Rex Reed, born October 2, 1938, is an American film critic, journalist, actor, and media personality who has established a long career in entertainment and media. After being raised in the American South and earning a journalism degree from Louisiana State University, Reed moved to New York City in the early 1960s. He began writing about popular culture, art, and celebrities for various publications, eventually becoming a public figure through television appearances and occasional acting roles.

Throughout his career, Reed has authored several books and has been a prominent critic, known for his direct and often contrarian style. His critiques have sometimes drawn controversy for factual inaccuracies or perceived disparaging remarks. He has served as a film critic for numerous publications, including Vogue, GQ, The New York Times, and The New York Observer, where he writes the "Talk of the Town" column. Reed has also been a judge at international film festivals and has had a notable presence in film and television.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 2, 1938, Rex Reed's early life was marked by frequent moves across the American South due to his father's profession as an oil company supervisor. Reed has shared anecdotes about his family history, including distant connections to figures like the Dalton Gang and Jesse James. He pursued journalism, earning his degree from Louisiana State University in 1960. During his university years, he gained early writing experience by contributing film and play reviews to both the student newspaper, The Daily Reveille, and the local Baton Rouge newspaper, The Morning Advocate.

Following his graduation, Reed relocated to New York City with aspirations of an acting career, but instead found work in publicity at 20th Century Fox. His career as a writer and critic gained momentum through the late 1960s and 1970s. He worked as a music critic for HiFi/Stereo Review and later became a film critic for publications such as Vogue, GQ, The New York Times, and The New York Observer. Reed also served as an arts critic for the New York Daily News for thirteen years and as the film critic for the New York Post for five years. His critical commentary is recognized for its bluntness and contrarian viewpoints, though it has also faced criticism for factual errors and for being disparaging.

Rex Reed's career has been punctuated by several high-profile and controversial reviews. His critique of Frank Sinatra's 1974 performance was particularly harsh, describing his voice as "manhandled beyond recognition." In 1986, he controversially suggested Marlee Matlin's Oscar win was due to a "pity vote." Reed also famously questioned Marisa Tomei's 1992 Oscar win, proposing a conspiracy theory that was later debunked by the accounting firm Price Waterhouse. More recently, his reviews of films like "Oldboy" and "Identity Thief" have drawn accusations of xenophobia and body-shaming, respectively. His commentary on films such as "The Shape of Water" has also been criticized for using offensive language towards people with disabilities.

Beyond his extensive work as a critic and journalist, Rex Reed has also engaged in acting and appeared as a media personality. He had acting roles in films such as "Myra Breckinridge" (1970), "Superman" (1978), "Inchon" (1981), and "Irreconcilable Differences" (1984). Reed was also a recurring judge on the television game show "The Gong Show" in the late 1970s. He has made guest appearances, including voicing himself on the animated series "The Critic." In the 2009 documentary "For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism," Reed discussed the historical importance of film critics and expressed concerns about the rise of unqualified online reviewers.

“My mother came from a family of 10 in Oklahoma, her second cousins were the Dalton Gang. And when my grandfather was a little boy, he was rocked by Jesse James on his knee.”

“My job there was to write those puffy things about Elvis Presley and—you know—Fabian, and tell everybody how great they were when I wouldn't be caught dead seeing their movies myself.”

“Cleopatra came along and rocked the company financially. We were saving on rubber bands and paying Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton to float down the Nile while everybody back at Fox was taking salary cuts, and I was the first one to go—the little guy at the $75 salary, the most dispensable item in the company. I was fired.”

“a Woolworth rhinestone”

“his public image is uglier than a first-degree burn, his appearance is sloppier than Porky Pig; his manners are more appalling than a subway sandhog's and his ego bigger than the Sahara (the desert, not the hotel in Las Vegas, although either comparison applies). All of which might be tolerable if he could still sing. But the saddest part of all is the hardest part to face about this once-great idol now living on former glory: the grim truth is that Frank Sinatra has had it. His voice has been manhandled beyond recognition, bringing with its parched croak only a painful memory of burned-out yesterdays.”