Sir Rex Harrison

Reginald Carey Harrison
1908 - 1990
British born Huyton, Lancashire

Nickname Sexy Rexy . Height 6' 1" (1.85 m) . Born in 1908 in Lancashire, England, Reginald Carey Harrison changed his name to Rex as a young boy, knowing it was the Latin word for King. Starting out on his theatre career at age 18, his first job at the Liverpool Rep Theatre was nearly his last--dashing across the stage to say his one line, made his entrance and promptly blew it. Fates were kind, however, and soon he began landing roles in the West End. "French Without Tears", a play by Terence Rattigan, proved to be his breakthrough role. Soon he was being called the "greatest actor of light comedy in the world." Having divorced his first wife Collette Thomas in 1942, he married German actress Lilli Palmer. The two began appearing together in many plays and British films. He attained international fame when he portrayed the King in Anna and the King of Siam (1946), his first American film. After a sex scandal, in which starlet Carole Landis apparently committed suicide because he ended their affair, the relationship with wife Lili became strained. Rex (by this time known as "Sexy Rexy" for his philandering ways and magnetic charm) began a relationship with British actress Kay Kendall, divorced Lili to marry the terminally ill Kay with hopes of a re-marriage to Palmer upon Kay's death. The death of Kay affected Harrison greatly and Lili never returned to him. During this time Rex was offered the defining role of his career: Professor Henry Higgins in the original production of "My Fair Lady". He won the Tony for the play and an Oscar for the film version. In 1962 Harrison married actress Rachel Roberts. This union and the one following it to Elizabeth Harris (Richard's ex) also ended in divorce. In 1978 Rex met and married Mercia Tinker. He and Mercia remained happily married until his death in 1990. She was also with him in 1989 when he was granted his much deserved and long awaited knighthood at Buckingham Palace. Rex Harrison died of pancreatic cancer three weeks after his last stage appearance, as Lord Porteous in W. Somerset Maugham's 'The Circle'. Spouse Mercia Tinker (17 December 1978 - 2 June 1990) (his death), Elizabeth Rees (1971 - 1975) (divorced), Rachel Roberts (21 March 1962 - 1971) (divorced), Kay Kendall (22 June 1957 - 6 September 1959) (her death), Lilli Palmer (25 January 1943 - 6 February 1957) (divorced) 1 child, Collette Thomas
(1934 - 1942) (divorced) 1 child.

Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986) , Heartbreak House (1986) , The Kingfisher (1983) ,A Time to Die (1982) , The Fifth Musketeer (1979) , Ashanti (1979) , Shalimar (1978) , Crossed Swords (1977) , Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love (1974) , "Play of the Month" (1973) , Staircase (1969) , A Flea in Her Ear (1968) , Fenomenal e il tesoro di Tutankamen (1968) , Doctor Dolittle (1967) , The Honey Pot (1967/I) , The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965) , The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964) , My Fair Lady (1964) , Cleopatra (1963), The Happy Thieves (1962) , Midnight Lace (1960) , "Dow Hour of Great Mysteries" (1960) , "Startime" (1960) , The Reluctant Debutante (1958) , "The DuPont Show of the Month" (1957) , The Constant Husband (1955) , King Richard and the Crusaders (1954) , "The United States Steel Hour" (1953), The Four Poster (1952) , The Long Dark Hall (1951) , "The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre" (1950) , "Your Show of Shows"(1950) , Unfaithfully Yours (1948) , Escape (1948) , The Foxes of Harrow (1947) , The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) , Anna and the King of Siam (1946) , Journey Together (1946) , The Rake's Progress (1945), I Live in Grosvenor Square (1945) , Blithe Spirit (1945) , Major Barbara (1941) , Night Train to Munich (1940) , Ten Days in Paris (1940) , Over the Moon (1939) , The Silent Battle (1939) , Villa for Sale (1938) , The Citadel (1938) , Sidewalks of London (1938) , School for Husbands (1937) , Storm in a Teacup (1937) , Men Are Not Gods (1936) , All at Sea (1935) , Leave It to Blanche (1934) , Get Your Man (1934) , School for Scandal (1930) , The Great Game (1930)