Rex Bell
| Rex Bell | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Governor run of 1944 | |
| 21st Lieutenant Governor of Nevada | |
| In office 1955–1962 |
|
| Governor | Charles H. Russell Grant Sawyer |
| Preceded by | Clifford A. Jones |
| Succeeded by | Maude Frazier |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 16, 1903 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | July 4, 1962 (aged 58) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Clara Bow |
| Profession | Film actor Politician |
Rex Bell (October 16, 1903 – July 4, 1962), born George Francis Beldam,[1][2] was an American actor and politician. He was the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Nevada and a western movie star. Rex was born in Chicago and married actress Clara Bow in 1931.[3] They had two sons, Tony Beldon (1934-2011, changed name to Rex Anthony Bell, Jr.) and George Beldon, Jr. (born 1938).
In 1931,[4] Rex and Clara founded the Walking Box Ranch.[3]
In 1944 Bell ran for the United States House of Representatives on the Republican ticket against Democrat Berkeley Bunker. The Nevada State Journal commented on November 1: "He has made friends where ever he appeared but consensus is that the time is too short to overcome a handicap of not being so well known as his opponent"[5]. The election was held November 7, and Bell got 19,096 votes against Bunker who received 36,648 [6].
Bell was the leader of the Nevada Republican Party and in 1948 was an alternate to the Republican National Convention. He was also active in the Nevada Chamber of Commerce and Boy Scouts.[7]
The ties Bell forged during those years helped him win the lieutenant governor's office in 1954. That year Charles H. Russell, the incumbent GOP governor, also won. In 1958 Democrat Grant Sawyer unseated Russell, but Bell won re-election as lieutenant governor. He died in office in 1962.
His final film appearance was a brief cameo as a cowboy in John Huston's film The Misfits (1961), which was shot on location in Nevada.
The Rex Bell Elementary School in Las Vegas was named in honor of Bell.[8]
His grave is located in Glendale, California's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
[edit] Filmography
- Salute (1929)
- Hollywood on Parade No. A-8 (short;
- They Had to See Paris (1929)
- Happy Days (1929)
- True to the Navy (1930)
- Law of the Sea (1931)
- Battling with Buffalo Bill (serial; 1931)
- Law and Lead (1936)
- The Idaho Kid (1936)
- Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die (1942)
- Dawn on the Great Divide (1942)
- Lone Star (1952)
- The Misfits (1961)
[edit] References
- ^ B-Westerns
- ^ Hall, Mordaunt. "Movies". New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/person/613297/Rex-Bell. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ a b KALIL, J.M. (2000-11-19). "Ranch sells for $650,000". Las Vegas Review-Journal. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Nov-19-Sun-2000/news/14859959.html. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
- ^ KALIL, J.M. (2000-12-20). "WALKING BOX RANCH: Sale brings less than third of asking price". Las Vegas Review-Journal. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2000/Dec-20-Wed-2000/news/15071459.html. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
- ^ Nevada State Journal, November 1, 1944
- ^ Nevada State Journal, November 18, 1944
- ^ Nevada Day Grand Marshals
- ^ Rex Bell Elementary School
[edit] External links
- Rex Bell at Find a Grave
- Rex Bell at the Internet Movie Database
- Rex Bell at AllRovi
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Clifford A. Jones |
Lieutenant Governor of Nevada 1955 – 1962 |
Succeeded by Maude Frazier |
