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Simon Rex

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"Dirt Nasty" redirects here. For the album, see Dirt Nasty (album).

Simon Rex
Rex in 2022
Born
Simon Rex Cutright

(1974-07-20) July 20, 1974 (age 50)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Other names
  • Dirt Nasty
  • Sebastian
EducationAlameda High School
Occupations
  • Actor
  • rapper
  • record producer
  • model
Years active1995–present
Musical career
GenresHip hop
Years active2005–present
Labels
Websitedirtnastymusic.com

Simon Rex Cutright (born July 20, 1974)[1], known professionally as Simon Rex and his stage name Dirt Nasty, is an American actor and rapper. Rising to fame as an MTV VJ, Rex later became an actor known for What I Like About You, starring in three films of the Scary Movie franchise, and National Lampoon's Pledge This!. He later developed a rap persona, Dirt Nasty, and had several solo albums and co-founded the hip-hop group Three Loco. In 2021, he received critical acclaim for his lead role in Sean Baker's drama film Red Rocket, winning the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.

Early life

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Rex was born in San Francisco, California, and raised in Alameda,[2] the son of Zoe, an environmental consultant, and Paul, a relationship coach.[3] He is Jewish.[4]

Rex was an only child who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.[5] Rex's father was a breath-work coach (in the tradition of alternative psychologist Stanislav Grof) who walked out on him when he was little. At age 18, he was attending community college and working at a potato-sack factory when he began dating and living with a model in Oakland.[6]

Career

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Early work in porn and on MTV (1993–1998)

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In 1993, aged 19, Rex responded to an advertisement in a Los Angeles magazine and agreed to be photographed nude for photographer Brad Posey and his Club 1821 studio. The following year, under the alias "Sebastian", he appeared in solo masturbation scenes for three gay Club 1821 pornographic films: Young, Hard & Solo #2, Young, Hard & Solo #3, and Hot Sessions III. Archive footage of Rex was also used in the 2000 films Hot Sessions 11 and Hot Sessions 12.[7][8][9]

One day, while Rex was driving his girlfriend to a casting audition and also watching her child as she prepared to audition, a casting director spotted him sitting in the waiting room and the next day he was on a flight to Milan to work as a model.[6] In 1994, Rex went on a modeling tour for Tommy Hilfiger, before going on to appear in mainstream modeling gigs for Calvin Klein Inc, Versace, and Levi's.[10][7]

In 1995, MTV hired Rex to work as a VJ and kept him on the air for over two years before he and two other VJs were let go.[11]

Television and film (1999–2017)

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In 1999, he was cast in the comedy-drama television series Jack & Jill, which aired on The WB channel for two seasons. He appeared as Eli in the TV show Felicity and television guest appearances followed including Baywatch, Everwood, and Summerland.[12][13]

Starting in 2002, Rex starred with Amanda Bynes in the sitcom What I Like About You.[14] In 2006, he appeared on the Lifetime primetime telenovela Monarch Cove, which ran for fourteen episodes.[citation needed] From television into film, Rex has held the lead role in feature films including Scary Movie 3, 4, & 5,[15] Hotel California,[citation needed] The Karate Dog,[16] King of the Avenue,[citation needed] and Superhero Movie. Rex more recently starred alongside comedian Nick Swardson in the Comedy Central show, Typical Rick, which ran for two seasons from 2016 to 2017.[17]

Music (2005–2020)

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Rex entered the music industry in 2005 as a rap artist after becoming friends with and discovering Mickey Avalon.[18] Rex adopted his alter ego Dirt Nasty[19] and formed the rap group Dyslexic Speedreaders with Avalon & Andre Legacy. Rex both produced and was featured on the group's hit song "My Dick".[20] Again the group paired with Lil Jon to create the song "What Do You Say" which was featured in 2009's blockbuster comedy film, The Hangover.[21]

Rex was an investor in the New York City nightclub The Plumm with partners Noel Ashman, Samantha Ronson, Chris Noth, and others. It opened in 2006 and closed in 2009.[22]

In 2007, Dirt Nasty released his self-titled debut album which included the songs 1980, Cracker Ass Fantastic & Dropping Names.[23] His second album, 2011's Nasty as I Wanna Be, featured Ke$ha, LMFAO, Too Short, and Warren G.[24][25] Rex's other musical projects under his Dirt Nasty alias include his third album Palatial, and the supergroup Three Loco which features Andy Milonakis and Riff Raff. As Three Loco, the group teamed up with producer Diplo and released the group's eight-song EP on Diplo's Mad Decent label.[26] Dirt Nasty appeared in Season 1, episode 5 of Paris Hilton's My New BFF where the girls had to play "Seven Minutes in Heaven" with him.

Film resurgence (2021–present)

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In 2020, Rex, stuck in a floundering music endeavor with film opportunities having dried up, received a call from director Sean Baker asking him to send in a video audition for the film Red Rocket, after which he was quickly offered the lead role.[27][28] Rex stated: "Sean Baker gave me a shot when nobody else would ... I didn’t really work for over a decade. And I think Sean wanted to prove to people that he could show someone like me could do it."[29] The film premiered in competition for the Palme d'Or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and the film - and particularly Rex's performance - received overwhelmingly positive reviews.[30][31] The film was considered a serious acting career breakthrough for Rex and his comeback in the industry.[29]

In October 2021, as a result of the attention Red Rocket had garnered, Rex signed with the management firm Range Media Partners. He next appeared in Mack & Rita, starring Diane Keaton, followed by Down Low with Zachary Quinto. Soon after that, he was cast in a number of other films that premiered in film festivals, such as Americana and The Sweet East.[32][33] Other film appearances include Greedy People, Blink Twice, and Everything's Going to Be Great. He was cast in a supporting role in The Leader, a biopic about the Heaven's Gate cult led by Marshall Applewhite.[34]

Rex appeared in the April 2, 2022 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Jerrod Carmichael with musical guest Gunna, in the music video "Short-Ass Movies", where in addition to appearing as himself, his face is used for Ernest P. Worrell.[35]

Other activities

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In late 2023, Rex co-founded a re-launched men's skincare brand out of Colorado known as MOX.[36][37] As the face of the brand, he regularly promotes MOX products on his social media and during interviews.[38][39]

Personal life

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In his late 40s, Rex reconnected with his father. They shared a "psychedelic experience" during which Rex learned his grandfather was a "spiritual leader" who was "not always the most faithful member of his flock."[6]

Rex bought a house in Laurel Canyon after the success of Scary Movie 3. He was living in a guesthouse in the Venice neighbourhood of Los Angeles when he was offered US$70,000 by British tabloids to falsely claim he had dated Meghan Markle, his co-star in Cuts.[40][41]

Tabloids speculated that he had dated Paris Hilton, but he insisted they were just "friends that held hands."[6]

Rex lives off the grid in Joshua Tree, California, in the middle of the Mojave Desert.[6]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes productions that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th Slab O'Beef
2001 Going Greek Thompson
2003 Scary Movie 3 George Logan
2006 Scary Movie 4 Cameo
National Lampoon's Pledge This! Derek
2007 Rise: Blood Hunter Hank
2008 Superhero Movie Human Torch
Hotel California Pete
2010 King of the Avenue Taz
2012 Slightly Single in L.A. J.P. Cipoletti
2013 Scary Movie 5 Dan Sanders
2017 Alexander IRL Owen Reed
Bodied Donnie Narco
2018 Avengers of Justice: Farce Wars[42] Dark Jokester
2021 Red Rocket Mikey Saber
2022 Mack & Rita Luca
2023 Down Low Buck/Fleshpuppet
Americana Roy Lee Dean
The Sweet East Lawrence
2024 Blink Twice Cody
Greedy People Keith [43]
TBA Operation Taco Gary's † Danny Post-production
Everything's Going to Be Great † Kyle Post-production
Tow † TBA Post-production
Easy's Waltz †[citation needed] TBA Post-production
The Prince † TBA Filming

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1996 Baywatch Himself Episode: "Beachblast"
1999 Felicity Eli 4 episodes
Katie Joplin Tiger French Main role; 5 episodes
1999–2001 Jack & Jill Michael "Mikey" Russo Main role; 32 episodes
2002–03 What I Like About You Jeff Campbell Main role (season 1); 21 episodes
2004 The Karate Dog Det. Peter Fowler Television film
2004–05 Summerland Sun 2 episodes
2005 Cuts Harrison 2 episodes
Everwood Cliff Fenton Episode: "So Long, Farewell..."
2006 Monarch Cove Eddie Lucas Main role; 14 episodes
2010 Nick Swardson's Pretend Time Brian Episode: "I Just Got Voodoo'd"
2014 Happyland Tony Episode: "Park Maintenance"
2015 Perception Roy Meier Episode: "Meat"
NCIS Scott Bleeker Episode: "Status Update"
2016–17 Typical Rick Rick 12 episodes
2020 The Real Bros of Simi Valley DJ Womp Womp Episode: "Lights Out Gringos"
2022 Saturday Night Live Himself/Dirt Nasty Episode: "Jerrod Carmichael/Gunna"
2023 Bupkis Ben/Crispy Episode: "Crispytown"

Music videos

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Year Title Artist Role
2004 "She Wants to Move" N.E.R.D Hot guy
2009 "Tik Tok" Kesha Barry
2010 "Yes" LMFAO Dirt Nasty
2011 "Sexy and I Know It" LMFAO Guy on bicycle
2012 "Bird on a Wire" Action Bronson featuring Riff Raff Dirt Nasty
2016 "World Wide Lamper" Kool Keith featuring B.a.R.S. Murre & Dirt Nasty Dirt Nasty
2020 "Burning Man" Jonah and Jeff Wittek Dirt Nasty
2024 "Lucky" Halsey Love interest
2024 "BBA" Paris Hilton featuring Megan Thee Stallion Party guest

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Catching Up to Wilt (with Mickey Avalon, Andre Legacy, and Beardo) (2004)
  • Dirt Nasty (2007)
  • Shoot to Kill (with Mickey Avalon, Andre Legacy, and Beardo) (2008)
  • The White Album (with DJ Stretch Armstrong) (2010)
  • Nasty as I Wanna Be (2010)
  • Palatial (2013)
  • The White Boys (with Andre Legacy and Beardo) (2014)
  • Breakfast in Bed (with Smoov-e) (2015)
  • Dirt Nasty Sux (2016)

Mixtapes

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  • The White Album (2010)
  • Shoot to Kill Mixtape (with Mickey Avalon, Andre Legacy, & BEARDO) (2008)

Extended plays

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Guest appearances

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  • Mickey Avalon – "My Dick" from Mickey Avalon (2005)
  • Mickey Avalon – "What Do You Say" from Mickey Avalon (2006)
  • Luckyiam – "Nevermind" from Most Likely to Succeed (2007)
  • Verb – "1980 Gutter" from The East Side Extraterrestrial EP (2009)
  • Mac Lethal – "My Cadillac" from Postcards from Kansas EP
  • Kool Keith – "World Wide Lamper" from Feature Magnetic (2016)
  • Pete Davidson – "Short Ass Movie" on SNL (2022)

Productions

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  • The Grouch & Eligh – "Can't Catch Me" from No More Greener Grasses (2003)
  • Luckyiam – "Rap, Rap, Rap" from Most Likely to Succeed (2007)

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Work Result Ref
2021 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Actor Red Rocket Won [44]
Mill Valley Film Festival MVFF Award Awarded [45]
Newport Beach Film Festival Breakout Performance Award Awarded [46]
SCAD Savannah Film Festival Spotlight Award Awarded [47][28]
Chicago Film Critics Association Best Actor Nominated [48]
Gotham Awards Outstanding Lead Performance Nominated [49]
2022 Independent Spirit Awards Best Male Lead Won [50]
Seattle Film Critics Society Best Actor Nominated [51]
Austin Film Critics Association Best Actor Nominated [52][53]
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award Awarded [54]
National Society of Film Critics Best Actor Runner-up [55]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Simon Rex". All Movie. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  2. ^ "Production Notes - Twcpublicity.com". yumpu.com.
  3. ^ "Simon Rex biography and filmography | Simon Rex movies". www.tribute.ca.
  4. ^ "From MTV VJ to Oscar Hopeful: Simon Rex's Long, Strange Journey Through Fame". GQ. December 1, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "Simon Rex Is Winging It". High Times. July 6, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e Jones, Nate (November 8, 2021). "Simon Rex Doesn't Want to Be That Guy Anymore". Vulture. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Ferguson, Michael (2003). Idol Worship: A Shameless Celebration of Male Beauty in the Movies. Sarasota: STARbooks Press. p. 296. ISBN 0-786-40983-5. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  8. ^ Lopez, Rich (July 12, 2010). "Concert notice: Gay-porn-star-turned-comedy-music-act Simon Rex, aka Dirt Nasty, comes to the Loft in October". Dallas Voice. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  9. ^ Lester, Shallon (October 29, 2008). "Former MTV VJ/porn star Simon Rex is trying his hand at rap music". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  10. ^ Benza, A.J.; Lewittes, Michael (February 13, 1996). "Rex flexed pecs for skin pics". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  11. ^ "30 MTV Stars: Where are they now?". Houston Chronicle. August 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Fretts, Bruce (April 22, 1999). "Felicity lost her virginity with the wrong guy". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  13. ^ "Simon Rex". Tv Guide. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  14. ^ "Amanda Bynes in 'What I Like About You". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  15. ^ "Actor Simon Rex talks 'Scary Movie V'". AXS. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  16. ^ Snider, Eric (June 11, 2012). "ERIC'S BAD MOVIES: 'KARATE DOG' (2004)". MTV. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  17. ^ "Nick Swardson gets another shot with Comedy Central". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  18. ^ "Q-and-A with Mickey Avalon; rapper set to take wild story to the stage in Arcata Thursday". Times Standard. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  19. ^ Albert, John (April 26, 2006). "Mickey Avalon's True Hollywood Stories". LA Weekly. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  20. ^ "Simon Rex Dirt Nasty—Furries, Boners, Haberdashery, Chicks in Bikinis—Just a Regular Day For #1Daddy". Pop Dust. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  21. ^ "Songs and music featured in The Hangover". Tune Find. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  22. ^ Dowd, Kathy Ehrich (May 24, 2006). "The Plumm is the new place in NYC". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  23. ^ "The 13 Best Concerts in Phoenix This Weekend". Phoenix New times. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  24. ^ "Simon Rex returns to South Lake Tahoe as Dirt Nasty". Tahoe Daily Tribune. August 6, 2015. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  25. ^ Leatherman, Benjamin (May 18, 2017). "ACTOR SIMON REX TACKLES HIP-HOP AS DIRT NASTY". Parle Magazine. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  26. ^ "Stream the new EP from rap weirdos Three Loco; watch the video for 'Bong Hits'". Fact Magazine. November 27, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  27. ^ Randolph, Eric (July 14, 2021). "Not much foreplay: actor's rush to Cannes porn star role". AFP. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  28. ^ a b Feinberg, Scott (October 31, 2021). "Savannah Film Fest: 'Red Rocket' Star Simon Rex Acknowledges "People Love a Comeback Story"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  29. ^ a b Nordstrom, Leigh (August 23, 2024). "Simon Rex Gets His 'Seat at the Table' as Hollywood Comeback Continues With Zoë Kravitz and 'Blink Twice'". WWD. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  30. ^ Lawson, Richard (July 14, 2021). "Simon Rex Is Sensational in 'Red Rocket'". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  31. ^ Simon Rex Charts His Journey from Hollywood Pariah to ‘Red Rocket’ Oscar Contender
  32. ^ Kroll, Justin (October 27, 2021). "'Red Rocket' Star Simon Rex Signs With Range Media Partners". Deadline. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  33. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 3, 2022). "Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, Simon Rex & Others Set For Bron's 'National Anthem'". Deadline. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  34. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (October 30, 2023). "Michael C. Hall & Grace Caroline Currey Join Heaven's Gate Cult Biopic 'The Leader' – AFM". Deadline. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  35. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 3, 2022). "'SNL': Pete Davidson Returns To Vent About Movies Being Too Long In Music Video Featuring Simon Rex". Deadline. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  36. ^ Ritter, Liz (November 16, 2023). "Simon Rex Launches a Skin-Care Line, Says He Treated His Body "Like a Rollercoaster" Most of His Life". NewBeauty. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  37. ^ "Our story". MoxSkincare. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  38. ^ @simonrex415 (November 29, 2023). "I'm not sure what accent this is but I'm confident that it's very bad". Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Instagram.
  39. ^ Correa, Ruben (December 8, 2023). "Mox Skincare Miami Launch Event Hosted by Simon Rex". NewBeauty. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  40. ^ Mackelden, Amy (March 21, 2020). "Meghan Markle's Costar Was Offered $70,000 to Say He Dated the Duchess". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  41. ^ Bailey, Alyssa (March 20, 2020). "Meghan Markle's Co-Star Says U.K. Tabloids Offered Him $70K to Lie and Say He Dated Her". ELLE. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  42. ^ "AVENGERS OF JUSTICE: FARCE WARS". Variety. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  43. ^ Hammond, Pete (August 21, 2024). "'Greedy People' Review: Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Loopy Cop Tops Black Comedy That Somehow Escaped The Coens' Grasp". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  44. ^ "'Drive My Car' and 'The Power of the Dog' Win Top Prizes at L.A. Film Critics Association Awards 2021 (Full List)". finance.yahoo.com. December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  45. ^ "SPOTLIGHT: SIMON REX". Mill Valley Film Festival. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  46. ^ Plunkett, Paul (October 21, 2021). "Newport Beach Film Festival Returns Live with Events and Honorees Including Harvey Keitel and Regina Hall". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  47. ^ Huff, Lauren (October 20, 2021). "Meet the recipients of EW's Breaking Big Awards at SCAD Savannah Film Festival". EW.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  48. ^ Tallerico, Brian. "West Side Story Leads the 2021 Chicago Critics Nominees | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert". Roger Ebert. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  49. ^ Song, Katie (November 30, 2021). "Gotham Awards 2021 Winners List (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  50. ^ Tangcay, Jazz; Lang, Brent (December 14, 2021). "Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations". Variety. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  51. ^ "The 2021 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  52. ^ Whittaker, Richard (January 4, 2022). "Austin Film Critics Association Announces 2021 Awards Short Lists". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  53. ^ Partridge, Jon (January 11, 2022). "The 2021 Austin Film Critics Association Award Winners". Austin Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  54. ^ Dallow, Lily (January 6, 2022). "Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2022 to take place in-person". NewsChannel 3-12. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  55. ^ "Awards for year 2021". National Society of Film Critics. January 9, 2022. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
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