James Rebhorn, of 'Homeland,' 'My Cousin Vinny,' dies at 65

NEW YORK -- James Rebhorn, the prolific character actor whose credits included "Homeland," ''Scent of a Woman" and "My Cousin Vinny," has died. He was 65.

Rebhorn's agent, Dianne Busch, said Sunday that the actor died Friday at his home in South Orange, N.J, after a long battle with skin cancer.

Busch said Rebhorn was diagnosed with melanoma in 1992 but managed to work until the last month. Private funeral services will be held in Jersey City.

In five decades of television and film work, Rebhorn amassed more than 100 credits, ranging from a shipping magnate in "The Talented Mr. Ripley" to the prosecutor in the series finale of "Seinfeld," in which he famously sent the group to jail.

The lanky but piercing Rebhorn, raised a Lutheran in Indiana, often played astringent authorities, like the headmaster in "Scent of a Woman" or the Secretary of Defense in "Independence Day."

On "Homeland," he played the father of Claire Danes' CIA officer Carrie Mathison. He also had a recurring role on the USA Network series "White Collar" playing the FBI head of a white-collar crime unit.

Other credits of the Philadelphia-born Rebhorn, who received his masters in acting from Columbia University, include "The Game," ''Real Steel," ''Law & Order," ''Carlito's Way" and "Meet the Parents."

Rebhorn also frequently worked in theater, starring on Broadway in revivals of "Our Town," ''12 Angry Men" and the original 1985 production of "I'm Not Rappaport."

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Linn, and two daughters.

Rebhorn penned his own obituary in the third person, expressing gratitude for his life, friends and family.

He said his wife and two daughters, "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. He was a lucky man in every way."