Allen was born to Horace E. Allen and Luella Faye Clark on a ranch in Mud Springs Canyon, forty miles from Willcox in Cochise County in southeastern Arizona. • A family friend backed over him with his own car, investigators say. Judy Altieri, a Tucson Police Department spokeswoman. Rex Allen Jr. performed in two of the festival’s headline shows, during which his father made brief appearances. In a 1988 interview with the Citizen, he said: ”There are three stages of show business. Would you like to offer Rex Allen Dunn’s loved ones a condolence message? Dies at 78 by Edward Morris 6/20/2003 Singer and actor Rex Allen Sr. died Friday (Dec. 17) in Tucson, Ariz., … You’re looking at it.”. Funeral arrangement under the care ofCornerstone Funeral Home and Crematory. Tucson police say they believe the death of silver screen legend Rex Allen Sr. yesterday was a horrible accident. Rex Allen was born on December 31, 1920 and died on December 17, 1999. Get his autograph! I thought he died . After growing up in Kentucky, Rex moved to Florida and became a commercial construction superintendent. One of Allen's most successful singles was "Don't Go Near The Indians", which reached the Top 5 of Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart in November 1962. In 1989, his life story was told in the book Rex Allen: My Life, Sunrise to Sunset – The Arizona Cowboy, written by Paula Simpson-Witt and Snuff Garrett. His second marriage was to Bonnie Linder (m. 1946–1973), with whom he had 4 children. He was the original narrator for Walt Disney World's "Hall of Presidents". That segment of the program was dedicated to his memory. T… Coronavirus Update. ALEXANDRIA - Rex Charles Allen, 69, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, at the Marion Veteran's … After moving to Sonoita, Arizona in the early 1990s, he was a viable voice talent almost until his death, recording hundreds of national advertising voice tracks at his favorite Tucson studio, Porter Sound. He later did 10 more movies for Fox and Paramount. Allen worked there for more than four years, with his own band, playing theaters and fairs when not on the air. There are more than 230,000 articles in this archive. Allen provided the narration for the 1973 Hanna-Barbera animated film Charlotte's Web. The couple divorced in 1999. Allen’s son, Rex Allen Jr., declined comment when reached at his Nashville home yesterday. The song is a tale of a young man who disobeys his father's advice stated in the title. The work earned him the nickname, "The Voice of the West." His passing was noted on yesterday’s broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry. His second marriage was to Bonnie Linder (m. 1946–1973), with whom he had 4 children. Earlier this year, the independent Soundies Records label released a CD of 22 unreleased Rex Allen songs recorded at Chicago radio station WLS just before Mr. Allen made it big on the silver screen and earned the title ”The Arizona Cowboy” from the movie and song of the same name. ”We may never know exactly what happened,” Altieri said. Recently Passed Away Celebrities and Famous People. One of Allen's most successful singles was "Don't Go Near The Indians", which reached the Top 5 of Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart in November 1962. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rex_Allen&oldid=982510639, Articles lacking in-text citations from June 2008, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Turner Classic Movies person ID same as Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The producer was Jerry Kennedy. Mr. Allen rarely sang in public in recent years. December 17, 1999 The other secret: His son cannot marry Nova Lee because she's the boy's biological sister. October 30, 1950 - September 16, 2020. Allen narrated more than 150 Walt Disney specials in addition to his radio, singing and acting careers. 0. He was also the voice behind Purina Dog Chow commercials for many years. Rex Jr. then joined him to sing Mr. Allen’s biggest hit, ”Streets of Laredo.”. Allen was a cousin of the Gunsmoke cast member Glenn Strange, who played bartender Sam Noonan. His third and final marriage was to Virginia Hudson, on November 25, 1992. A few months before his death, Allen gave an extensive interview on his days at WLS-AM to announcer and producer Jeff Davis for the 75th Anniversary History of WLS radio program, broadcast after Allen died. He is survived by : his daughter LaTosha Furr (Mitchell) of Muskogee; his siblings, Mary McClure of Vian, Helen McHenry of Sallisaw, Jack Webster of Bowie, TX, William "Pete" Webster of Baytown, TX, Edgar "Bo" Webster of Vian, Edna "Fay" Webster of Sallisaw, Ricky Dunn of Arlington, TX, Virginia "Skeeter" Dunn of Muskogee, James, Danny "Bebe" Dunn of Gore, Patricia, Darrell Gilbert and Mary Gilbert; his grandchildren, Camryn Furr and Jaxon Furr; and his step-daughter Lacy "Dweebie" Smith of Ft Bragg, NC. Neighbors recalled Allen as a private man who was always willing to wave and smile at passersby. Hollywood tradepapers and magazines had articles on Rex Allen's time at Republic Pictures. The California Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of convicted murdered Rex Krebs, who abducted and killed two college … Services honoring Rex's life and legacy will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, at Noffze Funeral Home, 501 N. Harrison St., Alexandria, with Rex's brother Rev. He signed with Republic Pictures and became a popular singing cowboy, and was often paired with sidekick Slim Pickens. Allen began his singing career on radio station KOY in Phoenix, Arizona, after which he became better known as a performer on the National Barn Dance on WLS in Chicago.[3]. He narrated the original 1963 version of The Incredible Journey. Rex was a resident of Flat Lick, Kentucky at the time of passing. He was considered the last of the silver-screen cowboys and outlived his contemporaries, including Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. That’s how empty I feel. He could put his career into perspective. ”I really have. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. May 21, 1959 - Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Write your message of sympathy today. Rex's cause of death was run over by car. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Rex Allen died on December 17, 1999, two weeks before his 79th birthday, in Tucson, Arizona, after he sustained fatal injuries when his caregiver accidentally ran over him in the driveway. Rex Allen Dunn Obituary Here is Rex Allen Dunn’s obituary. The woman, who was taking Allen to a doctor’s appointment, apparently did not see him as she was pulling Allen’s Cadillac out of his garage, apparently with the intention of calling him to the car, Altieri said. In early 1995, Mr. Allen moved from Sonoita to Tucson with his wife, the former Virginia Hudson, also a Willcox native. A few months before his death, Allen gave an extensive interview on his days at WLS-AM to announcer and producer Jeff Davis for the 75th Anniversary History of WLS radio program, broadcast after Allen died. He was always the same guy. He got his start in show business on the East Coast. ”Lord, I miss them.”. August 25, 2020 Married on Nov. 25, 1992, the couple reportedly separated this year. Please accept Echovita’s sincere condolences. Rex passed away on December 17, 1999 at the age of 78 in Tucson, Arizona, USA. A love offering for will be taken at the service in lieu of flowers, and donations will be made to those in need in Rex's memory. Allen recently recorded a new album with Western star Don Edwards, which is expected to be released early next year, according to producer Snuff Garrett, a longtime friend of Allen’s. Receive email updates when there are changes to this story. [citation needed] As other cowboy stars made the transition to television, Allen tried too, cast as Dr. Bill Baxter for the half-hour weekly syndicated series Frontier Doctor. ”No airs about him at all.”. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. In October, Willcox’s annual festival to honor its favorite son, Rex Allen Days, was called the ”Tribute of the Century” to the singer. Copyright © 2020 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. First, in 1940, he married Doris Windsor, with whom he had one child (Rexine Allen). ”It really is a very tragic incident,” she said. REX ALLEN was the last of the "singing cowboys", a genre of western hero unique to the Hollywood cinema from the Thirties to the Fifties. He served as chairman of the association’s advisory board and was a founding member. To get to know him, to be his friend, was more than I expected in my lifetime,” Edwards said. The year 2000 will dawn without any of the great silver screen cowboys. Rex Allen died on December 17, 1999, two weeks before his 79th birthday, in Tucson, Arizona, of a massive heart attack. After high school, he arranged for a half-hour Saturday radio show on KOY in Phoenix, where he worked under the stage name ”Cactus Rex.” Jack Williams, later governor of Arizona, served as his announcer. ”There is evidence that leads us to believe that he may have collapsed or fallen down prior to being run over rather than being knocked down by the impact of the vehicle and then run over,” Altieri said. He died at 5:20 p.m. Allen starred in nearly 50 movies, narrated 150 Walt Disney specials and often starred in commercials. Friends last night remembered ”The Arizona Cowboy,” Rex Allen, for his charm, wit, gentlemanly manners and golden voice. Injuries suffered in an accident in his driveway. Singer/Cowboy Actor Rex Allen Sr. Rex Allen Bowling Rex A. As with many Hollywood stars, some facts about Mr. Allen’s life differ in various reports. His mother died while he was still a child and he was reared by his father, Horace, who raised cattle and horses, did some farming and worked as a trucker. First, in 1940, he married Doris Windsor, with whom he had one child (Rexine Allen). There are no additional photos for Rex Allen Dunn at this time. Michael Collins. Late in coming to the industry, his film career was relatively short as the popularity of westerns faded by the mid 1950s. A 1993 renovation replaced Allen with Jean Shepherd as the voice of the father, but Allen was given a cameo as the grandfather in the final scene. In October, Willcox’s annual festival to honor its favorite son was made even more special as the ”Tribute of the Century” to Mr. Allen. Police are investigating whether he may have stumbled or been overcome by a medical condition before being run over, she said. His five children included Rex Allen Jr., who became a singer like his father. TUCSON (AP) — Western movies singer-actor Rex Allen Sr. died of his injuries Friday several hours after he was hit by a car in his … In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: The Hereditary Neurological Disease Centre specializing in Huntingtons Disease 9300 E. 29th St N Suite 350 Wichita KS, 67226. Allen has been described by friends as a down-to-earth man. The album was scheduled to be released early next year. It features The Merry Melody Singers. American film actor, singer and songwriter, Learn how and when to remove this template message, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum and Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame, List of actors with Hollywood Walk of Fame motion picture stars, "Allen's death a tragic accident, police say", "Willcox remembers cowboy actor Rex Allen", Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum and Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame Web site, Rex Allen in action at the Iverson Movie Ranch in.