Rex Bell (born George Francis Beldam; October 16, 1903 – July 4, 1962) was an American actor and politician. Bell primarily appeared in Western films during his career. He also appeared in the 1930 movie True to the Navy, starring Clara Bow; Bell and Bow married the following year.
Bell later became involved in politics with the Nevada Republican Party and was the 21st lieutenant governor of Nevada from 1955 until his death in 1962. He was the second Lieutenant Governor to die in office after Henry C. Davis, and as of 2024 he is the most recent to have died in office.
Early years
Bell was born George Francis Beldam in Chicago on October 16, 1903.[1]
Film career
Bell made his film debut in Wild West Romance in 1928,[2] and went on to act in a number of films, mostly Westerns, in which he had the lead role. Fox Film executives were reported to be grooming Bell to be a successor to Tom Mix.[3] He left the movie industry in 1936, although he had generally small roles in a few later films.
In 1944, Bell ran for the United States House of Representatives on the Republican ticket against DemocratBerkeley 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".[7] The election was held November 7, and Bell got 19,096 votes while Bunker received 36,648.[8]
The ties Bell forged during those years helped him win the Lieutenant Governor's office in 1954. That election year, Charles H. Russell, the incumbent Republican governor, also won. In 1958, Democrat Grant Sawyer unseated Russell, but Bell won re-election as Lieutenant Governor (Bell and his Nevada state political position are mentioned in John D. MacDonald's 1960 novel The Only Girl in the Game). Bell died after giving a campaign speech on July 4, 1962, while running for governor, still in office, of a heart attack at the El Rancho Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Other activities
Television
Bell was host of the program Cowboys and Injuns in 1950. It began on a station in Los Angeles[2] and went on to be broadcast on ABC. The show focused on legends that were derived from folklore of cowboys and Native Americans in the United States.[10]
Business
Bell operated Rexco Incorporated, which manufactured and distributed novelty gift items. He and his brother also had two clothing stores in Nevada.[2]
Personal life
Bell married actress Clara Bow in 1931.[5] They had two sons, Tony Beldam, who changed his name to Rex Anthony Bell Jr., and George Beldam Jr.[11][12] Rex Bell Jr. appeared in two Western films—Stage to Thunder Rock (1964), in the role of "Shotgun Rex", and Young Fury (1965), and later served as district attorney of Clark County from 1987 to 1995.[13]
Bell died of a heart attack on July 4, 1962, a few hours after attending a political rally and picnic in Las Vegas.[14]
The Rex Bell Elementary School in Las Vegas was named in honor of Bell.[15]
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