Rex Murphy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rex Murphy (born March 1947) is a noted Canadian commentator.

Murphy was born in Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador, 105 kilometres west of St. John's and is the second of five children of Harry and Marie Murphy. He graduated from Memorial University in 1968, and promptly went to England to study at Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar (at the same time as Bill Clinton).

Murphy first came to national attention while attending Memorial University during a nationally covered speech in Lennoxville, Quebec. Murphy characterized then Premier of Newfoundland Joey Smallwood's governing style as dictatorial, and proclaimed the recent announcement from his legislature of free tuition as a sham. Smallwood warned the undergraduate student in a news conference not to return. Murphy did and was elected President of Memorial University Student Council. In the end the government caved in. All students received the free tuition promised, plus a $50 living allowance.

Murphy is a frequent presence on the various branches of the CBC. He has regular commentary segments entitled "Point of View" on The National, the CBC's flagship nightly news program. Every Sunday afternoon on CBC Radio One he hosts Cross Country Checkup, a nationwide call-in show.

He also writes a column for the Saturday edition of the Globe and Mail newspaper, called "Japes of Wrath". Murphy is known for his polysyllabic, vitriolic and sarcastic diatribes.

In 2004, he and nine other prominent Canadians participated in the production and the defence of a Great Canadian on the CBC Television program The Greatest Canadian. Murphy, advocating for former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, guided his candidate to a respectable third place in the final vote.

Murphy has run for office in three Newfoundland provincial elections, in 1975 as a Tory, and in 1985 and 1987 as a Liberal. He lost all three times. He also worked in the 1980s as executive assistant to Clyde Wells.

He often picks on actor/director Tom Green who responded by naming his parrot after him. Murphy is often parodied by hit Canadian comedy shows This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Royal Canadian Air Farce.