Rex Ingram (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rex Ingram
Born	(1895-10-20)October 20, 1895 Cairo, Illinois, U.S.
Died	September 19, 1969(1969-09-19) (aged 73) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1918–1969
Spouse(s)	Francine Everett (married 1936, divorced 1939) Lauwaune Kennard (married 1941, divorced) Dena Guillory (married)

Rex Ingram (born October 20, 1895 – died September 19, 1969) was a talented American actor. He performed on stage, in movies, and on television.

Rex Ingram's Early Life and Acting Career

Rex Ingram was born near Cairo, Illinois, a town by the Mississippi River. His father worked on a steamboat called the Robert E. Lee.

Ingram was very smart. He graduated from Northwestern University's medical school in 1919. He was the first African-American man to receive a special academic honor called a Phi Beta Kappa key from Northwestern University.

How Rex Ingram Started in Hollywood

After college, Ingram moved to Hollywood. A casting director for the movie Tarzan of the Apes (1918) discovered him on a street corner. He appeared in that film without being credited. He then had many other small roles, often playing general native characters in movies like the Tarzan films.

When movies started having sound, Ingram's strong voice and impressive presence became a big advantage. He got many memorable roles in famous films.

Rex Ingram's Notable Film Roles

Some of his most famous movie roles include:

• The Green Pastures (1936)
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939), where he acted alongside Mickey Rooney
• The Thief of Bagdad (1940), where he played the amazing genie
• The Talk of the Town (1942)
• Sahara (1943)

Rex Ingram on Stage and Television

Starting in 1929, Ingram also performed on Broadway, which is New York City's famous theater district. He acted in more than a dozen Broadway shows. His last stage role was in Kwamina in 1961.

He was part of the original casts for plays like Haiti (1938), Cabin in the Sky (1940), and St. Louis Woman (1946). Interestingly, he is one of the few actors who has played both God (in The Green Pastures) and the Devil (in Cabin in the Sky). In 1966, he played Tee-Tot in the movie Your Cheatin' Heart.

In 1962, Rex Ingram made history. He became the first African-American actor to get a regular contract role on a soap opera, appearing on The Brighter Day. He also had other small roles on television in the 1960s. He appeared in episodes of I Spy and The Bill Cosby Show. Bill Cosby, who starred in both shows, helped him get these roles.

Rex Ingram's Later Years and Passing

Rex Ingram passed away from a heart attack at the age of 73. This happened shortly after he filmed a guest appearance on The Bill Cosby Show. He was laid to rest in Forrest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California.

Rex Ingram's Film Appearances

Rex Ingram's Television Appearances