His first name [Rex] means 'King' in Latin.
In a 1963 interview his friend Dirk Bogarde named Harrison as the actor who had influenced him most.
Is the basis for the voice of Stewie Griffin on "Family Guy" (1999).
Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of England at the age of 81. [1989]
Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1965.
Once punched Frank Sinatra in the jaw, thinking the singer was hitting on his wife, Lilli Palmer. Afterwards the two men became good friends.
One of only eight actors to have won both a Tony and an Oscar for having portrayed the same role on stage and screen ("My Fair Lady"). The others are: Joel Grey ("Cabaret"); Shirley Booth ("Come Back, Little Sheba"); Yul Brynner ("The King and I"); Anne Bancroft ("The Miracle Worker"); Paul Scofield ("A Man For All Seasons"); Jack Albertson ("The Subject Was Roses") and José Ferrer ("Cyrano de Bergerac").
Quit smoking after suffering from pains in his legs.
Retired from films after making The Fifth Musketeer (1979), but continued to act on Broadway and television.
Rex Harrison also starred in a play at the Santa Monica Playhouse in the 1980's.
Turned down the lead role in 13 Rue Madeleine (1947). It then went to James Cagney.
Turned down the role of The King in "The King and I". The role went to Yul Brynner'.
Turned down the role of the Prince in the Broadway production of Noel Coward's "The Girl Who Came To Supper" in order to do My Fair Lady (1964). The role went to José Ferrer.
Twice appeared with fellow Academy Award winner Claudette Colbert late in their careers in Broadway productions; "The Kingfisher" by William Douglas-Home opening at the Biltmore Theatre on December 16, 1978 running for 181 performances and "Aren't We All" by Frederick Lonsdale opening at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on April 2, 1985 running for 93 performances.
Was almost completely blind in the left eye as the result of a childhood bout of measles.
Was cremated and part of his ashes were scattered in Italy in Portofino and on the grave of his second wife, Lilli Palmer.
Was so fanatical about wine that he often sent the bottles back if it was not to his liking, sometimes even to his own wine cellar.
When filming Doctor Dolittle (1967), was frequently bitten by the animals.
When he accepted his Academy Award for My Fair Lady (1964), he dedicated it to his "two fair ladies", Audrey Hepburn and Julie Andrews. Andrews had played Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway production, but was passed over for the film version in favor of Hepburn.
Winner of 2 Tony Awards for Best actor for "Anne of the Thousand Days" and "My Fair Lady".