# Rex Linn | From "Cliffhanger" to NBC & Peacock's "Happy's Place" | Longhorn Drummer

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/story-and-craft-with-marc-preston-5077873/rex-linn-from-cliffhanger-to-nbc-peacock-s-happy-s-place-longhorn-drummer
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/story-and-craft-with-marc-preston-5077873/rex-linn-from-cliffhanger-to-nbc-peacock-s-happy-s-place-longhorn-drummer.md
Podcast: [Story and Craft with Marc Preston](https://stenobird.com/podcast/story-and-craft-with-marc-preston-5077873)
Published: 2026-05-29T09:16:25+00:00
Episode link: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com/
Audio file: https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/09b7330e-e910-4233-bc2d-8d12f2796267/stream.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/story-and-craft-with-marc-preston-5077873/episodes/rex-linn-from-cliffhanger-to-nbc-peacock-s-happy-s-place-longhorn-drummer
Duration seconds: 3749

## Resource

Marc Preston sits down with actor Rex Linn from "Cliffhanger" and NBC & Peacock's "Happy's Place" to discuss his new project, career, and personal stories. Over his decades-long career, Rex has become a familiar face on television, appearing in major marquee shows like "CSI: Miami" , "Better Call Saul" , "Young Sheldon" , and "Big Sky" . We cover his early days growing up in Texas and Oklahoma, and how classic Universal movie monsters inspired him to pursue acting. Rex details the pivotal decision to leave his career in banking at age 34 to move to Los Angeles, eventually landing his breakout role opposite John Lithgow and Sylvester Stallone in "Cliffhanger" . He also shares insights into the fast-paced, improvisational nature of shooting a sitcom compared to dramatic television. Off the set, Rex talks about his lifelong passion for drumming, including the moment his fiancée, Reba McEntire, surprised him by having him play live on stage with her band. We also touch on the dynamics of working alongside Reba every day, our mutual appreciation for Whataburger, and the importance of simply being kind. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:06:52 | The unexpected classic movie monsters that inspired his acting career 00:10:56 | The Jack Nicholson performance that cemented his career path 00:13:33 | Leaving a career in Oklahoma banking to pursue acting at 34 00:15:42 | Landing a breakout role opposite John Lithgow and Sylvester Stallone 00:24:31 | Breaking a thumb on the congas to impress a high school crush 00:26:00 | The birthday surprise drum kit from Reba McEntire 00:30:54 | Playing the drums live on stage with Reba's touring band 00:37:47 | The advice John Lithgow shared about working on sitcoms 00:40:58 | The dynamic of rehearsing and acting alongside his fiancée 00:46:16 | The Seven…

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