Rex Smith

For the baseball player, see Rex Smith (baseball)

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Rex Smith (born September 19, 1955, in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American actor and singer.

Music career

During the late 1970s, Smith was popular as a teen idol. Because of his good looks, he was featured regularly in 16 magazine and Tiger Beat. In 1979, he had a hit single from the television movie Sooner or Later, entitled "You Take My Breath Away", which reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is on the platinum-selling album Sooner or Later, which is also named for the movie. The music for this song was written by Stephen J. Lawrence and the lyrics were written by Bruce Hart. For many years, it was a staple on the playlists of FM radio stations with a soft rock or "lite" format.

In 1981, Smith would hit the top 40 again with a remake of "Everlasting Love", in a duet with singer Rachel Sweet. Peaking at #32, the song is Smith's last charting hit to date. The song also became Smith's only hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #35.

His last album was released in 2000 and entitled Simply...Rex. It was re-released in 2006 and re-titled You Take My Breath Away. Smith is currently working on an album to be released in late 2009.

Television career

Smith is best known for his role as motorcycle police officer Jesse Mach in the short-running 1985 television series Street Hawk, but he has also made guest appearances on a variety of television shows, such as The Love Boat, Baywatch, Caroline in the City and JAG. Smith has been a celebrity spokesperson for a number of corporate entities.

Rex Smith performed live at the 1982 Miss Universe beauty pageant main event night, held in Lima, Perú.

Also in 1982, Smith replaced Andy Gibb as a host on the music variety show, Solid Gold.

In 1989, Smith played Daredevil a.k.a. Matt Murdock in the television movie, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. This was viewed as a potential pilot for an ongoing Daredevil television series.

From 1990 through 1992, Smith was a contract player on the CBS daytime drama, As the World Turns, in the role of Darryl Crawford.

Stage career

In 1978, he made his Broadway debut in the musical Grease in the lead role of Danny Zuko.

Smith also starred as Frederic in the New York Shakespeare Festival's Central Park production of The Pirates of Penzance. In 1981, Smith won the Theatre World Award for his role in Pirates. For the 1983 film adaptation, Smith reprised the role of Frederic along with two other castmembers, Kevin Kline as the Pirate King and Linda Ronstadt as Mabel.

Smith has appeared in other Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including the The Scarlet Pimpernel, Grand Hotel, The Human Comedy, and Annie Get Your Gun. He played Joe Gillis opposite Diahann Carroll as Norma Desmond in the 1995 Canadian production of Sunset Boulevard.

Smith also starred as Fred Graham/Petruchio in the 2001-2002 national tour of Kiss Me, Kate.

Personal life

Smith is a father of 5 children Meagan, Madison, Gatsby, Savannah and Brandon. In 1996, Rex met Brandon Smith for the first time outside of the Broadway Musical "Sunset Blvd" when he was signing autographs. This was the first the two had met, and the resemblance was uncanny. Since this time they have enjoyed a very close relationship and are currently in the process of producing various television projects.

Filmography

• Pope Dreams .... Don
• Richie Rich's Christmas Wish .... Rudy
• Passion To Kill .... Ted
• The Trial of the Incredible Hulk .... Matt Murdock/Daredevil
• Ballerina And The Blues .... Lead
• The Pirates of Penzance .... Frederick
• Heading For Broadway .... Fast Eddie
• Sooner or Later ....Michael Skye

Discography

Albums

• 1976: Rex (Columbia)
• 1977: Where Do We Go from Here (Columbia)
• 1979: Sooner or Later (Columbia)
• 1980: Forever, Rex (Columbia)
• 1981: Pirates of Penzance (Original Soundtrack) (Elektra)
• 1982: Everlasting Love (Columbia)
• 1983: Camouflage (Columbia)
• 1997: Sunset Boulevard (Original Canadian Cast recording)
• 1997: Human Comedy (Original Broadway Cast)
• 1999: The Scarlet Pimpernel: Encore! (1998 Broadway Revival Cast)
• 2000: Simply…Rex (re-titled You Take My Breath Away, 2006)

External links

• Rex Smith at the Internet Movie Database
• Rex Smith at the Internet Broadway Database
• Rex Smith at the Internet off-Broadway Database
• Rex Smith Interview
• Official website