James Rebhorn

James Rebhorn was an actor who appeared in more than 100 stage productions, television programs and feature films in a career that spanned five decades.  In recent years he had supporting roles on the USA Network drama White Collar and the Emmy-winning Showtime drama Homeland.

Born in Philadelphia, Rebhorn grew up primarily in Indiana. He began performing as a student at Wittenberg University in Ohio, and after graduating he moved to New York City, where he earned an M.F.A. at Columbia University and became active in the theater.

Rebhorn's stage career included seven Broadway productions, as well as numerous appearances with New York City's Roundabout Theatre Company. He was also a familar presence in dozens of movies and TV projects.

His movie credits included Silkwood, The House on Carroll Street, Desperate Hours, Regarding Henry, My Cousin Vinny, Carlito's Way, Shadows and Fog, Basic Instinct, Lorenzo's Oil, Scent of a Woman, Guarding Tess, Independence Day, The Game, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Snow Falling on Cedars, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, Meet the Parents, Far from Heaven, Cold Mountain, Real Steel and The Odd Life of Timothy Green. 

He made his television debut in the daytime drama The Doctors, followed by roles in more than 30 other series, including Kate & Allie, Spenser: For Hire, Wiseguy, I'l Fly Away, The Practice, Third Watch, The Book of Daniel, Law & Order, Boston Legal, 30 Rock, The Good Wife, Enlightened, White Collar and Homeland.

Rebhorn also appeared in numerous miniseries and made-for-television movies, including North and South, Kane & Abel, Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy, Deadly Matrimony, JFK: Restless Youth, From Earth to the Moon, Amy & Isabelle and Coma.

Rebhorn died March 21, 2014, in South Orange, New Jersey. He was 65.

In a statement upon his passing, USA Network said: "USA Network is deeply saddened about the passing of James Rebhorn, who so brilliantly played Reese Hughes on White Collar. Our sympathies go out to his family, friends and loved ones."

The website of his church, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jersey City, New Jersey, posted an obituary that Rebhorn wrote for himself:

James Robert Rebhorn was born on Sept. 1, 1948, in Philadelphia, PA. His mother, Ardell Frances Rebhorn, nee Hoch, loved him very much and supported all his dreams. She taught him the value of good manners and courtesy, and that hospitality is no small thing. His father, James Harry Rebhorn, was no less devoted to him. From him, Jim learned that there is no excuse for poor craftsmanship. A job well done rarely takes more or less time than a job poorly done. They gave him his faith and wisely encouraged him to stay in touch with God.

He is survived by his sister, Janice Barbara Galbraith, of Myrtle Beach, SC. She was his friend, his confidant, and, more often than either of them would like to admit, his bridge over troubled waters.

He is also survived by his wife, Rebecca Fulton Linn, and his two daughters, Emma Rebecca Rebhorn and Hannah Linn Rebhorn. They anchored his life and gave him the freedom to live it. Without them, always at the center of his being, his life would have been little more than a vapor. Rebecca loved him with all his flaws, and in her the concept of ceaseless love could find no better example.

His children made him immensely proud. Their dedication to improving our species and making the world a better place gave him hope for the future. They deal with grief differently, and they should each manage it as they see fit. He hopes, however, that they will grieve his passing only as long as necessary. They have much good work to do, and they should get busy doing it. Time is flying by. His son-in-law, Ben, also survives him. Jim loved Ben, who was as a son to Jim, especially through these last months.

His aunts Jean, Dorothy and Florence, numerous cousins and their families, and many devoted friends also survive Jim. He loved them all, and he knows they loved him.

Jim received his BA at Wittenberg University and his MFA at Columbia. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Nu Zeta 624, a life-long Lutheran, and a longtime member of both the AMC and ACLU.

Jim was fortunate enough to earn his living doing what he loved. He was a professional actor. His unions were always there for him, and he will remain forever grateful for the benefits he gained as a result of the union struggle. Without his exceptional teachers and the representation of the best agents in the business, he wouldn’t have had much of a career. He was a lucky man in every way.

—Jim Rebhorn, March 2014