Simon Rex | |
|---|---|
 Rex in 2025 | |
| Born | Simon Rex Cutright (1974-07-20)July 20, 1974 (age 51) |
| Other names |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Labels | |
Musical artist | |
| Website | dirtnastymusic |
Simon Rex Cutright (born July 20, 1974),[1] known professionally asSimon Rex and his stage nameDirt Nasty, is an American actor and rapper. Rising to fame as anMTV VJ, Rex later became an actor known forWhat I Like About You, starring in three films of theScary Movie franchise, andNational Lampoon's Pledge This! He later developed a rap persona, Dirt Nasty, and had several solo albums and co-founded the hip-hop groupThree Loco. In 2021, he received critical acclaim for his lead role inSean Baker's drama filmRed Rocket, winning theIndependent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. In 2025, he had a guest role in the second season of the crime mystery seriesPoker Face.
Rex was born inSan Francisco, California, and raised inAlameda,[2] the son of Zoe, an environmental consultant, and Paul, a relationship coach.[3] His mother isJewish and he has identified as Jewish.[4][5]
Rex was an only child who grew up in theSan Francisco Bay Area.[6] Rex's father was abreath-work coach (in the tradition of alternative psychologistStanislav 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 inOakland.[7]
In 1993, aged 19, Rex responded to an advertisement in aLos 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, andHot Sessions III. Archive footage of Rex was also used in the 2000 filmsHot Sessions 11 andHot Sessions 12.[8][9][10]
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 toMilan to work as a model.[7] In 1994, Rex went on a modeling tour forTommy Hilfiger, before going on to appear in mainstream modeling gigs forCalvin Klein Inc,Versace, andLevi's.[11][8]
In 1995,MTV hired Rex to work as aVJ and kept him on the air for over two years before he and two other VJs were let go.[12]
In 1999, he was cast in the comedy-drama television seriesJack & Jill, which aired onThe WB channel for two seasons. He appeared as Eli in the TV showFelicity and television guest appearances followed includingBaywatch,Everwood, andSummerland.[13][14]
Starting in 2002, Rex starred withAmanda Bynes in the sitcomWhat I Like About You.[15] In 2006, he appeared on theLifetime primetime telenovelaMonarch Cove, which ran for fourteen episodes.[16] From television into film, Rex has held the lead role in feature films includingScary Movie3,4, &5,[17]Hotel California,[18]The Karate Dog,[19]King of the Avenue,[20] andSuperhero Movie. Rex more recently starred alongside comedianNick Swardson in theComedy Central show,Typical Rick, which ran for two seasons from 2016 to 2017.[21]
Rex entered the music industry in 2005 as a rap artist after becoming friends with and discoveringMickey Avalon.[22] Rex adopted his alter egoDirt Nasty[23] and formed the rap groupDyslexic Speedreaders with Avalon & Andre Legacy. Rex both produced and was featured on the group's hit song "My Dick".[24] Again the group paired withLil Jon to create the song "What Do You Say" which was featured in 2009's blockbuster comedy film,The Hangover.[25]
Rex was an investor in the New York City nightclubThe Plumm with partners Noel Ashman,Samantha Ronson,Chris Noth, and others. It opened in 2006 and closed in 2009.[26]
In 2007, Dirt Nasty released hisself-titled debut album, which included the songs1980,Cracker Ass Fantastic, andDroppin' Names.[27] His second album, 2011'sNasty as I Wanna Be, featuredKe$ha,LMFAO,Too Short, andWarren G.[28][29] Rex's other musical projects under his Dirt Nasty alias include his third albumPalatial, and thesupergroupThree Loco which featuresAndy Milonakis andRiff Raff. As Three Loco, the group teamed up with producerDiplo and released the group's eight-song EP on Diplo'sMad Decent label.[30] Dirt Nasty appeared in Season 1, episode 5 of Paris Hilton'sMy New BFF where the girls had to play "Seven Minutes in Heaven" with him.
In 2020, Rex, stuck in a floundering music endeavor with film opportunities having dried up, received a call from directorSean Baker asking him to send in a video audition for the filmRed Rocket, after which he was quickly offered the lead role.[31][32] 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."[33] The film premiered in competition for thePalme d'Or at the2021 Cannes Film Festival and the film - and particularly Rex's performance - received overwhelmingly positive reviews.[34][35] The film was considered a serious acting career breakthrough for Rex and his comeback in the industry.[33]
In October 2021, as a result of the attentionRed Rocket had garnered, Rex signed with themanagement firm Range Media Partners. He next appeared inMack & Rita, starringDiane Keaton, followed byDown Low withZachary Quinto. Soon after that, he was cast in a number of other films that premiered in film festivals, such asAmericana andThe Sweet East.[36][37] Other film appearances includeGreedy People,Blink Twice, andEverything's Going to Be Great. He was cast in a supporting role inThe Leader, a biopic about theHeaven's Gate cult led by Marshall Applewhite.[38]
Rex appeared in the April 2, 2022 episode ofSaturday Night Live hosted byJerrod Carmichael with musical guestGunna, in the music video "Short-Ass Movies", where in addition to appearing as himself, his face is used forErnest P. Worrell.[39]
In late 2023, Rex co-founded a re-launched men'sskincare brand out ofColorado known as MOX.[40][41] As the face of the brand, he regularly promotes MOX products on his social media and during interviews.[42][43]
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."[7]
Rex bought a house inLaurel Canyon after the success ofScary Movie 3. He was living in a guesthouse in theVenice neighborhood ofLos Angeles when he was offered US$70,000 by British tabloids to falsely claim he had datedMeghan Markle, his co-star inCuts.[44][45]
Tabloids speculated that he had datedParis Hilton, but he insisted they were just "friends that held hands."[7]
Rex livesoff the grid inJoshua Tree, California, in the middle of theMojave Desert.[7]
| † | Denotes productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th | Slab O'Beef | |
| 2001 | Going Greek | Thompson | |
| 2001 | The Forsaken | Pen | |
| 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 | ||
| 2010 | King of the Avenue | Taz | |
| 2012 | Slightly Single in L.A. | J.P. Cipoletti | |
| 2013 | Scary Movie 5 | Dan Sanders | |
| 2017 | Alexander IRL | Owen Reed | |
| Bodied | Donnie Narco | ||
| 2018 | Avengers of Justice: Farce Wars[46] | Dark Jokester | |
| 2021 | Red Rocket | Mikey Saber | |
| 2022 | Mack & Rita | Luca | |
| My Dead Dad | Gavin | [47][48] | |
| 2023 | Down Low | Buck/Fleshpuppet | |
| Americana | Roy Lee Dean | ||
| The Sweet East | Lawrence | ||
| 2024 | Blink Twice | Cody | |
| Greedy People | Keith | ||
| Operation Taco Gary's | Danny | ||
| 2025 | Magic Farm | Dave | |
| Tow | Cliff | ||
| Everything's Going to Be Great | Kyle | ||
| Easy's Waltz[49] | Sam | ||
| TBA | The Prince† | Post-production | |
| Halloween Store†[50] | Wes Gulager | Post-production | |
| The Leader† | Post-production |
| 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 |
| 2002–2003 | What I Like About You | Jeff Campbell | Main role (season 1); 21 episodes |
| 2004 | The Karate Dog | Det. Peter Fowler | Television film |
| 2004–2005 | 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" | |
| 2016–2017 | 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" |
| 2024 | It's Florida, Man | Eric Merda | Episode: "Gator" |
| 2025 | Mo | Guy | 3 episodes |
| Poker Face | 'Rocket' Russ Waddell | Episode: "Hometown Hero" |
| 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 featuringRiff Raff | Dirt Nasty |
| 2016 | "World Wide Lamper" | Kool Keith featuring B.a.R.S. Murre & Dirt Nasty | Dirt Nasty |
| 2020 | "Burning Man" | Jonah andJeff Wittek | Dirt Nasty |
| 2024 | "Lucky" | Halsey | Love interest |
| 2024 | "BBA" | Paris Hilton featuringMegan Thee Stallion | Party guest |
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association | Best Actor | Red Rocket | Won | [51] |
| Mill Valley Film Festival | MVFF Award | Awarded | [52] | ||
| Newport Beach Film Festival | Breakout Performance Award | Awarded | [53] | ||
| SCAD Savannah Film Festival | Spotlight Award | Awarded | [54][32] | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association | Best Actor | Nominated | [55] | ||
| Gotham Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance | Nominated | [56] | ||
| 2022 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Male Lead | Won | [57] | |
| Seattle Film Critics Society | Best Actor | Nominated | [58] | ||
| Austin Film Critics Association | Best Actor | Nominated | [59][60] | ||
| Santa Barbara International Film Festival | Virtuoso Award | Awarded | [61] | ||
| National Society of Film Critics | Best Actor | Runner-up | [62] |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |