Rex Lease
Known for: Acting
From Wikipedia Rex Lloyd Lease (February 11, 1903 – January 3, 1966) was an American actor. He appeared in over 300 films, mainly in westerns. Lease arrived in Hollywood in 1924. He found bit and supporting parts at Film Booking Office (FBO), Rayart, more, and was given the opportunity to play a few leads. His first film was A Woman Who Sinned (1924). Rex's earliest westerns were a pair of Tim McCoy silents at MGM, one of which was The Law of the Range (1928) which had a very young Joan Crawford as the heroine and Rex as the "Solitaire Kid". Tim and Lease became friends, and over the next dozen or so years he appeared in seven more McCoy westerns. He had a featured role in director Frank Capra's The Younger Generation (1929), a tale of a Jewish family that move to a more upscale neighborhood. He successfully made the transition to talkies, and starred in melodramas, action flicks, old dark house mysteries, and comedies as well as a couple of western serials and about a dozen low-budget sagebrush yarns and outdoor adventures. In between lead roles, Lease did featured parts in some B westerns. He was Hoot Gibson's brother in Cavalcade of the West (1936); Rex played the "Pecos Kid" in McCoy's Lightnin' Bill Carson (1936); and he worked in a couple of Tom Tylers, Ridin' On (1936) and Fast Bullets (1936). Rex's finale as a star had him teaming up with Rin-Tin-Tin Jr. in The Silver Trail (1937). Though no longer afforded star billing, he continued in smaller roles into the 1950s in films and on TV.
Filmography
Series
Maverick
Poker Player #2
1957
Series
The Abbott and Costello Show
Bartender
1952
Film
The Grapes of Wrath
Cop (uncredited)
1940
Series
The Adventures of Champion
Assayer
1955
Film
Backlash
Sergeant Blane (uncredited)
1956
Film
Saboteur
Plant Cafeteria Worker (uncredited)
1942
Film
Canyon Passage
Card Player (uncredited)
1946
Film
Ride, Vaquero!
Deputy
1953
Film
The Gazebo
Stage Manager (uncredited)
1959
Film
California
Stranger (uncredited)
1947
Film
The Pride of the Yankees
Spectator (uncredited)
1942
Film
Roarin' Guns
Jerry
1936
Film
A Foreign Affair
M.P. Lieutenant (uncredited)
1948
Film
Arizona Terrors
First Toll Collector Henchman
1942
Film
Troopers Three
Eddie Haskins
1930
Film
Eagle Squadron
German soldier
1942
Film
Chalk Marks
Bert Thompson
1924
Film
Haunted Ranch
Rex Lease
1943
Film
Midnight Morals
Preen Lazetti
1932
Film
Nevada City
Masked Henchman
1941
Film
The Prodigal
Purveyor (uncredited)
1955
Film
The Wild North
Townsman (uncredited)
1952
Film
Fast Bullets
Jimmy
1936
Film
The Crimson Ghost
Bain
1946
Film
Gun Belt
Lynch Mob Member (uncredited)
1953
Film
In Old California
Gold Strike Rider
1942
Film
The Unholy Wife
Mr. White (uncredited)
1957
Frisco Lil
1942
Film
The Time of Their Lives
Sgt. Makepeace
1946
Film
The Mummy's Tomb
Townsman (uncredited)
1942
Film
Colorado Sundown
Rancher who finds dog
1952
Film
Buck Privates Come Home
Appleby's Chauffeur (uncredited)
1947
Film
Toughest Man in Arizona
1952
Film
The Shadow
Garage Henchman
1940
Film
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
Hank
1947
Film
A Hatful of Rain
Man at Mailbox (uncredited)
1957
Film
Flame of Barbary Coast
Collingswood
1945
Film
Singing Guns
Stage Driver
1950
Film
Calling Dr. Death
1943
Film
Idaho
Henchman
1943
Blonde Ransom
Policeman (uncredited)
1945
Film
White Tie and Tails
Briggs (uncredited)
1946
Film
Lost in Alaska
Old-Timer
1952
Film
Lady in a Jam
Drunk (uncredited)
1942
Film
Eyes of the Underworld
(uncredited)
1942
Film
Keep 'Em Slugging
Personnel Manager
1943
Film
The Naughty Nineties
Sheriff Wright (uncredited)
1945
Film
Riders of the Rio Grande
Father of Twins
1943
Film
King of the Cowboys
Bridge Henchman
1943
Film
Sunny Skies
Jim Grant
1930
Film
South of the Border
Telegrapher
1939
Film
Corvette K-225
Coxswain
1943
Film
The Cowboy and the Bandit
Bill Bodie
1935
Film
One Man's Law
Spike Hudkins
1940
Film
Sunset Serenade
Martin Rider
1942
Film
You Came Along
Airport Attendant (uncredited)
1945
Film
So's Your Uncle
Hotel Clerk
1943
Film
Dead Man's Eyes
1944
Film
A Chump at Oxford
Bank Robber (uncredited)
1940
Film
Fury Below
Joe Norsen
1936
Film
Professor Beware
Reporter
1938
Film
Chinatown After Dark
Jim Bonner
1931
Film
The College Hero
Jim Halloran
1927
Film
Raiders of the West
Henchman Joe - Pete in Credits
1942
Film
Santa Fe Saddlemates
Smiley
1945
Film
Cavalcade of the West
Asa Knox aka Ace Carter
1936
Film
Code of the Prairie
1944
Film
Custer's Last Stand
Kit Cardigan / John C. Cardigan
1936
Film
Hills of Oklahoma
Joe Brant
1950
Film
Bad Man of Deadwood
Townsman
1941
Film
Pals of the Golden West
Cattleman at Meeting (uncredited)
1951
Film
The Phantom Cowboy
Sheriff Ben Jeffers
1941
Film
Billy the Kid's Range War
Henchman Buck posing as Billy the Kid
1941
Film
Midnight Intruder
Track Spectator (uncredited)
1938
Film
Out of the Storm
Gus Clute
1948
Film
Two Sisters
Allan Rhodes
1929
Film
On Stage Everybody
Onlooker (uncredited)
1945
Film
Phony Express
Red's Henchman
1943
Film
Billy the Kid's Gun Justice
Henchman Buck
1940
Film
Daredevils of the West
Jack
1943
Film
The Gallant Legion
Conductor
1948
Film
Boss of Hangtown Mesa
Bert Lawler
1942
Film
Lightnin' Bill Carson
Fred Rand aka The Pecos Kid
1936
Film
Earl Carroll Vanities
Policeman
1945
Film
Desert Patrol
Dan Drury
1938
Film
Curtain Call at Cactus Creek
Yellowstone
1950
Film
Call of the Rockies
Miner Kendall
1944
Film
Firebrands of Arizona
Deputy Mike
1944
Film
The Silver Bullet
Rance Harris
1942
Film
Jesse James at Bay
Henchman Gregg
1941
Film
Stolen Love
Bill
1928
Film
Days of Buffalo Bill
Bill Clinker
1946
The Last Alarm
Tom
1926
Film
Code of the Silver Sage
Captain Matthews
1950
Film
The Trail Blazers
Engineer Reynolds
1940
Film
Night Time in Nevada
Officer (uncredited)
1948
Film
Ten Laps to Go
Larry Evans
1936
Film
Is There Justice?
Jerry Heath
1931
Film
S.O.S Tidal Wave
Ambulance Attendant
1939
Film
Outlaws of the Rio Grande
Henchman Luke
1941
Film
Hot Curves
Jim Dolan
1930
Film
Aces and Eights
Jose Hernandez
1936
Film
Sierra Sue
Rancher Rex
1941
Film
Inside Information
Lloyd Wilson
1934
Film
Riders of Black Mountain
Sheriff Clay Mathews
1940
Film
Lone Texas Ranger
Henchman Whitey
1945
Film
Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town
Clallan County Sheriff (uncredited)
1950
Film
The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand
Walter Jameson
1936
Film
Custer's Last Stand
Kit Cardigan
1936
Film
Sun Valley Cyclone
Army Sergeant
1946
Film
Heroes of the Alamo
Colonel William B. Travis
1937
Film
Ridin' On
Danny O'Neil
1936
Film
Cyclone of the Saddle
Andy
1935
Film
Dead Man's Gulch
Henchman
1943
Film
Fighting Caballero
Joaquin Florenz
1935
Film
Shadows of Tombstone
Fake Drunk
1953
Film
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
Evans
1939
Film
Swing It, Sailor!
Interne
1938
Film
The Younger Generation
Eddie Lesser
1929
The People's Choice
1946
Film
Why Girls Leave Home
Tony - Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)
1945
Film
Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground
Zeke Larkin
1943
Film
Bordertown Trail
Sgt. Jenkins
1944
Film
Tonto Basin Outlaws
Stanley, Jane's Editor
1941
Film
The Phantom Rider
Randall
1946
Film
Rancho Grande
Henchman Joe
1940
Film
Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair
Sheriff
1952
Film
The Monster Walks
Ted Clayton
1932
Film
The Law of the Range
Solitaire Kid
1928
Film
The Mysterious Pilot
"Kansas" Eby
1937
Film
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
Jeff
1941
Film
Gun Cargo
Capt. Jim Parker
1949
Film
Broadway Daddies
Richard Kennedy
1928
Film
The Phantom of the Turf
John Nichols
1928
Film
Tomorrow We Live
Shorty
1942
Film
Somebody's Mother
Peter
1926
Film
The Utah Kid
Cal Reynolds
1930
Film
In Old Cheyenne
Jim the Cheyenne Kid
1931
Film
Frisco Tornado
Henchman
1950
Film
Wings of Adventure
Dave Kent
1930
Film
The Man from Guntown
Alan McArthur
1935
Film
Perils of the Wilderness
Sergeant Jim Rodney
1956
Film
Covered Wagon Raid
Bob Davis
1950
Film
The Cyclone Kid
Henchman Ben Rankin
1942
Film
In Old Monterey
Soldier
1939
Film
Moulders of Men
Jim Barry
1927
Film
The Silver Trail
Bob Crandall
1937
Film
Outlaws of Cherokee Trail
Fake Marshall
1941
Film
Under Texas Skies
Jim Marsden
1940
Film
Borrowed Wives
Peter Foley
1930
Film
Death Valley Outlaws
Marshal Jim Collins
1941
Film
The Outlaw Dog
Bill Brady
1927
Film
Springtime in Texas
Pete Grant
1945
Film
Land of Fighting Men
Ed -Henchman
1938
A Woman Who Sinned
Her Son as an Adult
1924
Film
The Last Edition
Clarence Walker
1925
Film
When Dreams Come True
Ben Shelby
1929
Film
Swingin' on a Rainbow
Cab Driver (uncredited)
1945
Film
Queen of the Chorus
Billy Cooke
1928
Film
Clancy's Kosher Wedding
Tom Clancy
1927
Film
Code of the Rangers
Jack Strong
1938
Film
Cannonball Express
Ned Logan
1932
Film
Rough Riding Ranger
Corporal Daniels aka Tombstone Kid
1935
Film
The Ghost Rider
Dave
1935
The Mystery Pilot
Bob Jones
1926
Film
The Sign of the Wolf
Tom
1931
Film
Pals of the Range
Steve Barton
1935
Girls Who Dare
Chet Randolf
1929
Film
Not for Publication
Philip Hale
1927
Film
Red Riders of Canada
Pierre Duval
1928
Film
Episodes in the Life of a Gin Bottle
The Spirit of the Bottle
1925
The Cancelled Debt
Patrick Burke
1927
Riders of the Dark
Jim Graham
1928