Editing Simon Rex

{{Short description|American actor (born 1974)}}
{{Redirect|Dirt Nasty|the album|Dirt Nasty (album){{!}}''Dirt Nasty'' (album)}}
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{{Use American English|date=February 2022}}
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{{Infobox person
| name               = Simon Rex
| image              = Simon Rex during an interview, March 2022.jpg
| image_size         =
|caption = Rex in 2022
| birth_name         = Simon Rex Cutright
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1974|7|20}}
| birth_place        = [[San Francisco, California]], U.S.
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actor|rapper|record producer|model}}
| years_active       = 1995–present
| website            = {{URL|dirtnastymusic.com}}
| other_names        = {{hlist|Dirt Nasty|Sebastian}}
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed              = yes
| label              = {{hlist|[[Red Distribution|RED]]|Shoot To Kill|[[E1 Music|E1]]|[[RBC Records|RBC]]|[[MySpace Records|MySpace]]}}
| background         = solo_singer
| genre              = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
| years_active       = 2005–present
}}}}
'''Simon Rex Cutright''' (born July 20, 1974),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/artist/simon-rex-p285098 |title= Simon Rex |work=All Movie |access-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref> 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 (TV series)|What I Like About You]]'', starring in three films of the [[Scary Movie (film series)|''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 (filmmaker)|Sean Baker]]'s drama film ''[[Red Rocket (film)|Red Rocket]]'', winning the [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead]]. In 2025, he had a guest role in the second season of the crime mystery series ''[[Poker Face (TV series)|Poker Face]]''.

== Early life ==
Rex was born in [[San Francisco]], California, and raised in [[Alameda, California|Alameda]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/27400337/production-notes-twcpublicitycom|title=Production Notes - Twcpublicity.com|website=yumpu.com}}</ref> the son of Zoe, an environmental consultant, and Paul, a relationship coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribute.ca/people/simon-rex/6711/|title=Simon Rex biography and filmography &#124; Simon Rex movies|website=www.tribute.ca}}</ref> His mother is [[Jews|Jewish]] and he has identified as Jewish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/syizgreijx|work=[[Ynet]]|title='I was distracted by women and parties, It took me a long time to become a good Jewish man’|last=Kaminer|first=Amir|date=March 1, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302002130/https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/syizgreijx|archive-date=March 2, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 1, 2021 |title=From MTV VJ to Oscar Hopeful: Simon Rex's Long, Strange Journey Through Fame |url=https://www.gq.com/story/gq-hype-simon-rex |access-date=August 8, 2023 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}</ref>

Rex was an only child who grew up in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-06|title=Simon Rex Is Winging It|url=https://hightimes.com/culture/people/simon-rex-winging-it/|access-date=2021-11-09|website=High Times|language=en-US}}</ref> Rex's father was a [[Breathwork (New Age)|breath-work]] coach (in the tradition of alternative psychologist [[Stanislav Grof]]) who left the family when Rex 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, California|Oakland]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Nate|date=2021-11-08|title=Simon Rex Doesn't Want to Be That Guy Anymore|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/simon-rex-profile.html|access-date=2021-11-09|website=Vulture|language=en-us}}</ref>

==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>

==Personal life==
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."<ref name=":0" />

Rex bought a house in [[Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles|Laurel Canyon]] after the success of ''[[Scary Movie 3]]''. He was living in a guesthouse in the [[Venice, Los Angeles|Venice]] neighborhood of [[Los Angeles]] when he was offered US$70,000 by British tabloids to falsely claim he had dated [[Meghan, Duchess of Sussex|Meghan Markle]], his co-star in ''[[Cuts (TV series)|Cuts]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mackelden|first=Amy|date=March 21, 2020|title=Meghan Markle's Costar Was Offered $70,000 to Say He Dated the Duchess|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a31847627/meghan-markle-simon-rex-dated-tabloid-bribe/|access-date=July 17, 2021|website=Harper's BAZAAR|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bailey|first=Alyssa|date=March 20, 2020|title=Meghan Markle's Co-Star Says U.K. Tabloids Offered Him $70K to Lie and Say He Dated Her|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a31811691/simon-rex-meghan-markle-dating-bribe/|access-date=July 17, 2021|website=ELLE|language=en-US}}</ref>

Tabloids speculated that he had dated [[Paris Hilton]], but he insisted they were just "friends that held hands."<ref name=":0" />

Rex lives [[Off-the-grid|off the grid]] in [[Joshua Tree, California]], in the middle of the [[Mojave Desert]].<ref name=":0" />

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Key
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Denotes productions that have not yet been released}}
| Denotes productions that have not yet been released
|}

=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th]]''
| Slab O'Beef
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Going Greek]]''
| Thompson
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Scary Movie 3]]''
| rowspan="2" | George Logan
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2006
| ''[[Scary Movie 4]]''
| Cameo
|-
| ''[[National Lampoon's Pledge This!]]''
| Derek
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Rise: Blood Hunter]]''
| Hank
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| ''[[Superhero Movie]]''
| [[Human Torch]]
|
|-
| ''[[Hotel California (2008 film)|Hotel California]]''
| Pete
|
|-
| 2010
| ''[[King of the Avenue]]''
| Taz
|
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Slightly Single in L.A.]]''
| J.P. Cipoletti
|
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Scary Movie 5]]''
| Dan Sanders
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| ''[[Alexander IRL]]''
| Owen Reed
|
|-
| ''[[Bodied]]''
| Donnie Narco
|
|-
| 2018
| ''Avengers of Justice: Farce Wars''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/t/avengers-of-justice-farce-wars|title=AVENGERS OF JUSTICE: FARCE WARS|work=Variety|access-date=May 23, 2017}}</ref>
| Dark Jokester
|
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Red Rocket (film)|Red Rocket]]''
| Mikey Saber
| 
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2022
| ''[[Mack & Rita]]''
| Luca
| 
|-
|''My Dead Dad''
|Gavin
|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kenny |first=Glenn |date=2022-06-01 |title=‘My Dead Dad’ Review: Learning the Ropes, Thanks to an Inheritance |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/01/movies/my-dead-dad-review.html |access-date=2025-03-23 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=My Dead Dad {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/my_dead_dad |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
|- 
| rowspan="3"|2023
| ''[[Down Low (film)|Down Low]]''
| Buck/Fleshpuppet 
| 
|-
| ''[[Americana (2023 film)|Americana]]''
| Roy Lee Dean
| 
|-
| ''[[The Sweet East]]''
| Lawrence
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|2024
| ''[[Blink Twice]]''
| Cody
| 
|-
| ''[[Greedy People (film)|Greedy People]]''
| Keith
| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/greedy-people-review-joseph-gordon-levitts-loopy-cop-tops-black-crime-comedy-1236046516/ |title='Greedy People' Review: Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Loopy Cop Tops Black Comedy That Somehow Escaped The Coens' Grasp |date=2024-08-21 |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |last=Hammond |first=Pete}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Operation Taco Gary's]]''
| Danny
| 
|-
| rowspan="3" |2025
| ''[[Magic Farm]]''
| Dave
| 
|-
| {{Pending film|[[Tow (film)|Tow]]}}
| {{TableTBA}}
| Post-production
|-
| {{Pending film|[[Everything's Going to Be Great]]}}
| Kyle
| Post-production
|- 
| rowspan="3" | {{TableTBA}}
| {{Pending film|Easy's Waltz}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Nic Pizzolatto Sets Directing Debut With ‘Easy’s Waltz’; Vince Vaughn, Michelle Monaghan, Al Pacino & Simon Rex To Star |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/nic-pizzolatto-easys-waltz-vince-vaughn-michelle-monaghan-al-pacino-simon-rex-1235270133/ |website=Deadline |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref>
| {{TableTBA}}
| Post-production
|-
| {{Pending film|[[The Prince (upcoming film)|The Prince]]}}
| {{TableTBA}}
| Filming
|-
| {{Pending film|Halloween Store}}
| Wes Gulager
|Post-production<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garner |first=Glenn |date=2025-03-24 |title=‘Halloween Store’: Lindy Booth, Sydney Park, Grace Van Dien, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. & Drew Ray Tanner Round Out Cast |url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/halloween-store-lindy-booth-sydney-park-grace-van-dien-cast-1236347385/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Baywatch]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Beachblast"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1999
| ''[[Felicity (TV series)|Felicity]]''
| Eli
| 4 episodes
|-
| ''[[Katie Joplin]]''
| Tiger French
| Main role; 5 episodes
|-
| 1999–2001
| ''[[Jack & Jill (TV series)|Jack & Jill]]''
| Michael "Mikey" Russo
| Main role; 32 episodes
|-
| 2002–03
| ''[[What I Like About You (TV series)|What I Like About You]]''
| Jeff Campbell
| Main role (season 1); 21 episodes
|-
| 2004
| ''{{sortname|The|Karate Dog}}''
| Det. Peter Fowler
| Television film
|-
| 2004–05
| ''[[Summerland (TV series)|Summerland]]''
| Sun
| 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| ''[[Cuts (TV series)|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 (TV series)|Happyland]]''
| Tony
| Episode: "Park Maintenance"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| ''[[Perception (TV series)|Perception]]''
| Roy Meier
| Episode: "Meat"
|-
| ''[[NCIS season 12|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 (rapper)|Gunna]]"
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Bupkis (TV series)|Bupkis]]''
| Ben/Crispy
| Episode: "Crispytown"
|-
| 2024
| ''[[It's Florida, Man]]''
| Eric Merda
| Episode: "Gator"
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Mo (TV series)|Mo]]''
| Guy
| Season 2
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Poker Face (TV series)|Poker Face]]''
| 'Rocket' Russ Waddell
| Episode: "Hometown Hero"
|}

=== Music videos ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Artist
! Role
|-
| 2004
| "[[She Wants to Move]]"
| [[N.E.R.D]]
| Hot guy
|-
| 2009
| "[[Tik Tok (song)|Tik Tok]]"
| [[Kesha]]
| Barry
|-
| 2010
| "[[Yes (LMFAO song)|Yes]]"
| [[LMFAO]]
| Dirt Nasty
|-
| 2011
| "[[Sexy and I Know It]]"
| LMFAO
| Guy on bicycle
|-
| 2012
| "Bird on a Wire"
| [[Action Bronson]] featuring [[Riff Raff (rapper)|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 song)|Lucky]]"
| [[Halsey (singer)|Halsey]]
| Love interest
|-
| 2024
| "[[BBA (song)|BBA]]"
| [[Paris Hilton]] featuring [[Megan Thee Stallion]]
| Party guest
|}

==Discography==

===Studio albums===
* ''Catching Up to Wilt'' <small>(with [[Mickey Avalon]], Andre Legacy, and Beardo)</small> (2004)
* ''[[Dirt Nasty (album)|Dirt Nasty]]'' (2007)
* ''Shoot to Kill'' <small>(with Mickey Avalon, Andre Legacy, and Beardo)</small> (2008)
* ''The White Album'' <small>(with DJ Stretch Armstrong)</small> (2010)
* ''[[Nasty as I Wanna Be]]'' (2010)
* ''Palatial'' (2013)
* ''The White Boys'' <small>(with Andre Legacy and Beardo)</small> (2014)
* ''Breakfast in Bed'' (with Smoov-e) (2015)
* ''Dirt Nasty Sux'' (2016)

===Mixtapes===
* ''The White Album'' (2010)
* ''Shoot to Kill Mixtape'' (with Mickey Avalon, Andre Legacy, & BEARDO) (2008)

===Extended plays===
* ''Extended Package'' <small>(with [[Jack Splash]] as Chain Swangaz)</small> (2011)
* ''[[Three Loco (EP)|¡Three Loco!]]'' <small>(with [[Andy Milonakis]] and [[Riff Raff (rapper)|Riff Raff]])</small> (2012)

===Guest appearances===
* [[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===
* [[The Grouch (rapper)|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 ==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Work
! Result
!Ref
|-
|rowspan=6|2021
|[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]]
|[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| rowspan="13" |''[[Red Rocket (film)|Red Rocket]]''
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|title='Drive My Car' and 'The Power of the Dog' Win Top Prizes at L.A. Film Critics Association Awards 2021 (Full List)|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/los-angeles-film-critics-awards-184841594.html|access-date=2021-12-20|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=December 18, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Mill Valley Film Festival]]
|MVFF Award
|{{Included|Awarded|align=center|style=|color=}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=SPOTLIGHT: SIMON REX|url=https://www.mvff.com/spotlight-simon-rex/|access-date=2021-10-22|website=Mill Valley Film Festival|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Newport Beach Film Festival]]
|Breakout Performance Award
|{{Included|Awarded|align=center|style=|color=}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Plunkett|first=Paul|date=2021-10-21|title=Newport Beach Film Festival Returns Live with Events and Honorees Including Harvey Keitel and Regina Hall|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/awards/newport-beach-film-festival-returns-live-events-and-honorees-1235091863/|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Savannah College of Art and Design#Savannah Film Festival|SCAD Savannah Film Festival]]
|Spotlight Award
|{{Included|Awarded|align=center|style=|color=}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Huff|first=Lauren|date=2021-10-20|title=Meet the recipients of EW's Breaking Big Awards at SCAD Savannah Film Festival|url=https://ew.com/movies/meet-recipients-breaking-big-%e2%80%8bscad-savannah-film-festival/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021153244/https://ew.com/movies/meet-recipients-breaking-big-%E2%80%8Bscad-savannah-film-festival/|archive-date=2021-10-21|access-date=2021-10-27|website=EW.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Feinberg|first=Scott|date=2021-10-31|title=Savannah Film Fest: 'Red Rocket' Star Simon Rex Acknowledges "People Love a Comeback Story"|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/savannah-film-fest-red-rocket-simon-rex-1235039198/|access-date=2021-11-01|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Chicago Film Critics Association]]
|[[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tallerico|first=Brian|title=West Side Story Leads the 2021 Chicago Critics Nominees {{!}} Festivals & Awards {{!}} Roger Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/west-side-story-leads-the-chicago-critics-nominees|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Roger Ebert|language=en}}</ref>
|-
||[[Gotham Awards]]
|[[Gotham Independent Film Award for Outstanding Lead Performance|Outstanding Lead Performance]]
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Song|first=Katie|date=2021-11-30|title=Gotham Awards 2021 Winners List (Updating Live)|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/gotham-awards-2021-winners-list-1235119364/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="6" |2022
|[[Independent Spirit Awards]]
|[[Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead#2020s|Best Male Lead]]
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Tangcay|first1=Jazz|last2=Lang|first2=Brent|date=2021-12-14|title=Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/indie-spirit-awards-2022-nominations-full-list-1235132931/|access-date=2021-12-14|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Seattle Film Critics Society]]
|[[2021 Seattle Film Critics Society Awards|Best Actor]]
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 2021 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Winners|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-seattle-film-critics-society-sfcs-winners/|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Next Best Picture|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Austin Film Critics Association]]
|[[Austin Film Critics Association#Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Whittaker|first=Richard|date=4 Jan 2022|title=Austin Film Critics Association Announces 2021 Awards Short Lists|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2022-01-04/austin-film-critics-association-announces-2021-awards-short-lists/|access-date=2022-01-22|website=www.austinchronicle.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Partridge|first=Jon|date=2022-01-11|title=The 2021 Austin Film Critics Association Award Winners|url=https://austinfilmcritics.org/the-2021-austin-film-critics-association-award-winners-4f3d3f92bb14|access-date=2022-01-22|website=[[Austin Film Critics Association]]|language=en|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407175026/https://austinfilmcritics.org/the-2021-austin-film-critics-association-award-winners-4f3d3f92bb14|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[Santa Barbara International Film Festival]]
|Virtuoso Award
|{{Included|Awarded|align=center|style=|color=}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dallow|first=Lily|date=2022-01-06|title=Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2022 to take place in-person|url=https://keyt.com/news/santa-barbara-s-county/2022/01/06/santa-barbara-international-film-festival-2022-to-take-place-in-person/|access-date=2022-01-07|website=NewsChannel 3-12|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[National Society of Film Critics]]
|[[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|{{runner-up}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-09|title=Awards for year 2021|url=https://nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/2022/01/09/awards-for-year-2021/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109135931/https://nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/2022/01/09/awards-for-year-2021/|archive-date=2022-01-09|access-date=2022-01-09|website=[[National Society of Film Critics]]|language=en}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Discogs artist}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Simon Rex
|list =
{{Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rex, Simon}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:Male models from California]]
[[Category:American male rappers]]
[[Category:Hip-hop albums by American artists]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Hip-hop musicians from San Francisco]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from San Francisco]]
[[Category:Nightclub owners]]
[[Category:Rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:American video jockeys]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]