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We recently got a tip from a nearby Upper West Sider, Val Holley, author of James Dean: The Biography (1995). “I thought you should know that the plaque installed in Dean’s honor on that brownstone has gone missing,” he wrote. Holley was referring to 19 West 68th Street, between Columbus and Central Park West—the former home of James Dean, who began renting room 5F there in 1954.
Fine Times Inc., the property owner, did not respond to ILTUWS’ inquiries about what happened to the plaque or if and when it might be replaced. Fine Times has multiple properties on West 68th Street in their portfolio.
Shaen Begleiter, president of the West 68th Street Block Association, told ILTUWS he wasn’t sure what had happened to the plaque but said they planned to speak with the building’s superintendent soon and would keep us updated. He added that, in his experience, getting a response from the property owner could be difficult.
After multiple attempts to reach Fine Times Inc., ILTUWS contacted the current tenant of James Dean’s former apartment—# 5F—Russel Aaronson, who has lived in the rent-stabilized unit for more than 50 years. We asked if he knew anything about the missing plaque.
“Someone absconded with it,” said Aaronson, who noted that the Associated Press ran a story in 2024 about New York City plaques honoring famous individuals being stolen and sold for scrap metal. He added that he’s unsure whether the plaque will be replaced.
We also heard from Landmark West, which had just wrapped up its Pride Month walking tour of historic sites on the Upper West Side. The tour passed by West 68th Street to highlight Dean’s former apartment, and the group noticed the plaque was gone. They, too, suspected it may have been stolen for scraps.
We’ll keep you posted if a plaque returns to the former UWS home of the East of Eden actor.
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I used to live in that building. Russel would sometimes give tours of his apartment. It’s a small studio. And random Dean fans would ring the buzzer and ask to come inside.
What a shame! Please replace it!