Rex Reason (1928-)

biography

Born on November 30, 1928, in Berlin, Germany, to American parents who were actors, Rex Reason grew up in Los Angeles along with his younger brother, fellow actor Rhodes Reason. Reason enlisted in the Army upon graduating from high school in Glendale. After his honorable discharge in the late 1940s, he began to cultivate an interest in acting and enrolled in the Pasadena Playhouse, eventually taking roles in community theater. In the early 1950s Reason was discovered and signed by Columbia; the studio cast him as the star in his first credited film role in the adventure flick Storm Over Tibet (1952; with Myron Healey).

Reason signed a contract with Universal-International in late 1953, where he acted in such films as The Creature Walks Among Us (1956; with Jeff Morrow) and Raw Edge (1956; with Yvonne De Carlo and Rory Calhoun). Reason is perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Cal Meacham in Universal's science fiction classic This Island Earth (1955; with Faith Domergue and Russell Johnson); however, he acted in a number of dramas and westerns. When his contract with Universal expired in 1957, Reason signed with 20th Century Fox and switched his focus to television, starring in the series Man Without a Gun (syndicated, 1957-1959). Later, he moved to Warner Bros. in the series The Roaring 20's (ABC, 1960-1962).

the films of rex reason

Storm Over Tibet (1952)

Kiss of Fire (1955)

This Island Earth (1955)

Universal's This Island Earth was lampooned by Mystery Science Theater 3000 in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie, also released by Universal. After the release of the film in 1995, Reason won many new fans, and he even appeared at the Mystery Science Theater 3000 ConventioCom ExpoFest-A-Rama 2: Electric Bugaloo to sign autographs.

The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)

This film marks Rex Reason's only other science fiction film appearance and was the final installment in the Creature From the Black Lagoon trilogy of films. But while The Creature From the Black Lagoon and Revenge of the Creature were shot in 3-D, The Creature Walks Among Us was shot flat.

Raw Edge (1956)

Badlands of Montana (1957)

The Rawhide Trail (1958)

Thundering Jets (1958)

rex reason today

After signing with Warner Bros. in 1960, Reason was put to work in the TV series The Roaring 20's. The show lasted two seasons and was canceled in 1962. Reason still had time to go on his contract, but he decided against pursuing acting as a career and bought his contract back from Warner Bros. He went into real estate ventures and accepted just a few guest-starring roles on popular TV shows, such as Here's Lucy. However, Reason eventually abandoned his acting career, focused instead his thriving real estate business. Today, Rex Reason occasionally appears at autograph conventions.

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Perry Mason: 50th Anniversary Edition [DVD] DVD
Twelve of the series's best episodes--including "The Case of the Wary Wildcatter," "The Case of the Treacherous Toupee," "The Case of the Counterfeit Crank," "The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe," and "The Case of the Final Fade-Out"--have been collected in this four-disc set. Also included is "Perry Mason Returns" (1985), the TV movie that finds the legal eagle (Raymond Burr), now a judge, stepping down from the bench to defend former secretary Della Street (Barbara Hale) when she's accused of murder. 12 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; featurette; interviews; photo gallery; TV spots; screen tests; more.
Creature From The Black Lagoon: The Legacy Collection [DVD] DVD
This two-disc set collecting the cinematic adventures of everybody's favorite scary--and scaly--monster opens with "Creature from the Black Lagoon" (1954), in which a team of scientists in the Amazon is hunted by a water-breathing, half-human gillman. Richard Carlson, Julia Adams star. Not in 3-D. Next, it's the "Revenge of the Creature" (1955), as he torments tourists at a Florida aquarium. John Agar, Lori Nelson star. Then, "The Creature Walks Among Us" (1956) after scientists mutate the beastie so that he can live on land--and terrorize San Francisco. Jeff Morrow, Rex Reason star. 4 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: French, Spanish; audio commentary; documentary; photo gallery; theatrical trailer.
This Island Earth [DVD](1955) DVD
Classic science-fiction drama of two Earth scientists who are abducted by white-haired, big-foreheaded aliens and taken to their war-ravaged homeworld of Metaluna in hopes of saving it. Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Russell Johnson, and the bug-eyed Metalunan Mutants star. 86 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English (SDH); theatrical trailer.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie [DVD](1996) DVD
Blast off on the Satellite of Love with Mike Nelson, Tom Servo and Crow in the big-screen version of the hilarious TV series, as they wisecrack their way through Dr. Forrester's latest bad movie experiment, the 1955 sci-fi epic "This Island Earth." There's high-domed aliens, giant mutant insects, the Professor from "Gilligan's Island," and more pop references than you can shake a stick at. 75 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English (SDH).
Band Of Angels [DVD](1957) DVD
After she learns she is of African lineage, the penniless daughter (Yvonne De Carlo) of a once-prosperous Kentucky family is sold as a slave to a New Orleans millionaire (Clark Gable) and soon becomes his mistress. When the Civil War erupts, Gable is threatened by one of his former slaves (Sidney Poitier) who has joined the Union army. With Rex Reason, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.; Raoul Walsh directs. 127 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; theatrical trailer.

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rex reason photos available

filmography

FILM
The Miracle of the Hills (1959) with Nan Leslie and Jay North
The Sad Horse (1959) with Eve Brent
The Rawhide Trail (1958) with Nancy Gates
Thundering Jets (1958) with Dick Foran, Audrey Dalton, and Robert Conrad
Badlands of Montana (1957) with Beverly Garland and Keith Larsen
Band of Angels (1957) with Clark Gable, Yvonne De Carlo, and Sidney Poitier
Under Fire (1957) with Harry Morgan and Steve Brodie
The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) with Jeff Morrow and Leigh Snowden
Raw Edge (1956) with Yvonne De Carlo, Rory Calhoun, Mara Corday, John Gavin, and Ed Fury
Smoke Signal (1955) with Dana Andrews, Piper Laurie, and William Talman
Kiss of Fire (1955) with Jack Palance, Barbara Rush, and Martha Hyer
This Island Earth (1955) with Faith Domergue, Jeff Morrow, Russell Johnson, and Lance Fuller
Taza, Son of Cochise (1954) with Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Gregg Palmer, Morris Ankrum, and Lance Fuller
Yankee Pasha (1954) with Jeff Chandler, Rhonda Fleming, and Mamie Van Doren
China Venture (1953) with Edmund O'Brien, Dabbs Greer, and Alvy Moore
Mission Over Korea (1953) with John Hodiak, John Derek, and Harvey Lembeck
Storm Over Tibet (1952) with Diana Douglas and Myron Healey

TELEVISION SERIES
The Roaring 20's, 1960-1962 ABC TV series. Reason portrayed Scott Norris
Man Without a Gun, 1957-1959 syndicated TV series. Reason portrayed Adam MacLean

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
Wagon Train, episode The Myra Marshall Story, originally aired October 21, 1963
G.E. True, episode Pattern for Espionage, originally aired March 24, 1963
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Ancient Romeo, originally aired May 5, 1962