Rex Van de Kamp | |||||||||||||||||
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![]() Steven Culp as Rex | |||||||||||||||||
Portrayed by | Steven Culp Michael Reilly Burke (unaired pilot) | ||||||||||||||||
Duration | 2004–2007 2009, 2010, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||
First appearance | "Pilot" 1x01, October 3, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
Last appearance | "Finishing the Hat" 8x23, May 13, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||
Classification | Main (season 1) Guest (seasons 2–3, 5, 7–8) | ||||||||||||||||
Created by | Marc Cherry | ||||||||||||||||
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Dr. Rex Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives . He is portrayed by Steven Culp, and is the first and late husband of one of the series' protagonists, Bree Van de Kamp (portrayed by Marcia Cross). Culp was part of the main cast only during the first season due to Rex' death in the season 1 season finale, [2] but made numerous guest appearances for the rest of the series.
Steven Culp was series creator Marc Cherry's first choice for the role of Rex, but he was unavailable when the original pilot was filmed. [3] The role was then offered to Michael Reilly Burke. [4] In June, ABC called for three starring cast members to be recast, Burke included, and Cherry offered Culp the role of Rex again. However, Burke can be seen in the background of some scenes in the final cut of the episode. [5]
Culp was not surprised when his character was killed off, stating that he had a suspicion that someone was going to die in the first season finale. Producer and writer Kevin Murphy explained the reasoning for killing off Rex: "As we neared the end of season 1, our plan was that each woman would enter a new life chapter, [...] and Bree would become a single woman. We either had to have Rex divorce her or die." [6]
Rex Van de Kamp is a doctor, the first husband of Bree, and the father of Andrew and Danielle. Rex and Bree first met while attending Lake Forest College at a meeting of the Young Republicans. In Season 6, it is revealed that Rex had a son that was conceived before Rex had met Bree. This son is named Sam Allen and appears in a multi-episode arc during mentioned season.
Rex asks Bree for a divorce during the pilot episode, saying that he could no longer "live in this detergent commercial", although the true root of their marital problems lies in Rex's failing to ask his wife to sexually dominate him. Due to Bree's inability to sexually satisfy him, he begins seeing local homemaker and prostitute Maisy Gibbons (Sharon Lawrence). Rex suffers a near-fatal heart attack while having sex with Maisy. When Rex is in the hospital, Bree discovers his affair with Maisy, and she threatens to eviscerate him. After Rex has a second heart attack, the couple decides that they should be nice to one another in the time they have left. Bree starts dating local pharmacist, George Williams (Roger Bart), to hurt Rex, until she and Rex give their marriage another try, and Bree agrees to take part in S&M scenarios with him. The marriage strengthens when Andrew admits he is gay. However, George falls obsessively in love with Bree. George begins tampering with Rex's prescriptions, which leads to Rex have another heart attack. Rex dies thinking Bree has been poisoning him, and in his final moments, he writes Bree a note saying that he understands why she has poisoned him and that he forgives her.
Rex's funeral takes place during the second season premiere. Culp himself does not appear, but provided his face for the open casket scene in the season premiere, which saw the producers create a life mask of the actor. [7] Culp returns as Rex in flashbacks in the season finale "Remember". The flashbacks include the Van de Kamps' 1994 move to Wisteria Lane and the first time they meet Mary Alice Young. Another flashback shows Rex and Bree at George's pharmacy in 2001, buying hair dye to get rid of the pink highlights Danielle has put in her hair.
In "My Husband, the Pig", the sixteenth episode of Season 3, Rex takes over the role of narrating the episode from beyond the grave, instead of Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong, the regular narrator). The episode focuses primarily on the men of Desperate Housewives (Carlos Solis, Tom Scavo, Mike Delfino, Orson Hodge, and Ian Hainsworth).
Rex appears in flashbacks in the 100th episode, "The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened". When Bree complains about her erratic stove, Rex tells her that he cannot afford to buy her a new one, suggesting that maybe she should get a job of her own. As a reaction to this, Bree begins compiling recipes to make her own cookbook. Rex patronizes Bree, calling her idea foolish. Disheartened, Bree throws away her notes. This conversation is overheard by handyman Eli Scruggs (Beau Bridges), who is in the midst of fixing their sink. Eli later retrieves Bree's notes and returns them to her after Rex's funeral, suggesting that she go ahead with the idea.
Rex briefly reappears in the season premiere "Remember Paul?" during a flashback, chatting with Carlos.
Rex returns in "Women and Death" during one of Bree's flashbacks back to how she has a "mask" and will not let Rex know how she feels. Rex gets offended by this and goes to bed. Rex appeared amongst other deceased characters in the series finale, watching over Susan and her family as she leaves Wisteria Lane.
While reviewing the first season finale, Frazier Moore of USA Today theorized that Rex's death was a ruse, writing: "Reminder: The audience saw no death scene and no body. When has Desperate Housewives exercised restraint without an ulterior motive?" [8] This theory was proved itself wrong in the second season premiere. Ann Hodgman of Entertainment Weekly was negative in her review. She wrote that Rex's death did not come as a surprise, noting: "Just as a TV or movie cop is inevitably shot after he announces that he's about to retire, we know it's over for Rex the minute Bree rests her head on his feeble chest and promises him he'll make it." [9]
Desperate Housewives is an American comedy-drama mystery television series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. It aired for eight seasons on ABC from October 3, 2004, until May 13, 2012, for a total of 180 episodes. Executive producer Marc Cherry served as showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season included Bob Daily, George W. Perkins, John Pardee, Joey Murphy, David Grossman, and Larry Shaw.
Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She is played by actress Marcia Cross, who has received multiple awards and nominations for her portrayal, including an Emmy Award nomination, three Golden Globe Award nominations, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Cross' portrayal of Bree has been widely praised by critics and fans.
"Next" is the second season premiere episode of the American comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and the 24th episode overall. It was originally broadcast in the United States on September 25, 2005, on ABC. It was written by Jenna Bans and Kevin Murphy and was directed by Larry Shaw.
"One Wonderful Day" is the 23rd episode and first season finale of the American comedy-drama television series Desperate Housewives. It was originally broadcast in the United States on ABC on May 22, 2005. The episode was directed by Larry Shaw and written by John Pardee, Joey Murphy, series creator Marc Cherry, Tom Spezialy, and Kevin Murphy.
"Pilot" is the first episode of the American dramedy-mystery series Desperate Housewives. It premiered on October 3, 2004, on the ABC network. It was written by series creator Marc Cherry and directed by Charles McDougall. The pilot introduces the residents of the suburban neighborhood of Wisteria Lane. Following the suicide of an outwardly successful neighbor, her friends begin to deal with the problems in their personal lives. Susan Mayer competes for the attention of a new plumber who has moved across the street; Bree Van de Kamp struggles with her failing marriage and ungrateful family; Gabrielle Solis continues an affair with her sixteen-year-old gardener; and Lynette Scavo copes with life as a stay-at-home mother of four.
Edie Britt is a fictional character created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. Nicollette Sheridan portrayed Edie from her debut in the pilot episode of the series until the character's death in the fifth season.
Karl Mayer is a fictional character portrayed by Richard Burgi and created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. He is the ex-husband of housewife Susan Mayer and father of Julie Mayer, as well as a successful practitioner of family law. The character also becomes romantically involved in the series with two other housewives, Edie Britt and Bree Van De Kamp, both of whom he gets engaged to. Karl dies in Season 6, Episode 11 after injuries sustained when a plane crashes into Wisteria Lane during the Christmas Festival.
Mary Alice Young is a fictional character from the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character was created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry and is portrayed by Brenda Strong, who also serves as the narrator of the series from beyond the grave; the character's suicide in the pilot episode served as the catalyst of the series. The narration provided by Mary Alice is essential to the tale of Wisteria Lane, as the series revolves around her sharing the secrets of her friends and neighbors. Her narration technique is akin in style to Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology (1915).
Betty Applewhite is a fictional character played by actress Alfre Woodard on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is introduced in the last episodes of the series' first season, and becomes the center of the mystery of the second season, along with her two sons, Matthew and Caleb.
John Rowland is a fictional character portrayed by actor Jesse Metcalfe and created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is introduced as the teenage gardener of one of the titular housewives, Gabrielle Solis, with whom she cheats on her husband, Carlos Solis.
Katherine Irma Mayfair is a fictional character created by Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character was portrayed by Dana Delany and first appeared in the series' fourth season premiere on September 30, 2007, as the focus of the yearly mystery.
The fifth season of Desperate Housewives, an American television series created by Marc Cherry, began airing on ABC on September 28, 2008, and concluded on May 17, 2009. The season takes place five years after the events of the season four finale in 2008 and continues to focus on the lives of Wisteria Lane residents Susan Mayer, Lynette Scavo, Bree Hodge, Gabrielle Solis, Edie Britt and Katherine Mayfair, as seen through the eyes of the series' deceased narrator, Mary Alice Young. The season's mystery is centered on Edie Britt's third husband, Dave Williams. The series received media attention following the announcement that Edie, portrayed by Nicollette Sheridan, would be killed off close to the end of the season. Edie takes on the narration in "Look Into Their Eyes and You See What They Know" following her death, marking the second time Mary Alice's voice is not heard in an episode.
The first season of Desperate Housewives, an American television series created by Marc Cherry, commenced airing in the United States on October 3, 2004, concluded May 22, 2005, and consisted of 23 episodes. It tells the story of Mary Alice Young, a seemingly perfect housewife who commits suicide, fearing that a dark secret, involving her, her husband, and their son would be exposed. At her wake, Mary Alice's four close friends and the main characters, Susan Mayer, Lynette Scavo, Bree Van de Kamp and Gabrielle Solis, are introduced. All of them live in the suburb of Fairview on Wisteria Lane. Narrating the series from the grave, Mary Alice describes how her friends try to find out the reason for her suicide, while trying to deal with the problems of their personal lives.
The third season of the American dramedy-mystery television series Desperate Housewives commenced airing on ABC in the United States on September 24, 2006, and concluded on May 20, 2007. The season continues the story of the Wisteria Lane residents, describing their lives in the suburban neighborhood, while dealing with the arrival of the mysterious Orson Hodge. Broadcast in the Sunday night timeslot at 9:00 ET, the season aired twenty-three regular episodes. In addition, two clip shows were produced for the season, in order to put the previous events of the show in perspective. "The Juciest Bites" aired before the seventeenth episode, detailing the events of the first three seasons, in order to introduce the new story arcs in the end of the season. "Secrets and Lies" was narrated by Brenda Strong and was the last clip show to be produced for the series, airing before the inception of the fourth season.
The second season of the American dramedy-mystery television series Desperate Housewives commenced airing in the United States on September 25, 2005, and concluded on May 21, 2006. The season continues the story of the Wisteria Lane residents, while their seemingly perfect lives in the suburban neighborhood are shaken by the arrival of the mysterious Betty Applewhite. Broadcast in the Sunday night time slot at 9.00 ET, the season aired twenty-four regular episodes, including a two-part season finale. In addition, three clip shows were produced for the season, in order to put the previous events of the show in perspective. "All the Juicy Details" aired before the eleventh episode, detailing the most memorable events of the season's first half, whereas "The More You Know, The Juicier It Gets", which aired before the twentieth episode, prepared the viewers for the highly anticipated season finale. "Time to Come Clean" aired three weeks before the inception of the third season, and reviewed the previous mysteries of the series before introducing the new story lines. The second season had fourteen roles receiving star billing, out of whom eleven were part of the first season's main cast. The main story lines of the season were Susan Mayer's relationship with her former husband, Gabrielle Solis' upcoming motherhood, Lynette Scavo's return to work and the death of Bree Van de Kamp's husband.
"You're Gonna Love Tomorrow" is the fifth season premiere episode of the American comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and the 88th episode overall. It originally aired on September 28, 2008, in the United States on ABC. The episode was written by series creator Marc Cherry and directed by Larry Shaw. "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow", as well as all subsequent episodes, takes place five years after the events of the fourth season finale following Cherry's decision to revamp the series with a time jump.
The sixth season of Desperate Housewives, a television series created by Marc Cherry, began airing on September 27, 2009, and concluded on May 16, 2010. The season consists of 23 episodes. The deceased Mary Alice Young continues to narrate the events in the lives of her friends and Wisteria Lane residents, Susan Delfino, Lynette Scavo, Bree Hodge, Gabrielle Solis and Katherine Mayfair. Angie Bolen and her family are the focus of this season's mystery.
"Nice Is Different Than Good" is the sixth-season premiere episode of the American comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and the 112th overall episode of the series. It originally aired in the United States on September 27, 2009, on ABC. In the episode, Mike marries Susan and Angie Bolen and her family move onto Wisteria Lane as they attempt to escape their sordid past.
"Remember Paul?" is the seventh season premiere episode of the American comedy-drama television series Desperate Housewives, and the 135th overall episode of the series. It was originally broadcast in the United States on September 26, 2010, on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). In the episode, Paul announces his return to Wisteria Lane while Carlos learns that his daughter was accidentally switched with another baby at the hospital eight years earlier.