Simon Rex Bio
Simon Rex Cutright, known professionally as Simon Rex and by his stage name Dirt Nasty, is an American actor, rapper, record producer, and model. Born on July 20, 1974, in San Francisco, California, he first rose to prominence as a video jockey on MTV in the mid-1990s. He later built a career across mainstream film, television, and hip-hop music before earning widespread critical recognition for his lead performance in the 2021 drama Red Rocket, directed by Sean Baker. Over the course of his career, Rex has balanced comedic acting roles with a parallel identity as a recording artist and collaborator within the alternative hip-hop scene.
Early Life and Background
Simon Rex Cutright was born on July 20, 1974, in San Francisco, California, and raised in the neighboring city of Alameda. He is the son of Paul, a relationship and breath-work coach, and Zoe, an environmental consultant. Rex’s mother is Jewish, and he has publicly identified as Jewish. His father left the family when Rex was young, and he grew up as an only child in the San Francisco Bay Area.
As a teenager, Rex attended community college while working at a potato-sack factory. At the age of 18, he began dating and living with a model based in Oakland, an experience that helped expose him to the entertainment industry. His upbringing in the Bay Area and his early proximity to modeling circles set the stage for his eventual move into national television and film work.
Path to Acting
Rex first entered the entertainment world through modeling after a casting director spotted him in a waiting room while he was accompanying his girlfriend to an audition. This led to modeling tours for major fashion brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Versace, and Levi’s. In 1995, MTV hired him as a video jockey, and he remained on the network for more than two years before being let go along with two other VJs.
Following his MTV tenure, Rex transitioned into scripted television. He was cast in the WB comedy-drama Jack & Jill in 1999 and made guest appearances on series including Felicity, Baywatch, Everwood, and Summerland. Starting in 2002, he starred opposite Amanda Bynes in the sitcom What I Like About You, a role that introduced him to a wider primetime audience and helped him secure prominent film opportunities.
Simon Rex Career
Early Career (1999–2005)
After leaving MTV, Simon Rex steadily built his television resume with guest spots and recurring roles. His breakout on the small screen came in 2002 with What I Like About You, which established him as a comedic talent and led to feature film casting. He soon joined the Scary Movie franchise, appearing in Scary Movie 3 in 2003 and continuing with Scary Movie 4 in 2006, both of which became commercial hits.
During this same period, Rex developed a parallel identity in music, releasing material under the name Dirt Nasty and collaborating with rapper Mickey Avalon. He formed the group Dyslexic Speedreaders with Avalon and Andre Legacy, co-producing their viral track My Dick. His early career laid the foundation for both his mainstream comedic acting and his alternative hip-hop ventures.
Breakthrough (2006–2020)
Simon Rex continued to balance film, television, and music throughout the late 2000s and 2010s. On screen, he appeared in National Lampoon’s Pledge This! in 2006, Scary Movie 5 in 2013, and the Comedy Central series Typical Rick from 2016 to 2017 alongside Nick Swardson. He also took on dramatic and comedic supporting roles in projects including Hotel California, The Karate Dog, King of the Avenue, and Superhero Movie.
In music, Rex released his self-titled debut album Dirt Nasty in 2007, followed by Nasty as I Wanna Be in 2011, which featured collaborations with Kesha, LMFAO, Too Short, and Warren G. He also co-founded the supergroup Three Loco with Andy Milonakis and Riff Raff, releasing an eight-song EP on Diplo’s Mad Decent label. By the end of the 2010s, however, his film work had slowed considerably.
Notable Works and Milestones
In 2020, after more than a decade of limited acting opportunities, director Sean Baker called Rex in for a video audition for the independent drama Red Rocket. Rex landed the lead role, and the film premiered in competition for the Palme d’Or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where his performance drew overwhelmingly positive reviews. The role is widely regarded as his dramatic career breakthrough and his return to prominence in the industry.
Simon Rex Award Nominations
Simon Rex’s award recognition has centered primarily on his dramatic turn in Red Rocket, with critical honors from independent film organizations marking his most notable career nominations. His performance in the Sean Baker-directed film was singled out by awards groups as one of the standout leading performances of the year.
Simon Rex Awards Won
In 2021, Simon Rex won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for his performance in Red Rocket. The award represented a major milestone in his career, validating his dramatic work following years of comedic and music projects. The recognition underscored his successful transition into serious dramatic acting.
Simon Rex Family
Simon Rex is the son of Paul, a relationship and breath-work coach, and Zoe, an environmental consultant. His father left the family when Rex was young, and he was raised as an only child in the San Francisco Bay Area by his mother. In his late 40s, Rex reconnected with his father, and the two shared what Rex has described as a meaningful bonding experience.
Personal Life
Rex has largely kept his personal relationships private, and no confirmed long-term partners or children are publicly documented. Tabloids have speculated about past romances, including rumors involving Paris Hilton, which Rex has dismissed, stating the two were simply friends. After the success of Scary Movie 3, he purchased a home in Laurel Canyon, later living in a Venice, Los Angeles guesthouse, and today resides off the grid in Joshua Tree, California.