Simon Rex

Simon Rex Cutright (born July 20, 1974)[1] is an American actor. 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.

"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
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Other namesSebastian
Dirt Nasty
EducationAlameda High School
Occupations
  • Actor
  • rapper
  • record producer
  • model
Years active1995–present
Musical career
GenresHip hop
Years active2005–present
Labels
Websitedirtnastymusic.com

Early life

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

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 Club 1821 pornographic films: Young, Hard & Solo #2, Young, Hard & Solo #3, and Hot Sessions III. Archive footage was used in the 2000 films Hot Sessions 11 and Hot Sessions 12.[7][8][9] He says he took the job to pay for rent and food for his girlfriend's two-year-old son. One day, while driving her to castings and watching the child a casting director spotted Rex in the waiting room and the next day he was on a flight to Milan.[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.[11]

Television breakout and film work (1999–2017)

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. From television into film, Rex has held the lead role in feature films including Scary Movie 3, 4, & 5,[15] Hotel California, The Karate Dog,[16] King of the Avenue, 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 career (2005–2020)

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]

Film career resurgence (2021–present)

In Red Rocket (2021), Rex plays the lead in the comedy-drama as a washed-up ex-porn star who returns to his Texas hometown. On October 23, 2020, The Florida Project director Sean Baker called Rex, whom he had never met, and convinced him to send an audition tape via iPhone with only five minutes to prepare. Rex then drove to Galveston, Texas without telling his agent to avoid having to quarantine after a flight with filming set to begin three days later.[27][28] The film premiered in competition for the Palme d'Or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and Rex has received rave reviews and several awards.[29]

In October 2021, as a result of the success of Red Rocket, Rex signed with the management firm Range Media Partners. He was next seen in Mack & Rita opposite Diane Keaton followed by Down Low with Zachary Quinto[30] and Americana.[31]

He 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.[32]

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."[6]

Rex bought a house in Laurel Canyon after the success of Scary Movie 3, but 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.[33][34]

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

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th Slab O'Beef
2001 The Forsaken Pen
Going Greek Thompson
Drum Solo Blondie Short film
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 Also co-producer
An American Carol Himself
2009 2 Dudes and a Dream Dirt Nasty
Silver Street John Short film
Sonny Dreamweaver Hunter
2010 King of the Avenue Taz
2011 The Truth About Angels Kane Connor
Boy Toy Clive
2012 Sperm Donor Greg Short film
Slightly Single in L.A. J.P. Cipoletti
2013 Scary Movie 5 Dan Sanders
2014 Student Bodies Mike
2016 Halloweed Joey Brooker
Do It All Over Dirt Nasty
2017 Alexander IRL Owen Reed
Blue & Green Detective Sharpe
Too Shorts Boombox Guest Star
Bodied Donnie Narco
2018 Avengers of Justice: Farce Wars[35] Dark Jokester
2021 Red Rocket Mikey Saber
2022 Mack & Rita Luca
2023 Down Low Buck/Fleshpuppet
Americana Roy Lee Dean
The Sweet East Lawrence
TBA Providence TBA Post-production
Pussy Island Cody Post-production
Everything's Going to Be Great TBA Filming

Television
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
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

Discography

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

Extended plays

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

Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Work Result Ref
2021 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Actor Red Rocket Won [36]
Mill Valley Film Festival MVFF Award Awarded [37]
Newport Beach Film Festival Breakout Performance Award Awarded [38]
SCAD Savannah Film Festival Spotlight Award Awarded [39][28]
Chicago Film Critics Association Best Actor Nominated [40]
Gotham Awards Outstanding Lead Performance Nominated [41]
2022 Independent Spirit Awards Best Male Lead Won [42]
Seattle Film Critics Society Best Actor Nominated [43]
Austin Film Critics Association Best Actor Nominated [44][45]
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award Awarded [46]
National Society of Film Critics Best Actor Runner-up [47]

References
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  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. Jones, Nate (November 8, 2021). "Simon Rex Doesn't Want to Be That Guy Anymore". Vulture. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  7. 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. 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.
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  23. "The 13 Best Concerts in Phoenix This Weekend". Phoenix New times. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
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  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.
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  29. Lawson, Richard (July 14, 2021). "Simon Rex Is Sensational in 'Red Rocket'". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  30. Kroll, Justin (October 27, 2021). "'Red Rocket' Star Simon Rex Signs With Range Media Partners". Deadline. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  31. 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.
  32. 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.
  33. 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.
  34. 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.
  35. "AVENGERS OF JUSTICE: FARCE WARS". Variety. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
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