Rex Downing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rex Downing
|
|
|---|---|
Rex Downing, 1940s
|
|
| Born |
Rex Haddon Downing
April 21, 1925 San Francisco, California, U.S.
|
| Died | November 18, 2020 (aged 95) Paso Robles, California, U.S.
|
| Years active | 1935–1948; 2007 |
Rex Haddon Downing (born April 21, 1925 – died November 18, 2020) was an American actor. He started acting when he was a child and continued into his teenage years. He became known for playing younger versions of main characters in movies.
Contents
Rex's Early Life
Rex Downing grew up in California. He went to Hollywood High School, which is a famous school in Los Angeles.
Rex's Acting Career
Rex Downing began his acting journey in the 1930s. He appeared in several short comedy films called Our Gang. These movies were very popular at the time. His roles in these early films were often small.
Big Roles and Famous Movies
Rex got more attention in 1939. He played the young Heathcliff in the movie Wuthering Heights. This film was a big success and was nominated for eight Academy Awards.
After that, Rex had a bigger part in a movie series called Mandrake the Magician in 1939. He also played the younger version of a character named Juan in the 1941 film Blood and Sand. The adult version of Juan was played by the famous actor Tyrone Power.
After World War II
Rex took a break from acting to serve in World War II. When he returned to Hollywood in 1946, he mostly got small parts in movies. He decided to leave acting in 1948. Later, he became a teacher in the Los Angeles area.
Rex Downing had one final acting role in 2007. He appeared in a movie called Harvest of Redemption.
Rex's Family Life
Rex Downing had a younger brother named Barry Downing. Barry (1931–1995) was also a child actor, just like Rex.
Rex Downing passed away in November 2020. He was 95 years old.
Rex's Movies
Here is a list of some of the movies Rex Downing appeared in:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Teacher's Beau | Our Gang Member | Short film |
| 1936 | Branded a Coward | Young Billy Hume | |
| 1935 | Little Sinner | Our Gang member | Short film |
| 1936 | Our Gang Follies of 1936 | Kid Sneaking Two Other Kids In | Short film |
| 1936 | The Pinch Singer | Our Gang Member | Short film |
| 1936 | Little Miss Nobody | Orphan | Not credited for this role |
| 1936 | Two Too Young | Student | Short film |
| 1936 | Pay as You Exit | Audience Member | Short film |
| 1936 | General Spanky | Kid Army Member | Not credited for this role |
| 1937 | Glove Taps | Kid | Short film |
| 1937 | Stella Dallas | Minor Role | Not credited for this role |
| 1937 | The Pigskin Palooka | Photographer | Short film |
| 1937 | Love on Toast | Not credited for this role | |
| 1937 | Wells Fargo | Child | Not credited for this role |
| 1938 | The Man on the Rock | Short film, Not credited | |
| 1938 | Black Bandit | Young Don | |
| 1939 | Wuthering Heights | Heathcliff (as a child) | |
| 1939 | Mandrake the Magician | Tommy Houston | A movie series |
| 1939 | Nurse Edith Cavell | Francois | |
| 1939 | The Escape | Tommy Rogers | |
| 1940 | Adventure in Diamonds | Buttons | Not credited for this role |
| 1941 | Men of Boys Town | Miles Fenlay | Not credited for this role |
| 1941 | Blood and Sand | Juan (as a child) | |
| 1942 | The Vanishing Virginian | Newsboy | Not credited for this role |
| 1942 | The Mayor of 44th Street | Bits McKarg | |
| 1946 | Gas House Kids | Mickey Papopalous | |
| 1947 | The Invisible Wall | Bellhop | Not credited for this role |
| 1947 | That Hagen Girl | Western Union Boy | Not credited for this role |
| 1947 | The Gangster | Boy with Note | Not credited for this role |
| 1948 | Call Northside 777 | Copy Boy | Not credited for this role |
| 1948 | He Walked by Night | Young Hoodlum | Not credited for this role |
| 1948 | Act of Violence | Teenage Boy | Not credited for this role |
| 2007 | Harvest of Redemption | Mr. Cutchings | His last movie role |
