Rex Downing

Rex Haddon Downing[2] (April 21, 1925 – November 18, 2020) was an American actor as a child and youth.

Rex Downing
Rex Downing, 1940s
Born
Rex Haddon Downing

(1925-04-21)April 21, 1925
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedNovember 18, 2020(2020-11-18) (aged 95)
Paso Robles, California, U.S.[1]
Years active1935–1948; 2007

Early years

Downing attended Hollywood High School.[3]

Career

Rex Downing started his film career in several Our Gang comedies, but his roles there and in feature films were usually small. He received first attention when he played Young Heathcliff in the 1939 William Wyler film Wuthering Heights (1939), which was nominated for eight Academy Awards. In the following time Downing had a major role in the B-Movie serial Mandrake the Magician (1939; serial) and played the younger version of Tyrone Power's character in Blood and Sand (1941).

After his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to film business in 1946, but only got small parts. He left film business in 1948 and later became a teacher around Los Angeles.

Personal life

His younger brother Barry Downing (1931–1995) was also a child actor.[4]

Downing died in November 2020 at the age of 95.[5]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1935Teacher's BeauOur Gang MemberShort
1936Branded a CowardYoung Billy Hume
1935Little SinnerOur Gang memberShort
1936Our Gang Follies of 1936Kid Sneaking Two Other Kids InShort
1936The Pinch SingerOur Gang MemberShort
1936Little Miss NobodyOrphanUncredited
1936Two Too YoungStudentShort
1936Pay as You ExitAudience MemberShort
1936General SpankyKid Army MemberUncredited
1937Glove TapsKidShort
1937Stella DallasMinor RoleUncredited
1937The Pigskin PalookaPhotographerShort
1937Love on ToastUncredited
1937Wells FargoChildUncredited
1938The Man on the RockShort, Uncredited
1938Black BanditYoung Don
1939Wuthering HeightsHeathcliff (as a child)
1939Mandrake the MagicianTommy HoustonSerial
1939Nurse Edith CavellFrancois
1939The EscapeTommy Rogers
1940Adventure in DiamondsButtonsUncredited
1941Men of Boys TownMiles FenlayUncredited
1941Blood and SandJuan (as a child)
1942The Vanishing VirginianNewsboyUncredited
1942The Mayor of 44th StreetBits McKarg
1946Gas House KidsMickey Papopalous
1947The Invisible WallBellhopUncredited
1947That Hagen GirlWestern Union BoyUncredited
1947The GangsterBoy with NoteUncredited
1948Call Northside 777Copy BoyUncredited
1948He Walked by NightYoung HoodlumUncredited
1948Act of ViolenceTeenage BoyUncredited
2007Harvest of RedemptionMr. Cutchings(final film role)

References
  1. titel=Death notices for Nov. 9-18 from Kuehl-Nickolay Funeral Home
  2. Lord Heath: Rex Downing
  3. "'Times' Carrier Wins Film Role". The Los Angeles Times. April 18, 1941. p. 35. Retrieved September 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Leonard Maltin& Richard W. Bann: The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang (1992), S. 279
  5. Rex Haddon Downing obituary
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