Rex 'Snowy' Baker

Born: 1884-02-08

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Reginald Leslie "Snowy" Baker (8 February 1884 – 2 December 1953) was an Australian athlete, sports promoter, and actor. Born in Surry Hills, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Baker excelled at a number of sports, winning New South Wales swimming and boxing championships while still a teenager. Playing rugby union for Eastern Suburbs, he played several games for New South Wales against Queensland, and in 1904 represented Australia in two Test matches against Great Britain. At the 1908 London Olympics, Baker represented Australasia in swimming and diving, as well as taking part in the middleweight boxing event, in which he won a silver medal. He also excelled in horsemanship, water polo, running, rowing and cricket. However, "His stature as an athlete depends largely upon the enormous range rather than the outstanding excellence of his activities; it was as an entrepreneur-showman, publicist and businessman that he seems in retrospect to have been most important." Baker retired from competition after being injured in a motor-vehicle accident, and became involved in boxing promotion, bringing a number of top fighters from North America and Europe to fight in Australia. During this time, he began to act in a number of silent film roles which showcased his horsemanship, including The Enemy Within, The Man from Kangaroo, and The Shadow of Lightning Ridge. In 1920, Baker left Australia for the United States, where he became known as an entrepreneur and stunt coach. He died in 1953 in Los Angeles, California, from cerebrovascular disease. Baker became Australia's darling of the screen when his silent movie career took off. His movies included The Enemy Within, The Man from Kangaroo, and The Shadow of Lightning Ridge. During this same time, he was also writing and editing a publication titled 'Snowy Baker's Magazine'. For many years, until he settled in the United States, Baker was Australia's leading actor and matinee idol.


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Big City

as 'Snowy' Baker (as Snowy Baker)
Released: 1937-09-03

Anna and Joe are newly married, playful and deeply in love. Joe is scraping by as cab driver in...

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The Kid From Texas

as Polo Match Umpire
Released: 1939-04-14

A loud-mouthed Texas cowpuncher tries his hand at polo finding himself at odds with high society...

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The Sword of Valor

as uncredited
Released: 1924-05-06

American romantic comedy which had the well known Australian actor Snowy Baker as a cast member....

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The White Panther

as Bruce Wainright
Released: 1924-01-22

Australian star Rex "Snowy" Baker stars in this military melodrama. This was the first of a...

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The Empire Builders

as uncredited
Released: 1924-03-01

Australian Rex [Snowy] Baker stars in this USA film. Rex as Captain William Ballard of the...

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The Man from Kangaroo

as John Harland
Released: 1920-01-24

John Harland is a former boxer turned reverend posted to the town of Kangaroo. He falls in love...

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The Enemy Within

as Jack Arlie
Released: 1918-03-10

Snowy Baker is a secret service agent called in to crack a ring of foreign agents involved in...

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