Rex Downing started his film career in several Our Gang comedies, but his roles there and in feature films were usually small. He received first attention when he played Young Heathcliff in the 1939 william Wyler film Wuthering Heights (1939), which was nominated for eight Oscars. In the following time Downing had a major role in the B-Movie serial Mandrake the Magician (1939; serial) and played young Tyrone Power in Blood and Sand (1941). After his Service in World War II, he returned to film Business in 1946, but only got small parts. He left film Business in 1948 and later became a Teacher around Los Angeles. His younger brother Barry Downing (1931–1995) was also a child actor.
