Editing Simon Rex (section)

==Career==

=== Early work in porn and on MTV (1993–1998) ===
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''.<ref name="ferguson">{{cite book |last=Ferguson |first=Michael |year=2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R4f--vTO9LIC&pg=PA296 |title=Idol Worship: A Shameless Celebration of Male Beauty in the Movies |location=Sarasota |publisher=STARbooks Press |page=296 |isbn=0-786-40983-5 |access-date=December 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lopez |first=Rich |url=http://www.dallasvoice.com/concert-notice-gay-porn-star-turned-comedy-music-act-simon-rex-aka-dirt-nasty-comes-to-the-loft-in-october-1032708.html |title=Concert notice: Gay-porn-star-turned-comedy-music-act Simon Rex, aka Dirt Nasty, comes to the Loft in October |work=[[Dallas Voice]] |date=July 12, 2010 |access-date=February 7, 2013 |archive-date=July 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719080343/http://www.dallasvoice.com/concert-notice-gay-porn-star-turned-comedy-music-act-simon-rex-aka-dirt-nasty-comes-to-the-loft-in-october-1032708.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lester|first=Shallon|date=October 29, 2008|title=Former MTV VJ/porn star Simon Rex is trying his hand at rap music|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/mtv-vj-porn-star-simon-rex-hand-rap-music-article-1.299192|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203215856/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/mtv-vj-porn-star-simon-rex-hand-rap-music-article-1.299192|archive-date=December 3, 2013|access-date=December 10, 2014|work=[[NY Daily News]]}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":0" /> In 1994, Rex went on a modeling tour for [[Tommy Hilfiger (company)|Tommy Hilfiger]], before going on to appear in mainstream modeling gigs for [[Calvin Klein (fashion house)|Calvin Klein Inc]], [[Versace]], and [[Levi's]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Benza|first1=A.J.|author-link1=A. J. Benza|last2=Lewittes|first2=Michael|date=February 13, 1996|title=Rex flexed pecs for skin pics|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/rex-flexed-pecs-skin-pics-article-1.718396|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208043300/https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/rex-flexed-pecs-skin-pics-article-1.718396|archive-date=December 8, 2015|access-date=December 10, 2014|work=NY Daily News}}</ref><ref name="ferguson" />

In 1995, [[MTV]] hired Rex to work as a [[VJ (media personality)|VJ]] and kept him on the air for over two years before he and two other VJs were let go.<ref>{{Cite web|title=30 MTV Stars: Where are they now?|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/tv/slideshow/30-MTV-Stars-Where-are-they-now-17139.php|access-date=July 17, 2021|website=Houston Chronicle|date=August 2011|language=en}}</ref>

=== Television and film (1999–2017) ===

In 1999, he was cast in the comedy-drama television series ''[[Jack & Jill (TV series)|Jack & Jill]]'', which aired on [[The WB]] channel for two seasons. He appeared as Eli in the TV show ''[[Felicity (TV series)|Felicity]]'' and television guest appearances followed including ''[[Baywatch]]'', ''[[Everwood]]'', and ''[[Summerland (TV series)|Summerland]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fretts|first=Bruce|date=April 22, 1999|title=Felicity lost her virginity with the wrong guy|url=http://ew.com/article/1999/04/22/felicity-lost-her-virginity-wrong-guy/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330140559/https://ew.com/article/1999/04/22/felicity-lost-her-virginity-wrong-guy/|archive-date=March 30, 2016|access-date=May 25, 2017|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Simon Rex|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/simon-rex/credits/174823/|access-date=May 25, 2017|work=Tv Guide}}</ref>

Starting in 2002, Rex starred with [[Amanda Bynes]] in the sitcom ''[[What I Like About You (TV series)|What I Like About You]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Amanda Bynes in 'What I Like About You|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/amanda-bynes-bizarre-behavior-gallery-1.1332306?pmSlide=1.1354180|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912192227/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/amanda-bynes-bizarre-behavior-gallery-1.1332306?pmSlide=1.1354180|archive-date=September 12, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2017|work=NY Daily News}}</ref> In 2006, he appeared on the [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] primetime telenovela ''[[Monarch Cove]]'', which ran for fourteen episodes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monarch Cove |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/monarch-cove/episodes-season-1/1000343192/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref> From television into film, Rex has held the lead role in feature films including ''[[Scary Movie (film series)|Scary Movie]]'' [[Scary Movie 3|3]], [[Scary Movie 4|4]], & [[Scary Movie 5|5]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Actor Simon Rex talks 'Scary Movie V'|url=https://www.axs.com/news/actor-simon-rex-talks-scary-movie-v-97835|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912191505/https://www.axs.com/news/actor-simon-rex-talks-scary-movie-v-97835|archive-date=September 12, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2017|work=AXS}}</ref> ''[[Hotel California (2008 film)|Hotel California]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hotel California {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hotel-california |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> ''[[The Karate Dog]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Snider|first=Eric|date=June 11, 2012|title=ERIC'S BAD MOVIES: 'KARATE DOG' (2004)|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2768550/karate-dog-bad-movies/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912191844/http://www.mtv.com/news/2768550/karate-dog-bad-movies/|archive-date=September 12, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2017|work=MTV}}</ref> ''King of the Avenue'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=King of the Avenue {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/king_of_the_avenue |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nick Swardson gets another shot with Comedy Central|url=http://www.startribune.com/nick-swardson-gets-another-shot-with-comedy-central/374134431/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603043846/https://www.startribune.com/nick-swardson-gets-another-shot-with-comedy-central/374134431/|archive-date=June 3, 2016|access-date=May 25, 2017|work=Star Tribune}}</ref>

=== Music (2005–2020) ===

Rex entered the music industry in 2005 as a rap artist after becoming friends with and discovering [[Mickey Avalon]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.times-standard.com/article/ZZ/20111020/NEWS/111029520 |title= Q-and-A with Mickey Avalon; rapper set to take wild story to the stage in Arcata Thursday |work= Times Standard |access-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref> Rex adopted his alter ego ''Dirt Nasty''<ref>{{cite web|last=Albert|first=John|date=April 26, 2006|title=Mickey Avalon's True Hollywood Stories|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/mickey-avalons-true-hollywood-stories-2143047|access-date=May 25, 2017|work=LA Weekly}}</ref> 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"''.''<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.popdust.com/simon-rex-dirt-nasty-furries-1956359451.html |title= Simon Rex Dirt Nasty—Furries, Boners, Haberdashery, Chicks in Bikinis—Just a Regular Day For #1Daddy |work= Pop Dust |access-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref> 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]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.tunefind.com/movie/the-hangover |title= Songs and music featured in The Hangover |work= Tune Find |access-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dowd|first=Kathy Ehrich|date=May 24, 2006|title=The Plumm is the new place in NYC|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-05-24-plumm_x.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022041038/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-05-24-plumm_x.htm|archive-date=October 22, 2012|access-date=December 10, 2014|work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

In 2007, Dirt Nasty released his [[Dirt Nasty (album)|self-titled debut album]] which included the songs ''1980'', ''Cracker Ass Fantastic'' & ''Dropping Names''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/the-13-best-concerts-in-phoenix-this-weekend-9336725 |title= The 13 Best Concerts in Phoenix This Weekend |work= Phoenix New times |access-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref> His second album, 2011's ''[[Nasty as I Wanna Be]]'', featured [[Ke$ha]], [[LMFAO]], [[Too Short]], and [[Warren G]].<ref>{{cite web|date=August 6, 2015|title=Simon Rex returns to South Lake Tahoe as Dirt Nasty|url=http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/simon-rex-returns-to-south-lake-tahoe-as-dirt-nasty/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912192117/https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/simon-rex-returns-to-south-lake-tahoe-as-dirt-nasty/|archive-date=September 12, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2017|work=Tahoe Daily Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Leatherman|first=Benjamin|date=May 18, 2017|title=ACTOR SIMON REX TACKLES HIP-HOP AS DIRT NASTY|url=https://www.parlemag.com/2010/07/actor-simon-rex-tackles-hip-hop-as-dirt-nasty/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518152938/https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/the-13-best-concerts-in-phoenix-this-weekend-9336725|archive-date=May 18, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2017|work=Parle Magazine}}</ref> Rex's other musical projects under his Dirt Nasty alias include his third album ''Palatial,'' and the [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] [[Three Loco]] which features [[Andy Milonakis]] and [[Riff Raff (rapper)|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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-11-27|title=Stream the new EP from rap weirdos Three Loco; watch the video for 'Bong Hits'|url=https://www.factmag.com/2012/11/27/stream-the-new-ep-from-rap-weirdos-three-loco-watch-the-video-for-bong-hits/|access-date=2021-12-17|website=Fact Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> 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) ===
In 2020, Rex, stuck in a floundering music endeavor with film opportunities having dried up, received a call from director [[Sean Baker (filmmaker)|Sean Baker]] asking him to send in a video audition for the film ''[[Red Rocket (film)|Red Rocket]]'', after which he was quickly offered the lead role.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Randolph|first=Eric|date=July 14, 2021|title=Not much foreplay: actor's rush to Cannes porn star role|url=https://news.yahoo.com/not-much-foreplay-actors-rush-165203666.html|access-date=July 15, 2021|website=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3"/> 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."<ref name="RedRocketComeback">{{Cite web |last=Nordstrom |first=Leigh |date=2024-08-23 |title=Simon Rex Gets His 'Seat at the Table' as Hollywood Comeback Continues With Zoë Kravitz and 'Blink Twice' |url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/simon-rex-blink-twice-zoe-kravitz-1236552965/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYdKwBGXltFndLdMtmXT2ImUgIcm117ris8bHhMXVAttMHHPl0A3wZSNmo_aem_fjKL4xOPeVr9htJN5QN1Lw |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Lawson|first=Richard|date=July 14, 2021|title=Simon Rex Is Sensational in 'Red Rocket'|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/07/red-rocket-movie-review-simon-rex-cannes|access-date=July 17, 2021|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[https://www.indiewire.com/awards/industry/simon-rex-hollywood-pariah-red-rocket-oscar-contender-1234681846/ Simon Rex Charts His Journey from Hollywood Pariah to 'Red Rocket' Oscar Contender]</ref> The film was considered a serious acting career breakthrough for Rex and his comeback in the industry.<ref name="RedRocketComeback"/>

In October 2021, as a result of the attention ''Red Rocket'' had garnered, Rex signed with the [[Entertainment Manager|management firm]] Range Media Partners. He next appeared in ''[[Mack & Rita]]'', starring [[Diane Keaton]], followed by ''[[Down Low (film)|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 (2023 film)|Americana]]'' and ''[[The Sweet East]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=2021-10-27|title='Red Rocket' Star Simon Rex Signs With Range Media Partners|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/red-rocket-star-simon-rex-range-media-partners-1234863053/|access-date=2021-11-01|website=Deadline}}</ref><ref name="Anthem">{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=2022-02-03|title=Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, Simon Rex & Others Set For Bron's 'National Anthem'|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/sydney-sweeney-halsey-paul-walter-hauser-simon-rex-brons-national-anthem-1234925918/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Deadline}}</ref> Other film appearances include ''[[Greedy People (film)|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 (religious group)|Heaven's Gate cult]] led by Marshall Applewhite.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |date=2023-10-30 |title=Michael C. Hall & Grace Caroline Currey Join Heaven's Gate Cult Biopic 'The Leader' – AFM |url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/michael-c-hall-grace-caroline-currey-join-heavens-gate-cult-movie-leader-1235587633/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Deadline}}</ref>

Rex appeared in the April 2, 2022 episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' hosted by [[Jerrod Carmichael]] with musical guest [[Gunna (rapper)|Gunna]], in the music video "Short-Ass Movies", where in addition to appearing as himself, his face is used for [[Ernest P. Worrell]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title='SNL': Pete Davidson Returns To Vent About Movies Being Too Long In Music Video Featuring Simon Rex |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/snl-pete-davidson-returns-movies-too-long-in-music-video-simon-rex-gunna-chris-redd-1234993116/ |website=Deadline |access-date=April 3, 2022 |date=April 3, 2022}}</ref>

===Other activities===
In late 2023, Rex co-founded a re-launched men's [[skincare]] brand out of [[Colorado]] known as MOX.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ritter|first=Liz|date=November 16, 2023|title=Simon Rex Launches a Skin-Care Line, Says He Treated His Body "Like a Rollercoaster" Most of His Life|url=https://www.newbeauty.com/simon-rex-interview/|access-date=January 29, 2024|website=NewBeauty|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Our story|url=https://www.moxskincare.com/pages/our-story|access-date=January 29, 2024|website=MoxSkincare|language=en-US}}</ref> As the face of the brand, he regularly promotes MOX products on his social media and during interviews.<ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=simonrex415 |postid=C0Pi248PUID |date=29 November 2023 |title=I'm not sure what accent this is but I'm confident that it's very bad |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Correa|first=Ruben|date=December 8, 2023|title=Mox Skincare Miami Launch Event Hosted by Simon Rex|url=https://worldredeye.com/2023/12/mox-skincare-miami-launch-event-hosted-by-simon-rex/|access-date=January 29, 2024|website=NewBeauty|language=en-US}}</ref>