James Robert Rebhorn (September 1, 1948 – March 21, 2014) was an American character actor. Rebhorn appeared in over 100 films, television series, and plays.
Rebhorn portrayed George Wilbur in My Cousin Vinny, Dr. McElwaine in Basic Instinct, FBI Agent Flynn in White Sands and Mr. Trask in Scent of a Woman (all in 1992), John Merino in Up Close & Personal, Albert Nimziki in Independence Day, Charlie Reynolds in My Fellow Americans, Alvin Hooks in Snow Falling on Cedars, and Dr. Larry Banks in Meet the Parents.
He had several recurring roles in TV series, including Charles Garnett in Law & Order (where he also played other characters), Captain Elchisak in Third Watch, Bertram Webster in The Book of Daniel, Reese Hughes in White Collar, Carl Franklin in Big Lake, and Frank Mathison in Homeland.
Early life Rebhorn was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 1, 1948, the son of Ardell Frances () and James Harry Rebhorn, an industrial engineer and salesman. He was of German descent. Rebhorn moved to Anderson, Indiana, as a child and graduated from Madison Heights High School in 1966. A devout Lutheran, he attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, where he studied political science.
While there, he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Richard S. Huffman was one of his instructors and directed him in a lead role in Aristophanes's Lysistrata as well as Molière's Tricks of Scapin. After graduating in 1970, Rebhorn moved to New York City, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts in acting from Columbia University's School of the Arts, and joined the metropolitan theater scene.
Career An early performance was in Butterflies are Free at the Peterborough Players in New Hampshire in 1974. Rebhorn played Peter Latham in Forty Carats at the GasLight Dinner Theatre in Salt Lake City in the 1970s. He was known both for portraying WASP stereotypes, lawyers, politicians, doctors, and military men, as well as portraying individuals engaged in or responsible for criminal behavior.
He delivered equally notable performances in a variety of other roles, including that of a brutal serial killer on NBC's Law & Order (he would later return to the show in the recurring role of defense attorney Charles Garnett), Ellard Muscatine in Lorenzo's Oil (1992), Fred Waters in Blank Check (1994), Clyde Frost, the father of famed bullrider Lane Frost, in 8 Seconds (1994), Lt. Tyler in White Squall (1996), and a shipping magnate in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).
One of his best known performances was in the popular 1996 film Independence Day, where he played Secretary of Defense Albert Nimziki. He acted in Scent of a Woman (1992), and played an expert witness in My Cousin Vinny (1992). He appeared in Carlito's Way as an obsessed district attorney the following year. Rebhorn played an FBI agent in the 1994 film Guarding Tess.
Rebhorn played several roles on television, including an abusive stepfather, Bradley Raines, on the soap opera Guiding Light from 1983 to 1985, and an abusive father, Henry Lange, on sister soap As the World Turns from 1988 to 1991. An earlier daytime role was as John Brady in Texas from 1981 to 1982.
In 1991, he played the role of Ezra in the television movie/pilot Plymouth. He cameoed in Madonna's video for her single "Bad Girl" along with Christopher Walken (1993). In 1994, he appeared in an episode of the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete, titled "Farewell, My Little Viking", as Mr. McFlemp.
In 1998, he played the district attorney in the two part series finale of Seinfeld. He appeared in supporting roles in Regarding Henry, The Game, The Talented Mr. Ripley and Meet the Parents. In 2003, he appeared in the Chris Rock film Head of State, as Democratic Senator Bill Arnot. In 2004, he appeared in the television miniseries Reversible Errors. His role in the short-lived and controversial NBC drama The Book of Daniel cast him as the father of the title character. From 2009 to 2013, Rebhorn played the recurring role of Reese Hughes, the FBI white-collar division chief, on White Collar.
Starting in 2011, Rebhorn appeared in the Showtime series Homeland as Frank Mathison, father of the series' main character Carrie Mathison, played by Claire Danes. His character suffered from bipolar disorder like Danes's character did. However, Frank had been able to get it under control and became quite functional on a daily basis with the correct dosing of medications, and would often encourage Carrie to do the same. Rebhorn's death in 2014 meant his character died in the show as well. The fourth-season finale of Homeland was dedicated to him.
In 2004, he appeared on Broadway as Juror 4 in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of Twelve Angry Men at the American Airlines Theatre.
Rebhorn appeared as a judge in Baby Mama. In the movie The Box, Rebhorn portrayed a NASA scientist. He had a recurring role on the series White Collar as Special Agent Reese Hughes. Rebhorn co-starred in the Comedy Central sitcom Big Lake in 2010. He played Max Kenton's uncle in the movie Real Steel in 2011. He starred as Oren in the miniseries Coma. Rebhorn starred as Gary Pandamiglio in the 2012 Mike Birbiglia comedy Sleepwalk with Me.
In 2012, he played the role of Archbishop McGovern in "Leap of Faith", second-season episode of the CBS police procedural drama Blue Bloods. He co-starred in the romantic comedy The Perfect Wedding in 2013. His stage career included seven Broadway productions, as well as numerous appearances with New York City's Roundabout Theatre Company.
Personal life Rebhorn was married to Rebecca Linn and was the father of two daughters.
Death Rebhorn died at his home in South Orange, New Jersey on March 21, 2014, as a result of melanoma, which he had been battling since 1992. He was 65 years old. Rebhorn wrote his own obituary.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1976 The Yum-Yum Girls Casting Director 1980 He Knows You're Alone Professor Carl Mason 1982 Soup for One Lawyer 1983 Silkwood Los Alamos Doctor 1985 Cat's Eye Drunk Businessman 1986 Whatever It Takes Michael Manion 1988 The House on Carroll Street The Official Heart of Midnight Richard 1990 Desperate Hours Prosecutor 1991 Regarding Henry Dr. Sultan Shadows and Fog Hacker's Vigilante #1 1992 My Cousin Vinny George Wilbur Basic Instinct Dr. McElwaine White Sands FBI Agent Flynn Wind George Scent of a Woman Mr. Trask Lorenzo's Oil Ellard Muscatine 1993 Carlito's Way Bill Norwalk 1994 Blank Check Fred Waters 8 Seconds Clyde Frost Guarding Tess Howard Schaeffer I Love Trouble Mando, The Thin Man 1996 White Squall Tyler Up Close & Personal John Merino If Lucy Fell Simon Ackerman Independence Day Albert Nimziki My Fellow Americans Charlie Reynolds 1997 The Game Jim Feingold 1998 All of It Bill Holbeck 1999 Snow Falling on Cedars Alvin Hooks The Talented Mr. Ripley Herbert Greenleaf 2000 The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle President Signoff Meet the Parents Dr. Larry Banks 2001 Scotland, PA Norm Duncan Last Ball Mr. Corcoran 2002 The Adventures of Pluto Nash Belcher Far from Heaven Dr. Bowman 2003 The Trade John Torman Head of State Senator Bill Arnot Vacuums Dirk Bentley Cold Mountain Doctor 2004 The Last Shot Abe White 2006 How to Eat Fried Worms Principal Nelson Burdock Bernard and Doris Waldo Taft 2007 Spinning into Butter President Winston Garvey Anamorph Chief Lewellyn Brainard 2008 Baby Mama Judge An American Affair Lucian Carver 2009 The International New York D.A. Don McKay Dr. Lance Pryce The Box Norm Cahill 2010 A Little Help Dr. Bronstein The Sparrow and the Tigress Ernest 2011 The Line The Man Short Real Steel Marvin 2012 Sleepwalk with Me Frank The Odd Life of Timothy Green Joseph Crudstaff The Perfect Wedding Richard Fowler 2013 Before I Sleep Priest Final film role
Television Year Title Role Notes 1977 The Doctors Tom Carroll 1981–1982 Texas John Recurring cast member 1982 Will: G. Gordon Liddy Peter Maroulis Television film 1983 Sessions Harry Television film 1983–1985/1989 Guiding Light Bradley Raines Cast member 1984 He's Fired, She's Hired Man on Phone Television film 1985 ABC Weekend Special Charlie Riley Episode: "The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn"1985 North and South Major Anderson Episode: "Episode Six" Kane and Abel Federal Prosecutor Episode: "Episode Two"1985–1986 Search for Tomorrow Al Miller Kate & Allie Derek 2 episodes 1985–1987 Spenser: For Hire Father Hoyt / Paul Manning 2 episodes1986 Rockabye Arthur Reardon Television film A Deadly Business Corbett Television film The Equalizer Eric Episode: "Prelude" 1987 Kojak: The Price of Justice Quibro Television film 1988 The Equalizer Gant Episode: "Last Call"1989 Great Performances Dr. Gibbs Episode: "Our Town" Kojak: Fatal Flaw Slusher Television film ABC Afterschool Special Dan Jensen Episode: "A Town's Revenge" Kojak: Ariana Slusher Television film1990 H.E.L.P. Perry Episode: "Fire Down Below" Against the Law Mayor Episode: "We, the Jury" Wiseguy Agent White 3 episodes Everyday Heroes Jim Television film As the World Turns Angus Oliver / Henry Lange 3 episodes1991 Sarah, Plain and Tall William Wheaton Television film Plymouth Ezra Television film Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace Timothy Lanigan Television film1992 I'll Fly Away Roger Thorne Episode: "The Slightest Distance" Deadly Matrimony Lieutenant Lloyd Butler Television film 1992–2008 Law & Order Charles Garnett / Dr. Horace Garrison / Albert Lawrence Cheney 7 episodes1993 JFK: Reckless Youth St. John 2 episodes Skylark William Wheaton Television film 1994 The Adventures of Pete & Pete John McFlemp 2 episodes1995 The Buccaneers Mr. Closson Episode: "Invasion" The Wright Verdicts Will Garrett Episode: "Special Prosecutor" 1996 Mistrial Mayor Taylor Television film 1997 New York Undercover Tuckett Episode: "The Promised Land"1998 From the Earth to the Moon Harrison Storms Episode: "Apollo One" Seinfeld District Attorney Hoyt Episode: "The Finale" A Bright Shining Lie Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker Television film 1999–2002 Third Watch Captain Elchisak 6 episodes2000 Now and Again General Frederick Augustus Irving 2 episodes Hopewell John Melville Television film2001 Amy & Isabelle Avery Clark Television film The PracticeAttorney John Rapherson 2 episodes UC: UndercoverDeputy Warden Richard Petrocelli Episode: "The Siege" 2003 Hack Richard Farrell 2 episodes 2004 Reversible Errors Erno Erdai Television film2006 Waterfront Thomas Porter 2 episodes The Book of Daniel Bertram Webster 6 episodes Candles on Bay Street Farmer Frieden Television film 2007 The Knights of Prosperity Harrison Plunk Episode: "Operation: Rent Money"2008 Comanche Moon Gov. Elisha Pease Miniseries Canterbury's Law Dr. Allen Petch Episode: "Baggage" Boston Legal Wade Mathis 2 episodes 2009 Royal Pains Will Episode: "No Man Is an Island" 2009–2013 White Collar Reese Hughes 16 episodes2010 30 Rock Dr. Kaplan 2 episodes Big Lake Carl Franklin 10 episodes 2011–2013 Homeland Frank Mathison 8 episodes2012 Blue Bloods Archbishop McGovern Episode: "Leap of Faith" Coma Oren Miniseries Made in Jersey Judge Hudnut Episode: "Ridgewell"2013 The Good Wife Wilkes Ingersol Episode: "Boom De Yah Da" Enlightened Charles Szidon 4 episodes
References
External links
James Rebhorn biography at Yahoo! Movies 20th Anniversary of My Cousin Vinny Interview at Abnormal Use