I’m very sorry to report the death of prolific and spectacular character James Rebhorn. He was 65, and well known to movie, TV, and theater fans as a dynamic performer who could literally do anything and always get it right. Soap opera fans will know his name and face from “Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns,” where he played unrepentant and scary villains. Rebhorn also appeared in seven Broadway productions including “I’m Not Rappaport” and “Prelude to a Kiss.”
But it was in movies and nighttime that Rebhorn not only shined, but appeared constantly. He’d been a regular recently on HBO’s “Enlightened,” “Homeland” and “White Collar.” He was the D.A. who prosecuted the “Seinfeld” gang on their finale. Rebhorn’s movie roles were memorable, including “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (he was Jude Law’s father trying to find his son). He appeared in “Scent of a Woman,” “Real Steel,” and “Cold Mountain,” always playing pivotal character roles.
At six foot five, with what they used to call a noble bearing, Rebhorn managed to play both honorable and sleazy at the same time. He was soft spoken and never did publicity. He was what I think of as the kind of actor who should be honored by SAG at their ceremony every year– not a star, but the guy who makes the entire play, movie, or show plausible.
I met him once, we talked about how he played, for a few years in the 1980s, Bradley Raines, the worst bad guy ever on “Guiding Light.” He seemed shocked that I recognized him. What a loss! Condolences to his family.
