Rex Bell was an American actor known for Broadway to Cheyenne, Lucky Larrigan, and Rainbow Ranch. He was a prominent figure in Hollywood during the 1930s and was famous for his roles in Western films.
Personal and Family Life
Rex Bell was born George Francis Beldam on October 16, 1903, in Chicago, Illinois. He was married to the famous actress Clara Bow from December 3, 1931, until his death in 1962, and they had two children together. The couple owned the Walking Box Ranch in Searchlight, Nevada, where they hosted many celebrity gatherings.
Career
Rex Bell started his film career in the silent era and gained popularity as a leading man in Westerns during the 1930s. He was known for his charming wavy hair and strong screen presence. In addition to acting, he served as the Lieutenant Governor of Nevada from 1954 until 1962.
Death and Legacy
Rex Bell passed away from a heart attack on July 4, 1962, in Las Vegas, Nevada, shortly after attending a campaign event where he was running for Governor of Nevada as a Republican candidate. His contributions to film and his political career left a lasting impact on those around him, including his son, Rex Bell Jr., who also pursued acting.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Arm of the Law | 1932-04-19 | Robin Dale, a Reporter |
| Courage | 1930-05-22 | Lynn Willard |
| West of Nevada | 1936-07-21 | Jim Carden, posing as Jim Lloyd |
| The Idaho Kid | 1936-08-05 | Todd Hollister aka Idaho |
| Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage | 1983-02-25 | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| Salute | 1929-09-01 | Cadet (uncredited) |
| Broadway to Cheyenne | 1932-09-09 | ‘Breezy’ Kildare |
| Diamond Trail | 1933-04-22 | ‘Speed’ Morgan, posing as Frisco Eddie |
| The Tonto Kid | 1934-08-14 | ‘Skeets” Slawson aka The Tonto Kid |
| Law and Lead | 1936-11-14 | Jimmy Sawyer |
| Battling with Buffalo Bill | 1931-11-22 | Dave Archer |
| Forgotten Women | 1931-11-25 | Jimmy Burke |
| The Cowboy Kid | 1928-07-14 | Jim Barrett |
| Stormy Trails | 1936-12-23 | Tom Storm |
| True to the Navy | 1930-05-25 | Eddie |
| They Had to See Paris | 1929-09-18 | Clark McCurdy |
| Rainbow Ranch | 1933-07-25 | Ed “Tex” Randall |
| Saddle Aces | 1935-06-01 | Steve Brandt |
| Hollywood on Parade No. A-8 | 1933-03-10 | |
| Harmony at Home | 1930-01-12 | Dick Grant |
| Lightnin’ | 1930-11-28 | Larry – Betty’s Husband |
| Happy Days | 1929-09-16 | Rex Bell |
| The Misfits | 1961-02-01 | Old Cowboy (uncredited) |
| Dawn on the Great Divide | 1942-12-18 | Jack Carson |
| Men of the Plains | 1936-09-28 | Jim Dean – aka Tom Porter |
| Too Much Beef | 1936-06-06 | Johnny Argyle alias Tucson Smith |
| The Man from Arizona | 1932-10-21 | Kent Rogers |
| Lucky Larrigan | 1932-12-01 | Craig Larrigan |
| Crashing Broadway | 1933-06-01 | Tad Wallace |
| Fighting Texans | 1933-06-15 | Randy Graves |
| The Fugitive | 1933-07-15 | Joe Kean |
| Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl | 1999-06-14 | Self (archive footage) |
| Tombstone: The Town Too Tough to Die | 1942-06-13 | Virgil Earp |
| Disappearing Enemies | 1931-03-01 | Paul |
| Joy Street | 1929-05-12 | |
| Fighting Pioneers | 1935-05-21 | Lieutenant Bentley |
| Gunfire | 1934-06-01 | |
| Cowboys & Injuns | 1950-10-15 |