Catching Up With ’70s Teen Idol Singer & Actor Rex Smith (Exclusive)

Mike Pingel April 16, 4:28 pm

Rex Smith, 1979 and 2025 inset — NBC/Courtesy: Everett Collection; Credit: Mike Pingel

Rex Smith — the ’70s teen idol best known for his platinum album Sooner or Later and Top 10 hit “You Take My Breath Away,” as well as his star turns on hit shows Street Hawk, As The World Turns, and as host of the music variety show Solid Gold — remains a symbol of versatility and charm as he embraces new chapters in his storied career.

Smith recently reflected on his career, which also included starring runs on Broadway in Grease, The Pirates of Penzance, Sunset Boulevard, Annie Get Your Gun, and Kiss Me Kate. He also appeared in the made-for-TV movie version of Pirates and played the Daredevil in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, during a red-carpet appearance at the Hollywood Museum’s exhibit, ICONIC RIDES: A Drive Through Time.

“I had a journey that was a mixture of Errol Flynn, a little bit of Sinatra, and a superhero,” Smith said. “[I was a] hard rocker, teen idol, superhero, prime time, daytime, Broadway movie star — it’s been a pretty good run. I’m not driving a Ferrari, but I have 5 grown kids and 2 grandkids; I’m proud of that.”

What is Rex Smith doing now?

Credit: Mike Pingel

The multi-talented entertainer remains active, recording music at home for his enjoyment. And music made by others touches his life, too. Smith shared a touching story about reconnecting with his son Brandon — Smith had been unaware he had fathered a son, until Brandon, following his mother Karen’s death, sought Rex out after a performance in 1997. Today, Brandon is working on music about the family. “He [Brandon] sent me a country song he made with AI — it was about us,” Smith said. “The tools available now are a world apart from the music I created in studios.”

Memories of Street Hawk and Solid Gold

STREET HAWK, Rex Smith, (June 1984), 1985.

Mario Casilli/TV Guide/ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection

Reflecting on his action-packed days filming Street Hawk, Smith vividly recalls the stunts. “We blew stuff up, and we blew it up good,” he said. “On Street Hawk, I had lasers, rockets, machine guns on my motorcycle and drove 300 miles an hour.”

Rex remembered a few stunts especially well: “A stuntman was on a stack of cars in a junkyard, it exploded, and the cars tipped over and he went flying into an airbag. It was all in a day’s work and that’s where I got to enjoy Hollywood.”

Smith also shared memories of hosting Solid Gold, noting its significance as the show earned him a $1 million paycheck. “I didn’t know that at first when I got the gig,” he said, “I was buying some beer at Vons, and I picked up the Enquirer it read ‘First guy to make a million’ – I thought I’ll get some Heineken. I’m going to upgrade.”

Looking ahead to his 70th birthday in September, Smith says: “The journey is so good, and I’m game for life.”

For more on Rex Smith, visit his website here.

If you want to check out ICONIC RIDES: A Drive Through Time, the Hollywood Museum is located at 1660 N. Highland Avenue, CA, 90028 (Hollywood Blvd. and N. Highland Ave.) and is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors (62+), $12 for students with ID and $5 for children under 5.
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