UPDATED: It was already very sad news that James Rebhorn had passed away and now Deadline has shared the obituary he wrote for himself. It brings us, and James, an even more honourable look at the life of a man who not only fought for as long as he could but also the respect and love he had for everything in his life. It’s very sad, yet beautiful and reflective and deserves to be shared:
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
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It’s with a heavy heart that THN announced the passing of James Rebhorn, a versatile character actor who has lost his fight against Melanoma -a battle he’d been fighting since 1992.
You’d recognise him recently as Carrie Mathison’s (Claire Danes) Dad from ‘Homeland‘ but also in numerous roles that include INDEPENDENCE DAY (Among other things, he said that great line: “Plausible Deniability...“), playing Special Agent Reese Hughes recently in the US Network FBI drama White Collar, plus MY COUSIN VINNY, SCENT OF A WOMAN, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, COLD MOUNTAIN, MEET THE PARENTS, FAR FROM HEAVEN and re-occurring attorney roles in The Practice and Boston Legal. The list of Rebhorn’s roles is prolific and his career took on over 125 different parts, which is impressive and astonishing at any level, especially at the top.
He is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and their daughters Hanna and Emma. THN send their sincere condolences to his family and friends. R.I.P. 1948 – 2014
