Rex Lloyd Lease, a renowned American actor, made a lasting impact on the film industry with his prolific career spanning over four decades. Born on February 11, 1903, Lease's journey in Hollywood began in 1924, when he arrived in the city with a burning passion for acting.
Initially, he found success in bit and supporting roles at various film studios, including Film Booking Office (FBO),Rayart, and more. His big break came when he was given the opportunity to play a few leads, and his first film appearance was in the 1924 movie A Woman Who Sinned.
Lease's earliest forays into the western genre were a pair of silent films starring Tim McCoy at MGM, with The Law of the Range (1928) being a notable standout. This film featured a young Joan Crawford as the heroine and Lease as the "Solitaire Kid". The two actors formed a lasting friendship, and Lease went on to appear in seven more McCoy westerns over the next dozen years.
In addition to his work in westerns, Lease also had a featured role in director Frank Capra's 1929 film The Younger Generation, a poignant tale of a Jewish family's transition to a more affluent neighborhood.
As the film industry transitioned to talkies, Lease successfully made the leap, starring in a wide range of genres, including melodramas, action flicks, old dark house mysteries, comedies, western serials, and low-budget sagebrush yarns and outdoor adventures.
Throughout his career, Lease appeared in over 300 films, working alongside some of the most prominent actors of his time. He played featured roles in several B westerns, including Cavalcade of the West (1936),where he played the role of Hoot Gibson's brother, and Lightnin' Bill Carson (1936),where he portrayed the "Pecos Kid".
Lease's final starring role was in the 1937 film The Silver Trail, which saw him team up with Rin-Tin-Tin Jr. Although he was no longer afforded star billing, Lease continued to work in smaller roles throughout the 1950s, both in films and on television.
Person Biography:
Rex Lloyd Lease was born on February 11, 1903, and passed away on January 3, 1966.
