Rex Bell

infobox actor
birthname=George Francis Beldam
birthdate=birth date|1903|10|16
birthplace=Chicago, Illinois
deathdate=death date and age|1962|7|4|1903|10|16
deathplace=Las Vegas, Nevada
occupation=Film actor
spouse=Clara Bow

Rex Bell (October 16, 1903-July 4, 1962), born George Francis Beldam, [ [http://www.b-westerns.com/rexbell.htm B-Westerns] ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Movies |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/person/613297/Rex-Bell |work=New York Times |publisher= |date= |accessdate=2008-04-11 ] was Lieutenant Governor of Nevada and a western movie star. Rex was born in Chicago and was married to actress Clara Bow in 1932. They had two sons, Tony Beldon (born 1934, changed name to Rex Anthony Bell, Jr.) and George Beldon, Jr. (born 1938).

In 1944 Bell ran for the United States House of Representatives on the Republican ticket against Democrat Berkeley Bunker. His wife, Clara Bow, attempted suicide to avoid the public spotlight, thus dampening the zeal for Bell's campaign and contributing to the lieutenant governor's loss to Bunker. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_199901/ai_n8841928 Find Articles] ] Bell was the leader of the Nevada state GOP and in 1948 was an alternate to the Republican National Convention. He was also active in the Nevada Chamber of Commerce and Boy Scouts. [ [http://www.nevadaday.com/parade/grandmarshals/1953.htm Nevada Day Grand Marshals] ]

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.

The Rex Bell Elementary School in Las Vegas was named in honor of Bell. [ [http://www.ccsd.net/schools/bell/ Rex Bell Elementary School] ]

Filmography

*"Salute"
*"They Had to See Paris"
*"Happy Days"
*"True to the Navy"
*"Lone Star"
*"Dawn on the Great Divide"
*"Law of the Sea"
*"The Idaho Kid"
*"Law and Lead"
*"Cowboys and Injuns"
*"Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die"
*"The Misfits"

References

External links

*imdb|0068471
*amg name|2:5141
*Find A Grave|2096