Rex Van de Kamp

Rex Van de Kamp
Steven Culp as Dr. Rex Van de Kamp.
Portrayed by	Steven Culp Michael Reilly Burke (unaired pilot)
Duration	2004–05, 2007, 2009, 2012
First appearance	"Pilot" 1x01, October 3, 2004
Last appearance	"Finishing the Hat" 8x23, May 13, 2012
Created by	Marc Cherry
Profile
Occupation	Surgeon Scout Leader
Parents Phyllis Van de Kamp (mother) Mr. Van de Kamp (father; deceased) Spouse Bree Mason (widow) Children Andrew Van de Kamp (son) Danielle Van de Kamp (daughter) Sam Allen (illegitimate son) Grandchildren Benjamin Katz (grandson) Other relatives Henry Mason (father-in-law) Eleanor Mason (step-mother-in-law) Aunt Fern (aunt-in-law) Leo Katz (ex son-in-law) Alex Cominis (ex son-in-law) Younger siblings

Dr. Rex Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actor Steven Culp, and is the first and late husband of one of the series' protagonists, Bree Van de Kamp (portrayed by Marcia Cross). Culp was part of the main cast only during the first season since his character died in the season finale, but made numerous guest appearances for the rest of the series.

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. The role was then offered 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 is present in the background of some scenes in the final cut of the episode.

Culp was not surprised when his character was killed off, stating that he had a suspicion that someone was going to go in the first season finale. Producer and writer Kevin Murphy explained the reasoning for killing off the Rex character: "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."

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

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). Rex suffers a near-fatal 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, George Williams, 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 and die. 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.