Rex Linn

Rex Maynard Linn was born on November 13, 1956, in Spearman, Texas. In August 1969, his family relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where his father worked as a lawyer. He attended Heritage Hall and later Casady School, and during this time, he also held a part-time job at the Oklahoma City Zoo. In November 1975, after viewing Jack Nicholson in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Linn expressed his ambition to become an actor.

After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1980, Linn initially pursued a career in banking, rising to vice president of energy lending for Lakeshore Bank. This period concluded on July 5, 1982, when the bank became insolvent. Linn then worked with an oil company while concurrently seeking opportunities in acting. He secured representation from a talent agent in the Oklahoma market and began auditioning for film and television commercial roles. His early acting experiences included small parts and his first film, “Dark Before Dawn,” produced by Edward K. Gaylord II.

Linn’s career progressed with his first significant role in 1989 as serial killer Floyd Epps in “Night Game.” This was followed by a role as a sheriff in a 1990 episode of “The Young Riders.” He then moved to Los Angeles, securing roles in films such as “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” (1991), “Thunderheart” (1992), “Sniper” (1993), and “Cliffhanger” (1993). He also appeared in television series like “Northern Exposure” and “The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.” Linn gained wider recognition for his role as Sgt. Frank Tripp in the CBS series “CSI: Miami,” a role he maintained as a series regular for a significant duration. From 2017 to 2024, he played Principal Tom Petersen in “Young Sheldon” on CBS.