RIP James Rebhorn

One of the all-time "that guy" actors. Played the prosecutor in the Seinfeld finale, the automotive expert witness in "My Cousin Vinny," and, most recently, Claire Danes' father in "Homeland":

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-rebhorn-dead-homeland-white-690464


He was 65.

 

He was the guy who knew all the alien secrets in Independence Day, right?

Always thought he would have been perfect to play LAPD chief Daryl Gates.

 

He also played the headmaster (or whatever) in Scent of a Woman. He's one of those guys that almost always was the stern, straight-laced type, or a dick.

 

65 is way too young.

 

He played an attorney and two different criminals on Law and Order... I know L&O used character actors a lot, but rare for them to play three different characters in the series.

 

RIP to another guy who was able to craft a great career though he wasn't a big star.

Also, going over his resume on IMDB (which is about a mile long), I realized where I first saw him: On "Guiding Light," my mom's favorite soap, as an evil stepfather.

 

Yeah, he was the guy who the president ended up firing.

Also was the annoying relative in Meet the Parents.

 

First time I really paid much attention to him was in the 1997 Michael Douglas/David Fincher movie "The Game." Lots of good performances in that one.

 

Too bad he never teamed up with Chelcie Ross for a Dueling Tool-Off.

He was real good at his job. Always sold his roles.

From most indications, he was a pretty nice guy personally, so he wasn't just playing himself.


Too bad he died before the supposedly upcoming "Independence Day" sequel -- I had a hunch he was going to have a pretty major role in that one.


Penned his own obit. Worth a read:

http://www.vulture.com/2014/03/read-actor-james-rebhorns-self-written-obituary.html

 

I always wonder how much money guys like that make in an average year. Recognizable, consistently good, used a lot, but not a star or a "name" actor on any level.

RIP

 

Always confused Rebhord and Ed Lauter who also recently passed away. Two
class "that guy" actors.
Last I saw Rebhord he was not well. I believe he was bipolar.

 

Kind of like your journeyman baseball player who hangs around 12-15 years and makes pretty decent money without making all that fame.

Could be a Grantland bracket: Best Fringe TV Players.