The Stranger Who Changed Everything
Rex Smith had it all in the 1970s. A smash hit, screaming fans, and a face plastered across teen magazines made him an overnight heartthrob. But years later, a young man showed up at one of his performances and stared at him so intensely that Smith couldn't ignore it. When they finally met, the former teen idol nearly fainted.
What followed was an extraordinary family revelation that would change both their lives forever.
Before The Fame, He Was A Rocker
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, on September 19, 1956, Rex Smith didn't originally dream of becoming a teen idol. His ambitions were rooted in hard rock, and he spent his early career performing with bands. Eventually, he fronted a group called Rex, which signed with Columbia Records. Smith seemed destined for rock stardom, but fate had other plans.
He Shared The Stage With Rock Legends
Before becoming a household name, Smith spent two years touring as an opening act for Ted Nugent. He also performed with Lynyrd Skynyrd shortly before the band's devastating 1977 plane crash. Smith later recalled that the tragedy changed the lineup for an upcoming Madison Square Garden concert, giving his band greater prominence. That performance would help launch his next career.
One Performance Changed Everything
Smith's Madison Square Garden performance caught the attention of Bruce and Carol Hart, the writers behind NBC's Sooner or Later. Impressed by what they saw, they helped set him on the path to auditioning for the television movie. Smith landed the lead role, despite having little acting experience. The project would transform him from hard rocker to teenage heartthrob almost overnight.
Screenshot from Sooner or Later, NBC (1979)
Hollywood Turned Him Into A Heartthrob
In Sooner or Later, which premiered on March 25, 1979, Smith played Michael Skye, a handsome teenage musician. His character attracts the attention of a younger girl played by Denise Miller. The movie combined adolescent romance with musical performances, showcasing Smith's voice and good looks. It was the perfect formula for creating a teenage heartthrob.
Screenshot from Sooner or Later, NBC (1979), Enhanced
Then Came The Song Everyone Remembered
The movie featured Smith performing "You Take My Breath Away," the romantic ballad that became his signature hit. Released in 1979, the single reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned gold certification. Its success introduced Smith to millions of listeners who'd never heard his earlier rock recordings. Suddenly, he was one of America's hottest young stars.
Screenshot from Sooner or Later, NBC (1979), Enhanced
His Face Was Suddenly Everywhere
As his hit climbed the charts, Smith became a familiar face in teenage magazines like Tiger Beat, 16, and Teen Beat. His blond curls, blue eyes, and romantic image made him a pinup favorite. The success took him around the world, where he experienced the overwhelming attention that accompanied teen idol fame. But behind the scenes, his record company had made a decision that changed his future.
His Band Was Suddenly Out Of The Picture
Smith later revealed that Columbia Records dropped his band after Sooner or Later was filmed but kept him as a solo performer. The decision effectively ended the hard rock partnership he'd spent years building. Instead, the label focused on the singer whose romantic ballad had made him famous. Smith had achieved stardom, but not quite as he'd imagined.
A Motorcycle Ride Led Him To Broadway
While waiting for Sooner or Later to air, Smith couldn't tour because of his television commitments. One day, while riding his motorcycle, he spotted an advertisement for an open audition for Grease. Despite having no Broadway experience, he learned a song and attended. To his surprise, he landed the role of Danny Zuko in the original Broadway production in 1979.
He Was Living Two Different Lives
Smith later recalled that his teen idol explosion happened while he was performing in Grease. His growing fame brought extraordinary attention, while his evenings were devoted to musical theater. The experience introduced him to a professional world beyond pop music. More importantly, it helped establish the career that would sustain him after his initial fame faded.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
Fame Wasn't Quite What He Expected
Although his sudden popularity brought enormous opportunities, Smith admitted that being labeled a teen idol wasn't entirely enjoyable. He'd spent years establishing himself as a hard rocker, only to become famous for romantic pop music. The demanding schedule and pressures of his new image also took a toll. Fortunately, Broadway was about to offer another breakthrough.
Broadway Gave Him A Second Act
In 1980, Smith joined The Pirates of Penzance alongside Kevin Kline and Linda Ronstadt. The acclaimed production transferred to Broadway in January 1981, showcasing Smith's impressive vocal abilities. His portrayal of Frederic earned him a Theatre World Award and established him as a serious musical theater performer. It also introduced him to some extraordinary people.
He Found Himself Among Hollywood Royalty
Working on The Pirates of Penzance put Smith in the company of major entertainers and celebrities. He later recalled a backstage encounter with legendary filmmaker Federico Fellini and actor Marcello Mastroianni. The production also helped establish a lasting friendship with Kevin Kline. For the former teen idol, Broadway was opening unexpected doors.
He Even Became A Movie Pirate
The success of The Pirates of Penzance led to a 1983 film adaptation starring Smith, Kline, and Ronstadt. Smith reprised his role as Frederic, bringing his stage performance to movie audiences. Although the film didn't match the theatrical production's success, it added another notable credit to his résumé. Meanwhile, Smith had returned to television in a role he'd later question.
Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection, Getty Images
He Took Over From Another Teen Idol
In 1982, Smith joined Marilyn McCoo as co-host of Solid Gold, the weekly music television series. He replaced Andy Gibb, another performer familiar with the pressures of teen idol fame. The job kept Smith visible and connected him with major recording artists. However, he later considered it a career mistake because it interrupted his momentum as an actor.
William Morris Agency , Wikimedia Commons
He Became A Motorcycle-Riding Crime Fighter
In 1985, Smith returned to television drama as the star of ABC's Street Hawk. He played Jesse Mach, a former motorcycle police officer recruited to operate a high-tech crime-fighting motorcycle. The action series offered Smith a dramatic departure from his earlier romantic roles. Unfortunately, Street Hawk lasted only 13 episodes.
Screenshot from Street Hawk, ABC (1985), Enhanced
He Even Played A Marvel Superhero
Smith added another unusual credit in 1989 when he portrayed Matt Murdock, better known as Daredevil, in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. The NBC television movie starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. Smith became the first actor to portray Daredevil in a live-action screen production. Although it didn't lead to his own series, the role gave him a distinctive place in superhero history.
Screenshot from The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, NBC (1989), Enhanced
He Found His Way Back To Broadway
Despite his television success, Smith continued performing in musical theater throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. His Broadway credits included Anything Goes and Grand Hotel, while he also appeared on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. By then, he'd proven himself a versatile entertainer, but his personal life was becoming increasingly complicated.
His Marriage Had Fallen Apart
Smith's marriage to Jamie Buell, with whom he had daughters Meagen and Madison, ended in divorce. He later recalled being devastated by the breakup. A planned engagement in Sunset Boulevard opposite Faye Dunaway had also collapsed before opening. But when another opportunity to perform the musical arose in Toronto, Smith's life was about to change dramatically.
Ron Galella, Ltd., Getty Images
Toronto Was About To Change His Life
Smith joined the Toronto production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, appearing opposite Diahann Carroll. He played Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter involved with fading silent-film star Norma Desmond. During the engagement, he met Courtney Schrage, who would eventually become his second wife. Yet an even bigger surprise was waiting for him in Canada.
Ron Galella, Ltd., Getty Images
A Secret Had Been Kept For Years
During his teen idol years, Smith had a relationship with Karen Lakey, who worked in the music business. She later gave birth to a son named Brandon, but Smith wasn't told about the child. Brandon also grew up without initially knowing his biological father's identity. For years, neither father nor son knew about the connection between them.
His Mother Finally Told Him The Truth
Years later, Karen revealed to Brandon that his biological father was Rex Smith. The news was startling, especially because Smith had spent much of Brandon's childhood appearing on television. Learning the truth gave Brandon a chance to pursue the family connection he'd been missing. And as it happened, Smith was performing in a city where Brandon could find him.
Fairfax Media Archives, Getty Images
He Decided To Find His Father
Brandon's search brought him to a performance of Sunset Boulevard in Toronto. He attended knowing that the man onstage might be his biological father. Smith had no reason to suspect that someone watching him had such an extraordinary connection to his past. But as the performance continued, he noticed something unusual.
Screenshot from Oprah: Where Are They Now?, Harpo Studios (2012–2017), Enhanced
A Stranger Couldn't Stop Staring At Him
Smith later recalled spotting an intensely focused young man near the front of the theater. Wherever he moved onstage, the stranger's eyes seemed to follow him. Although Smith was accustomed to attention, something about this audience member stood out. He had no idea the explanation was deeply personal.
Then They Finally Came Face To Face
After the performance, Smith encountered the young man during an AIDS benefit in the theater lobby. Brandon approached him, giving them their first opportunity to see each other up close. As Smith looked at his face, he recognized features that seemed astonishingly familiar. What happened next would stay with him forever.
The Resemblance Nearly Made Him Faint
Smith later described the moment on Oprah: Where Are They Now? and in interviews about his career. Looking at Brandon, he recognized his own eyes and smile in the young man's face. The resemblance was so powerful that Smith recalled nearly fainting as he began to understand. After years of performing dramatic stories, he suddenly found himself living through one.
Screenshot from Oprah: Where Are They Now?, Harpo Studios (2012–2017)
A DNA Test Confirmed Everything
Although the resemblance was striking, Smith and Brandon needed to know whether they really were father and son. DNA testing confirmed their biological relationship, revealing a firstborn child Smith hadn't known existed. The discovery was life-changing for both men, who'd spent years unaware of their connection. But their reunion was only the beginning.
He Had To Introduce Brandon To His Family
Smith was already the father of two daughters, Meagen and Madison, from his marriage to Jamie Buell. Brandon's unexpected arrival meant the girls suddenly had an older brother. Smith later recalled bringing his children together for a family dinner so they could get acquainted. What began as an encounter with a stranger was transforming his family.
Ron Galella, Ltd., Getty Images
Brandon Became Part Of His Father's Life
Rather than remaining distant, Smith and Brandon developed a meaningful relationship. In a 2002 San Francisco Chronicle interview, Smith revealed that Brandon had served as best man at his wedding to Courtney Schrage. His daughters Meagen and Madison participated as bridesmaids. It was a remarkable outcome for a father and son who'd been strangers for years.
Screenshot from Oprah: Where Are They Now?, Harpo Studios (2012–2017), Enhanced
His Greatest Surprise Had Nothing To Do With Fame
Smith eventually incorporated Brandon's story into his autobiographical show, Confessions of a Teen Idol, which returned to New York's 54 Below in August 2025. The production revisited his journey from hard rock singer to teen idol, Broadway star, and television superhero. But among all those milestones, discovering his son remained one of the most extraordinary chapters of his life. After decades entertaining audiences with dramatic stories, Smith had experienced a real-life twist no screenwriter could have planned.
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