From teen idol to superhero: the multifaceted career of Rex Smith
In short: Before he was a staple of soft rock radio or a motorcycle-riding TV cop, Rex Smith was a Broadway breakout. From playing Danny Zuko in Grease to becoming the first live-action Daredevil, his career spans musical theater, pop stardom, and unexpected superhero origins.
Rex Smith's rise to prominence began in the late 1970s, a period when he became a celebrated teen idol featured in magazines like 16 and Tiger Beat. His musical success was cemented in 1979 with the hit single "You Take My Breath Away," a track from the platinum-selling television film Sooner or Later. The song, written by Stephen J. Lawrence and Bruce Hart, reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a mainstay on FM soft rock radio stations.
Beyond the pop charts, Smith established himself as a versatile stage performer. He made his Broadway debut in 1979 as Danny Zuko in Grease, later reprising the role in a 1995 touring production. His theatrical range is evidenced by his 1981 Theatre World Award for playing Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance, a role he later brought to the screen in a 1983 film alongside Linda Ronstadt and Kevin Kline. He has since moved between roles such as the Pirate King and characters in productions like Sunset Boulevard and Kiss Me, Kate.
Smith's television career is perhaps most defined by his role as Jesse Mach in the 1985 series Street Hawk. However, he holds a unique place in comic book history as the first actor to portray the Marvel superhero Daredevil in live action, appearing in the 1989 television movie The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. This appearance was originally intended as a backdoor pilot for a dedicated Daredevil series, though the project ultimately did not move forward.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Rex Smith
- Also: Wikidata — Rex Smith · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Rex Smith · CC0
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