66
Source(s): http://www.crimemagazine.com/salmineo.htm, http://www.salmineo.com/