Rex Rossi Full name: In the first of his several books on Bob Steele, author Bob Nareau confirmed that Rossi was Steele's double for many years, and also noted that Rossi became a lifelong friend of Steele. | ![]() | ![]() (Courtesy of Bob Nareau) Above left is Bob Steele expert and author Bob Nareau with stuntman Rex Rossi on the right. |
Rex Rossi came to Hollywood in the late 1930s, and he worked for a time on a traveling circus that was owned and run by Tom Mix. He became a close friend of Bob Steele and was Steele's double for many years - and his work can be seen in many of the 1940s Monogram Trail Blazers and PRC westerns in which Steele appeared. Rossi did stunting/doubling in early TV and he also did rodeo and circus appearances (where he won several awards for trick riding and trick roping).
An example of Rossi's work (doubling for Bob Steele) is a spectacular flying mount onto Steele's horse in DEATH VALLEY RANGERS (Monogram, 1943), one of the Trail Blazers adventures starring Ken Maynard, Hoot Gibson and Steele. You can also spot Rossi doubling Steele in a flying mount in one of Bob's last starring oaters, SIX GUN MAN (PRC, 1946). According to his World War II draft registration dated July, 1941, 21 year old Rex Joseph Rossi was born December 13, 1919 in Greenville, Kentucky. He lived in Barton, Tioga County, New York; occupation was "Cow-Boy"; and he was employed by rodeo and wild west show promoter Colonel Jim Eskew. For many years, Rex and wife Wanda did their trick riding and roping act at rodeos, circuses, other events. They toured with their own show as well as working for other promoters and shows. Rex Rossi passed away on January 12, 2007 in Orlando, Florida. Donn and Nancy Moyer reported that Rossi had been in ill health for some time and was living in a Florida rest home. A private family service was held and he was interred in the Circus section in the Hugo, Oklahoma Cemetery beside his mother and other family members.
Neil Summers writeup on Rex Rossi at Boyd Magers' Western Clippings website: http://www.westernclippings.com/stuntmen/rexrossi_stuntmen.shtml Newspaper articles on Rex Rossi:
Find A Grave has a photo of the marker for Rex Joseph Rossi (1919 - 2007) who is interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Hugo, Choctaw County, Oklahoma: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80261351/rex-joseph-rossi September, 2007 update from Norma Harris who had the official website for Rex. Soon after Rex's passing, Norma took the website down. It was at: http://www.rossitrickroping.com |
![]() (Courtesy of Donn & Nancy Moyer) July, 1995 - Rex Rossi on the left and Donn Moyer on the right at the Santa Clara County Fair in San Jose, California. | ![]() (Courtesy of Donn & Nancy Moyer) 2004 photo - Rex on the right and Donn Moyer on the left. |