Rex Bell, born George Francis Beldam (October 16, 1903 – July 4, 1962), was an American actor and politician. He was the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Nevada and a western movie star. Rex was born in Chicago and married actress Clara Bow in 1931. They had two sons, Tony Beldam (1934-2011, changed name to Rex Anthony Bell, Jr.) and George Beldam, Jr. (born 1938).In 1931, Rex and Clara founded the Walking Box Ranch. They lived in Searchlight, Nevada.In 1944 Bell ran for the United States House of Representatives on the Republican ticket against Democrat Berkeley 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". The election was held November 7, and Bell got 19,096 votes against Bunker who received 36,648.Bell was the leader of the Nevada Republican Party and in 1948 was an alternate to the Republican National Convention. He was also active in the Nevada Chamber of Commerce and Boy Scouts.The ties Bell forged during those years helped him win the lieutenant governor's office in 1954. That year Charles H. Russell, the incumbent GOP governor, also won. In 1958 Democrat Grant Sawyer unseated Russell, but Bell won re-election as lieutenant governor. He died in office in 1962.His final film appearance was a brief cameo as a cowboy in John Huston's film The Misfits (1961), which was shot on location in Nevada. He appeared in the film with actress Marilyn Monroe, who died a month after Rex in the summer of 1962.The Rex Bell Elementary School in Las Vegas was named in honor of Bell.
October 16, 1903, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died
July 4, 1962, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Place Of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Height
6' (1.83 m)
Profession
Actor
Spouse
Clara Bow (m. 1931–1962)
Children
Rex Bell Jr., George Beldam, Jr.
Star Sign
Libra
#
Fact
1
Wavy-haired Hollywood western star of the 1930's (at 20th Century Fox) who married the 'It Girl' Clara Bow and became Lieutenant Governor of Nevada. Bell and wife settled down at the Walking Box Ranch in Searchlight, Nevada, where they gave lavish parties to friends in the industry, including Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Errol Flynn, Norma Shearer and Lionel Barrymore.
2
(1954-1962) Lieutenant Governor of Nevada.
3
Died of a heart attack shortly after attending a Fourth-of-July campaign kick-off event while running as the Republican candidate for Governor of Nevada in 1962.
$7 Million
