Rex Van de Kamp: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Fictional character on Desperate Housewives}}

{{Infobox character | name =Dr. Rex Van De Kamp

{{Infobox soap character

| other_names =

{{Infobox character | name =Dr. Rex Van Dede Kamp

| image = RexvandecampRexVanDeKamp.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = [[Steven Culp]] as Rex

| years = 2004–07, 2009–10, 2012

| portrayer = [[Steven Culp]]

| introduced first= "[[Pilot (Desperate Housewives episode)|Pilot]]"<br>1x01, ''(episodeOctober 3, 2004 1.01)''

| creator = [[Marc Cherry]]

| last= "[[Finishing the Hat (Desperate Housewives)|Finishing the Hat]]"<br>8x23, May 13, 2012

| species =

| genderalias = Male

| classification = Main (season 1) <br> Guest (seasons 2–3, 5, 7–8)

| introduced = [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives episode)|Pilot]] ''(episode 1.01)''

| last = [[One Wonderful Day (Desperate Housewives episode)|One Wonderful Day]] ''(episode 1.23)''

| last_cause = died of [[potassium]] posioning (inflicted by [[George Williams]])

| age = 40s

| occupation = Doctor

| mother =[[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Phyllis Van de Kamp|Phyllis Van de Kamp]]

| title = Doctor

| spousefather = [[BreeMr Van de Kamp]]

| family = [[Phyllis Van de Kamp]] (mother)<br>[[Henry Mason]] (father-in-law)<br>[[Eleanor Mason]] (step-mother-in-law)

| siblings =Few unnamed<ref>Mentioned in second episode of season 2 by Phyllis</ref>

| spouse = [[Bree Van de Kamp]]

| childrenwife = [[AndrewBree Van de Kamp]]<br>[[Danielle Van(1987-2005; de Kamp]]widow)

| children = [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Sam Allen|Sam Allen]]<br>[[Andrew Van de Kamp]]<br>[[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Danielle Van de Kamp|Danielle Van de Kamp]]

| relatives =

| grandchildren = [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Benjamin Van de Kamp|Benjamin Van de Kamp]] (via Danielle and [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Austin McCann|Austin McCann]])

| footnotes =

| portrayer = [[Steven Culp]] <br> [[Michael Reilly Burke]] (unaired pilot)

| creator = [[Marc Cherry]]

}}

'''Dr. Rex Van Dede Kamp''' is a fictional character on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[television series]] ''[[Desperate Housewives]]''. The characterHe is playedportrayed by actor[[Steven Culp]], and is the first and late husband of one of the series' protagonists, [[StevenBree Van de Kamp]] (portrayed by [[Marcia Cross]]). Culp was part of the main cast only during the first season due to Rex's death in the season 1 [[One Wonderful Day (Desperate Housewives)|season finale]],<ref>Jensen, Jeff (May 27, 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20081012105816/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1065384,00.html "The Opposite of Rex"]. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. Retrieved October 20, 2011.</ref> but made numerous guest appearances for the rest of the series.

==Development and departure==

==History==

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.<ref name="hit">[[Charles McDougall|McDougall, Charles]] (January 5, 2005). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3634415/Desperately-seeking-a-ratings-hit.html "Desperately seeking a ratings hit"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706184501/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3634415/Desperately-seeking-a-ratings-hit.html |date=2016-07-06 }}. ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''. Retrieved August 15, 2010.</ref> The role was then offered to [[Michael Reilly Burke]].<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6450 "Development Update: March 8"]. The Futon Critic. March 8, 2004. Retrieved August 22, 2010.</ref> 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.<ref name="audio pilot">Audio commentary on "Pilot" with [[Marc Cherry]]. [[List of Desperate Housewives DVD releases#Season 1|''Desperate Housewives'': The Complete First Season]]. [DVD]. [[Touchstone Pictures]]. Retrieved March 19, 2011.</ref>

Rex the doctor husband of Bree, it was found out that he had an extra-marital affair with local homemaker/prostitute Maisy Gibbons. He also wanted to divorce Bree because he could no longer "live in this detergent commercial" and because of his inability to ask his wife to [[Sadism and masochism|dominate]] him. Rex had a near-fatal [[heart attack]]. However, because his pharmacist, George Williams, was in love with Bree and jealous of their marriage, Rex was not receiving the proper medication to prevent further heart complications. Ultimately, the tampered medications resulted in Rex's death.

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."<ref name="rex">Jensen, Jeff (May 27, 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20081012105816/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1065384,00.html "The Opposite of Rex"]. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. Retrieved July 26, 2011.</ref>

==Storylines==

===Backstory===

Rex Van de Kamp is a doctor, the first husband of Bree, and the father of [[Andrew Van de Kamp|Andrew]] and [[Danielle Van de Kamp|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.

===Season 1===

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 [[Sadism and masochism|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 [[myocardial infarction|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, [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#George Williams|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.

===Season 2===

Rex's funeral takes place during the [[Next (Desperate Housewives)|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.<ref>Keck, William (September 22, 2005). [https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-09-22-desperate-housewives-set_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA "Not quite so desperate"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313020122/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-09-22-desperate-housewives-set_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA |date=2006-03-13 }}. ''[[USA Today]]''. Retrieved October 20, 2011.</ref> Culp returns as Rex in flashbacks in the season finale "[[Remember (Desperate Housewives episode)|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.

===Season 3===

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]]).

===Season 5===

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.

===Season 7===

Rex briefly reappears in the season premiere "[[Remember Paul?]]" during a flashback, chatting with Carlos.

===Season 8===

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 [[Finishing the Hat (Desperate Housewives)|series finale]], watching over Susan and her family as she leaves Wisteria Lane.

==Reception==

While reviewing the [[One Wonderful Day (Desperate Housewives)|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?"<ref name="moore">Moore, Frazier (May 24, 2005). [https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-05-24-housewives-finale_x.htm "'Housewives' finale leaves open questions"]. ''[[USA Today]]''. Retrieved June 24, 2012.</ref> This theory was proved itself wrong in the [[Next (Desperate Housewives)|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."<ref name="hodgman">Hodgman, Ann (May 23, 2005). [https://ew.com/article/2005/05/22/desperate-housewives-rex-dies-bree-cleans/ "Tidy Endings"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126215041/https://ew.com/article/2005/05/22/desperate-housewives-rex-dies-bree-cleans/ |date=2025-01-26 }}. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. Retrieved July 11, 2011.</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{Desperate Housewives}}

[[Category:Desperate Housewives|Van de Kamp, Rex]]

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:Fictional American television characters|Van de Kamp, Rex]]}}

[[Category:Desperate Housewives|Van de Kamp, Rexcharacters]]

{{fict-char-stub}}

[[Category:Fictional surgeons]]

[[Category:Fictional storytellers]]

[[Category:Fictional Republicans (United States)]]

[[Category:Television characters introduced in 2004]]

[[Category:American male characters in soap operas]]

[[pl:Znajomi Bree Van De Kamp#Rex Van De Kamp]]