We'll see how big his personality cult is in 50 years. 
Give it a while.
Rudolph Valentino once had hysterical female fans en masse flocking to his premature funeral, too. Now it's "Rudolph who?"
Rudolph was the Clark Gable ('30s), Frank Sinatra ('40s), Elvis Presley ('50s) and Beatles ('60s) of the 1920s silent film era (all of whom were known for their screaming female fans--Elvis had the benefit of keeping a significant number of them screaming for 23 years and still dying young and with mystery), but he hasn't really lasted--even among silent film actors (Charlie Chaplin, Lon Chaney, Sr., Buster Keaton and Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy have lasted, however).
The dying-young-and-leaving-unfulfilled-promise thing has helped a significant number of these icons retain their status. It's certainly true of Elvis, Marilyn, Dean, Judy, Buddy, Ritchie, Lennon, etc... In a sense, something like the plane crash of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper together has eclipsed what they were individually as artists. They represent something far larger than their actual work (as famous as it is).
People are still arguing over how Elvis and Marilyn died (or even if Elvis died). JFK's death is maybe the only other one that is as much disputed as theirs. Throw in Jimmy Hoffa, too.
Give it a while.Rudolph Valentino once had hysterical female fans en masse flocking to his premature funeral, too. Now it's "Rudolph who?"
Rudolph was the Clark Gable ('30s), Frank Sinatra ('40s), Elvis Presley ('50s) and Beatles ('60s) of the 1920s silent film era (all of whom were known for their screaming female fans--Elvis had the benefit of keeping a significant number of them screaming for 23 years and still dying young and with mystery), but he hasn't really lasted--even among silent film actors (Charlie Chaplin, Lon Chaney, Sr., Buster Keaton and Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy have lasted, however).
The dying-young-and-leaving-unfulfilled-promise thing has helped a significant number of these icons retain their status. It's certainly true of Elvis, Marilyn, Dean, Judy, Buddy, Ritchie, Lennon, etc... In a sense, something like the plane crash of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper together has eclipsed what they were individually as artists. They represent something far larger than their actual work (as famous as it is).
People are still arguing over how Elvis and Marilyn died (or even if Elvis died). JFK's death is maybe the only other one that is as much disputed as theirs. Throw in Jimmy Hoffa, too.
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