Dr. Rex Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC

television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...

Desperate Housewives ''Desperate Housewives'' is an American mystery comedy-drama television series created by Marc Cherry, and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. It aired for eight seasons on ABC from October 3, 2004, until May 13, 2012, for a tota ...

''. He is portrayed by Steven Culp, and is the first and late husband of one of the series' protagonists,

Bree Van de Kamp Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. She was played by actress Marcia Cross, who received multiple awards and nominations for her portrayal, including a ...

(portrayed by

Marcia Cross Marcia Anne Cross (born March 25, 1962) is an American actress. She acted in daytime soap operas such as ''The Edge of Night'', ''Another World (TV series), Another World'', and ''One Life to Live'' before moving to primetime television with a ...

). Culp was part of the main cast only during the first season due to Rex's death in the season 1

season finale A season finale (British English: series finale; Australian English: season final) is the final episode of a season of a television program. This is often the final episode to be produced for a few months or longer, and, as such, will attempt to ...

, but made numerous guest appearances for the rest of the series.

Development and departure

Steven Culp was series creator

Marc Cherry Marc Cherry (born March 23, 1962) is an American television writer and producer. He is best known for creating the ABC dramedy series ''Desperate Housewives'' and Lifetime series ''Devious Maids''. Personal life Early life Marc Cherry was ...

's first choice for the role of Rex, but he was unavailable when the original pilot was filmed. McDougall, Charles (January 5, 2005)
"Desperately seeking a ratings hit"
. ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...

''. Retrieved August 15, 2010. The role was then offered to Michael Reilly Burke. 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.Audio commentary on "Pilot" with

. ''Desperate Housewives'': The Complete First Season. VD

Touchstone Pictures Touchstone Pictures was an American film distribution label of Walt Disney Studios, founded and owned by The Walt Disney Company. Feature films released under the Touchstone label were produced and financed by Walt Disney Studios, and featured ...

. Retrieved March 19, 2011. 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."Jensen, Jeff (May 27, 2005)
"The Opposite of Rex"
''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...

''. Retrieved July 26, 2011.

Storylines

Backstory

Rex Van de Kamp is a doctor, the first husband of Bree, and the father of

Andrew Andrew is the English form of the given name, common in many countries. The word is derived from the , ''Andreas'', itself related to ''aner/andros'', "man" (as opposed to "woman"), thus meaning "manly" and, as consequence, "brave", "strong", "c ...

and

Danielle Danielle is a modern French female variant of the male name Daniel, meaning "The God(dess)" in the French language. The name "Daniel" originates from the Hebrew Bible and is associated with the prophet Daniel. In Hebrew, the name is composed of ...

. Rex and Bree first met while attending

Lake Forest College Lake Forest College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Lake Forest, Illinois. Founded in 1857 as Lind University by a group of Presbyterian ministers, the college has been coeducatio ...

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 sexually dominate him. Due to Bree's inability to sexually satisfy him, he begins seeing local homemaker and prostitute Maisy Gibbons (

Sharon Lawrence Sharon Elizabeth Lawrence (born June 29, 1961) is an American actress. From 1993 to 1999, she starred as Sylvia Costas in the American Broadcasting Company, ABC drama series, ''NYPD Blue''. The role garnered her three Primetime Emmy Award nomina ...

). Rex suffers a near-fatal

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

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, 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 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.Keck, William (September 22, 2005)
"Not quite so desperate"
. ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...

''. Retrieved October 20, 2011. Culp returns as Rex in flashbacks in the season finale "

Remember Remember may refer to: Film and television Film * ''Remember'' (1926 film), an American silent drama film * ''Remember?'' (1939 film), an American romantic comedy * ''Remember'' (2015 film), a Canadian film by Atom Egoyan * ''Remember?'' (201 ...

". The flashbacks include the Van de Kamps' 1994 move to Wisteria Lane and the first time they meet

Mary Alice Young Mary Alice Young (previously Angela Forrest) is a fictional character from the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character was created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry and is portrayed by Brenda Strong, who ...

. 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

(

Brenda Strong Brenda Lee Strong"Miss Arizona 1980"
''Arizona Republic''. July 13, 1980. ...

, the regular narrator). The episode focuses primarily on the men of ''Desperate Housewives'' ( Carlos Solis, Tom Scavo, Mike Delfino,

Orson Hodge Orson Hodge is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character is played by Kyle MacLachlan. Orson is introduced in the final episodes of the second season of the series, and becomes the main mystery of ...

, 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 Lloyd Vernet "Beau" Bridges III (born December 9, 1941) is an American actor. He is a three-time Emmy Award, Emmy, two-time Golden Globe Award, Golden Globe and one-time Grammy Award winner, as well as a two-time Screen Actors Guild Award nomine ...

), 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

series finale A series finale is the final installment of an episodic entertainment series, most often a television series. It may also refer to a final theatrical sequel, the last part of a television miniseries, the last installment of a literary series, ...

, watching over Susan and her family as she leaves Wisteria Lane.

Reception

While reviewing the first season finale, Frazier Moore of ''

'' 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?"Moore, Frazier (May 24, 2005)
"'Housewives' finale leaves open questions"
''

''. Retrieved June 24, 2012. This theory was proved itself wrong in the second season premiere. Ann Hodgman of ''

'' 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."Hodgman, Ann (May 23, 2005)
"Tidy Endings"
. ''

''. Retrieved July 11, 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van de Kamp, Rex Desperate Housewives characters Fictional surgeons Fictional storytellers Fictional Republicans (United States) Television characters introduced in 2004 American male characters in soap operas pl:Znajomi Bree Van De Kamp#Rex Van De Kamp