Dennis Stock was born in New York City. He served in the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1951 and then apprenticed under photographer Gjon Mili. In 1951, he won first prize in a Life magazine competition and joined the photography agency Magnum as an associate member, becoming a full partner in 1954. Stock is renowned for his iconic 1955 photograph of actor James Dean in Times Square that appeared on many posters after Dean's death. He later started his own film company before returning to Magnum as vice president for new media and film.