Rex Linn

{{Infobox person

| name = Rex Linn

| image = Rex Linn by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| caption = Linn in 2022

| birth_name = Rex Maynard Linn

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|11|13|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = Perryton, Texas, U.S.

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1986–present

| spouse =

| partner = Reba McEntire
(2020–present)

}}

Rex Maynard Linn (born November 13, 1956) is an American film and television actor. He is best known domestically for playing the role of Sgt. Frank Tripp in the CBS drama CSI: Miami and more recently for playing Kevin Wachtell in the television series Better Call Saul. Internationally he is best known for playing Richard Travers in the 1993 action thriller film Cliffhanger.

Early life and education

Linn was born in Perryton, Texas, the third child, and second son, of Darlene (née Deere; 1926–1998) and James Paul Linn (1926–2009).[http://www.filmreference.com/film/35/Rex-Linn.html Rex Linn Film Reference biography] He lived in Spearman, Tx up until August 1969, when his parents relocated the family to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where his father practiced law. There he attended Heritage Hall School and later Casady School, an independent school affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and was employed part-time at the Oklahoma City Zoo. In November 1975, after seeing Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Linn announced he was an actor.{{cite news |last=Triplett |first=Gene |date=January 17, 2003 |title=Ropin' dreams Rex Linn living actor's dream, playing a cowboy |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2003/01/17/ropin-dreamsbrrex-linn-living-actors-dream-playing-a-cowboy/62062425007/ |work=The Oklahoman |access-date=May 16, 2022}}

In his high-school production of Fiddler on the Roof, after Linn demolished a set during a number, his drama coach ordered him off the set and advised him to direct his energy to some other field of endeavor, ending Linn's high-school acting career. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1980.{{cite web |url=http://news.okstate.edu/index.php/press-releases/627-the-luckiest-guy-on-the-planet |title=The Luckiest Guy On The Planet |access-date=December 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720024020/http://news.okstate.edu/index.php/press-releases/627-the-luckiest-guy-on-the-planet |archive-date=July 20, 2011 }}

Career

After graduation, Linn worked his way up to vice president of energy lending for the Lakeshore Bank, remaining with it until July 5, 1982, when the bank went insolvent. Linn was able to persuade a talent agent to take a chance on him and represent him in the Oklahoma market. At the same time, he accepted a job with an oil company, overseeing field operations in western Oklahoma, all the while auditioning for film and TV commercial parts. After shooting some commercials, he started landing small roles in various projects. During this time, he was given the opportunity to act in his first film, Dark Before Dawn, which was being produced by his best friend, Edward K. Gaylord II.

In 1989, he was cast in his first substantial role, as serial killer Floyd Epps, in Night Game, starring Roy Scheider. Following this film, and a part as the sheriff in a 1990 episode of The Young Riders (titled "Hard Time"), he decided it was time to head west. He began with small roles in theatrical films such as My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991), Thunderheart (1992), Sniper (1993), and Cliffhanger (1993), and guest shots on TV series including Northern Exposure, Raven, and The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.. Since Cliffhanger, he has appeared in more than 35 films, with that number growing annually. Linn's most recent movie credit is in the political thriller, An Acceptable Loss (2018), where he starred alongside Jamie Lee Curtis.

On June 29, 1994, Linn was honored with a star on Carpenter's Square Theatre Walk of Fame in Oklahoma City. In 1994, he played a detective in Clear and Present Danger. He was a celebrity co-host of the Oklahoma Film Society Real to Reel 2005: "Classic Monster Mash". He has narrated three audio books, One Ranger (2005), A Man Called Cash (2005), and Missing Persons (2006), as well as a documentary for the Oklahoma University InvestEd program, Anatomy of Fraud – Catching a Con in Pottawatomie County in 2004. A similar documentary, Anatomy of a Fraud: Catching a Con in Logan County, also to be narrated by Linn, was described as being "in production" in 2005.

He currently is reported to be living in Sherman Oaks, California, with his dogs, Jack and Choctaw.{{cite news |last=Beale |first=Lauren |date=November 2, 2010 |title=Rex Linn buys four-bedroom Sherman Oaks house |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-02-la-hm-hotprop-rex-linn-20101101-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 16, 2022}} Linn is a University of Texas Longhorns fan, even taking the day off from his CSI: Miami work to attend the 2005 Rose Bowl game when his beloved team played and won the 2005 national championship against the University of Southern California.{{cite news |last=Soldan |first=Penny |date=December 20, 2005 |title=TV Everything's coming up roses for Rex Linn |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2005/12/20/tvbreverythings-coming-up-roses-for-rex-linn/61909798007/ |work=The Oklahoman|access-date=May 16, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://texassports.com/news/2009/7/11/071109aaa_243.aspx |title=Rex Linn: Cooking up a show |date=July 11, 2009 |publisher=University of Texas |access-date=March 31, 2018}}

He is a former chairman of the Oklahoma City chapter of Ducks Unlimited.{{cite news |title=Ducks Unlimited Raising Funds |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1985/11/17/ducks-unlimited-raising-funds/62745290007/ |work=The Oklahoman |date=November 17, 1985 |access-date=May 16, 2022}} In 1986, he won the state duck-calling competition, and came fourth in the national competition.{{cite news |last=LeWand |first=Nicole |date=March 11, 1988 |title=Former Banker Finds An Acting Bonanza With Western Movie |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1988/03/11/former-banker-finds-an-acting-bonanza-with-western-movie/62659202007/ |work=The Oklahoman |access-date=May 16, 2022}}

Linn is an active supporter of children's charities and the arts. On May 12, 2007, he was a celebrity award presenter at the National Association of Police Organizations TOP COPS award ceremony in Washington, DC.{{cite web |url=https://www.usmarshals.gov/safesurrender/news/050307.htm |title=U.S. Marshal Award Winner of Top Cops Award |date=May 3, 2007 |publisher=United States Marshals Service |access-date=March 31, 2018}}

He had recurring roles in several TV series such as Sgt. Frank Tripp on CSI: Miami, a role for which he was tricked into reading during the first season and which he held, as a series regular,{{cite news|last=Soldan|first=Penny|date=December 27, 2004|title=Meeting leads to recurring role for actor|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2878962/meeting-leads-to-recurring-role-for-actor|access-date=May 16, 2022}} until the end of the series. He had a minor role in the webisode series The Walking Dead: Torn Apart playing as Mike Palmer, a father hiding in a neighborhood in Georgia during a zombie apocalypse. It aired on AMC.com on October 3, 2011.{{cite web|date=October 3, 2011|title=Video Extra - The Walking Dead - Torn Apart Webisodes|url=http://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead/video-extras/torn-apart-webisodes|access-date=October 3, 2011|publisher=AMC}} From 2017 to 2024, he's played Principal Tom Peterson on Young Sheldon on CBS.

Personal life

Linn has been dating country singer and actress Reba McEntire since late 2020.{{cite web |last1=Chung |first1=Gabrielle |title=Reba McEntire Says She and Boyfriend Rex Linn Caught COVID Despite Being Vaccinated: 'Stay Safe' |url=https://people.com/health/reba-mcentire-boyfriend-rex-linn-caught-covid-despite-being-vaccinated/ |website=People Magazine |access-date=November 1, 2021 |date=August 6, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Freedman |first1=Adriana |title=Reba McEntire Fans Congratulate Her on Personal News With Rex Linn |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a63544424/reba-mcentire-boyfriend-rex-linn-anniversary-instagram/ |work=Good Housekeeping |date=26 January 2025}}{{cite news |title=All About Reba McEntire and Rex Linn’s Darling Relationship |url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/reba-mcentire-rex-linn-relationship-timeline |work=NBC Insider Official Site |date=17 October 2024}} They first met on the set of the Kenny Rogers vehicle The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991) and reconnected almost thirty years later when McEntire guest-starred as June on Young Sheldon.{{cite web | url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/10/wwhl-reba-mcentire-young-sheldon.html | title=Reba McEntire Owes Her Relationship to Young Sheldon | date=October 11, 2023 }}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1989 \| Night Game \| Epps \|
1992 \| Thunderheart \| FBI Agent #1 \|
rowspan=2\| 1993 \| Sniper \| Colonel Weymuth \| Uncredited
Cliffhanger \| Richard Travers \|
rowspan=4\| 1994 \| Iron Will \| Joe McPherson \|
Wyatt Earp \| Frank McLaury \|
Clear and Present Danger \| Washington Detective \|
Drop Zone \| Bobby \|
1995 \| Cutthroat Island \| Mr. Blair \|
rowspan=3\| 1996 \| Tin Cup \| Dewey \|
The Long Kiss Goodnight \| Man in Bed \|
Ghosts of Mississippi \| Martin Scott \|
rowspan=2\| 1997 \| Breakdown \| Sheriff Boyd \|
The Postman \| Mercer \|
rowspan=2\| 1998 \| The Odd Couple II \| Jay Jay \|
Rush Hour \| Agent Dan Whitney \|
rowspan=2\| 1999 \| Blast from the Past \| Dave \|
Instinct \| Guard Alan \|
2001 \| Ghosts of Mars \| Yared \|
2002 \| The Salton Sea \| Detective Bookman \|
rowspan=2\| 2003 \| The Hunted \| Powell \|
Cheaper by the Dozen \| Coach Bricker \|
2004 \| After the Sunset \| Agent Kowalski \|
rowspan=2\| 2005 \| The Zodiac \| Jim Martinez \|
American Gun \| Earl \|
rowspan=2\| 2006 \| Two Tickets to Paradise \| Karl \|
Abominable \| Farmer Hoss \|
2008 \| Appaloosa \| Sheriff Clyde Stringer \|
rowspan=2\| 2012 \| Atlas Shrugged: Part II \| Kip Chalmer \|
Django Unchained \| Tennessee Henry \|
2013 \| Devil's Knot \| Chief Inspector Gitchell \|
rowspan=2\| 2014 \| Zombeavers \| Smyth \|
A Million Ways to Die in the West \| Sheriff / Narrator \|
rowspan=2\| 2018 \| Under the Silver Lake \| Manager \|
An Acceptable Loss \| The President \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1989

| Night Game

| Epps

1992

| Thunderheart

| FBI Agent #1

rowspan=2| 1993

| Sniper

| Colonel Weymuth

| Uncredited

Cliffhanger

| Richard Travers

rowspan=4| 1994

| Iron Will

| Joe McPherson

Wyatt Earp

| Frank McLaury

Clear and Present Danger

| Washington Detective

Drop Zone

| Bobby

1995

| Cutthroat Island

| Mr. Blair

rowspan=3| 1996

| Tin Cup

| Dewey

The Long Kiss Goodnight

| Man in Bed

Ghosts of Mississippi

| Martin Scott

rowspan=2| 1997

| Breakdown

| Sheriff Boyd

The Postman

| Mercer

rowspan=2| 1998

| The Odd Couple II

| Jay Jay

Rush Hour

| Agent Dan Whitney

rowspan=2| 1999

| Blast from the Past

| Dave

Instinct

| Guard Alan

2001

| Ghosts of Mars

| Yared

2002

| The Salton Sea

| Detective Bookman

rowspan=2| 2003

| The Hunted

| Powell

Cheaper by the Dozen

| Coach Bricker

2004

| After the Sunset

| Agent Kowalski

rowspan=2| 2005

| The Zodiac

| Jim Martinez

American Gun

| Earl

rowspan=2| 2006

| Two Tickets to Paradise

| Karl

Abominable

| Farmer Hoss

2008

| Appaloosa

| Sheriff Clyde Stringer

rowspan=2| 2012

| Atlas Shrugged: Part II

| Kip Chalmer

Django Unchained

| Tennessee Henry

2013

| Devil's Knot

| Chief Inspector Gitchell

rowspan=2| 2014

| Zombeavers

| Smyth

A Million Ways to Die in the West

| Sheriff / Narrator

rowspan=2| 2018

| Under the Silver Lake

| Manager

An Acceptable Loss

| The President

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
1987 \| Unsolved Mysteries \| Terry Conner \| 1 episode
1988 \| Bonanza: The Next Generation \| Cease \| Television film
1989 \| Oklahoma Passage \| Quantrill \| Miniseries, 1 episode
1990 \| The Young Riders \| Sheriff \| 1 episode
1990 \| Cop Rock \| Deputy / Officer Cerruto \| 2 episodes
1991 \| Northern Exposure \| Martin \| 1 episode
1991 \| Doogie Howser, M.D. \| Billy \| 1 episode
1991 \| Guns of Paradise \| Grant Page \| 1 episode "Unfinished Business"
1991 \| The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw \| Henry \| Television film
1992 \| FBI: The Untold Stories \| Christopher Wilder \| 1 episode
1994 \| The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. \| Mountain McClain \| 1 episode
1996–1997 \| 3rd Rock from the Sun \| Chuck / Webber \| 2 episodes
1997 \| Nash Bridges \| Alan Tully \| 1 Episode
1997–2000 \| JAG \| Lt. Mark "Falcon" Sokol \| Recurring role, 5 episodes
1998 \| Vengeance Unlimited \| J.J. \| 1 episode
1999 \| The Jack Bull \| Shelby Dykes \| Television film
1999 \| Walker, Texas Ranger \| Lester Stahl / Sheriff Leland Stahl \| 1 episode
1999 \| Y2K \| Nuclear Plant Foreman \| Television film
1999 \| Snoops \| Jasper \| 1 episode
rowspan=2\| 2000 \| The Pretender \|rowspan=2\| Agent Ellis Talbot \|rowspan=2\| 1 episode
Profiler
2000–2001 \| The Fugitive \| Karl Vasick \| Recurring role, 5 episodes
2001 \| Crossfire Trail \| Luke Taggart \| Television film
2002–2012 \| CSI: Miami \| Sgt. Frank Tripp \| Main role, 187 episodes
2007 \| Saving Grace \| Wiley \| 1 episode
2008 \| Trial by Fire \| Chief Bill Berry \| Television film
2014 \| The Lottery \| General Alan Langdon \| Recurring role, 6 episodes
2015 \| State of Affairs \| Senator Burke \| 4 episodes
2015 \| Key & Peele \| Detective \| 1 episode
2015 \| The Brink \| Rear Admiral McBride \| 4 episodes
2015–2016 \| Nashville \| Bill Lexington \| 3 episodes
2016–2022 \| Better Call Saul \| Kevin Wachtell \| Recurring role, 13 episodes
2016 \| The Ranch \| Coach Shaw \| 1 episode
2017–2018 \| Lethal Weapon \| Nathan Riggs \| Recurring role, 12 episodes
2017–2024 \| Young Sheldon \| Principal Tom Petersen \| Recurring role, 26 episodes
2018 \| Waco \| Dick DeGuerin \| Miniseries, 1 episode
2018 \| The Kominsky Method \| Ed \| 1 episode
2019 \| The L Word: Generation Q \| Jeff Milner \| 2 episodes
2022 \| Roar \| Sheriff \| 1 episode
2022–2023 \| Big Sky \| Buck Barnes \| Recurring role, 13 episodes
2023 \| Reba McEntire's The Hammer \| Bart Crawford \| Television film
2024 \| Happy's Place \| Emmett \| Main role

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1987

| Unsolved Mysteries

| Terry Conner

| 1 episode

1988

| Bonanza: The Next Generation

| Cease

| Television film

1989

| Oklahoma Passage

| Quantrill

| Miniseries, 1 episode

1990

| The Young Riders

| Sheriff

| 1 episode

1990

| Cop Rock

| Deputy / Officer Cerruto

| 2 episodes

1991

| Northern Exposure

| Martin

| 1 episode

1991

| Doogie Howser, M.D.

| Billy

| 1 episode

1991

| Guns of Paradise

| Grant Page

| 1 episode "Unfinished Business"

1991

| The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw

| Henry

| Television film

1992

| FBI: The Untold Stories

| Christopher Wilder

| 1 episode

1994

| The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

| Mountain McClain

| 1 episode

1996–1997

| 3rd Rock from the Sun

| Chuck / Webber

| 2 episodes

1997

| Nash Bridges

| Alan Tully

| 1 Episode

1997–2000

| JAG

| Lt. Mark "Falcon" Sokol

| Recurring role, 5 episodes

1998

| Vengeance Unlimited

| J.J.

| 1 episode

1999

| The Jack Bull

| Shelby Dykes

| Television film

1999

| Walker, Texas Ranger

| Lester Stahl / Sheriff Leland Stahl

| 1 episode

1999

| Y2K

| Nuclear Plant Foreman

| Television film

1999

| Snoops

| Jasper

| 1 episode

rowspan=2| 2000

| The Pretender

|rowspan=2| Agent Ellis Talbot

|rowspan=2| 1 episode

Profiler

2000–2001

| The Fugitive

| Karl Vasick

| Recurring role, 5 episodes

2001

| Crossfire Trail

| Luke Taggart

| Television film

2002–2012

| CSI: Miami

| Sgt. Frank Tripp

| Main role, 187 episodes

2007

| Saving Grace

| Wiley

| 1 episode

2008

| Trial by Fire

| Chief Bill Berry

| Television film

2014

| The Lottery

| General Alan Langdon

| Recurring role, 6 episodes

2015

| State of Affairs

| Senator Burke

| 4 episodes

2015

| Key & Peele

| Detective

| 1 episode

2015

| The Brink

| Rear Admiral McBride

| 4 episodes

2015–2016

| Nashville

| Bill Lexington

| 3 episodes

2016–2022

| Better Call Saul

| Kevin Wachtell

| Recurring role, 13 episodes

2016

| The Ranch

| Coach Shaw

| 1 episode

2017–2018

| Lethal Weapon

| Nathan Riggs

| Recurring role, 12 episodes

2017–2024

| Young Sheldon

| Principal Tom Petersen

| Recurring role, 26 episodes

2018

| Waco

| Dick DeGuerin

| Miniseries, 1 episode

2018

| The Kominsky Method

| Ed

| 1 episode

2019

| The L Word: Generation Q

| Jeff Milner

| 2 episodes

2022

| Roar

| Sheriff

| 1 episode

2022–2023

| Big Sky

| Buck Barnes

| Recurring role, 13 episodes

2023

| Reba McEntire's The Hammer

| Bart Crawford

| Television film

2024

| Happy's Place

| Emmett

| Main role

References

External links

{{IMDb name|0513010}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20090207090014/http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi_miami/bio/rex_linn/bio.php Rex Linn Bio at CBS - CSI: Miami]
{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130204185543/http://www.thestarscoop.com/interviews/rex-linn-exclusive-interview/ Interview with TheStarScoop.com, November 2006]}}

Category:1956 births

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:American people of Dutch descent

Category:American people of English descent

Category:American people of German descent

Category:American people of Norwegian descent

Category:Casady School alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Male actors from Texas

Category:Male actors from Oklahoma City

Category:Oklahoma State University alumni

Category:People from Hansford County, Texas

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:21st-century American male actors