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'Homeland' actor James Rebhorn, prolific film and TV star, dies at 65

James Rebhorn, the busy character actor who played the father of Claire Danes' troubled CIA officer Carrie Mathison on the Showtime drama "Homeland," has died. He passed away at his home on Friday, his agent Dianne Busch confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 65.Rebhorn also had a recent recurring role on the USA Network hit "White Collar" as Special Agent Reese Hughes, head of the FBI's Man
Image: James Rebhorn
THE GAME, James Rebhorn, 1997. ©Polygram Filmed Entertainment/courtesy Everett CollectionTele 5 / ©Polygram Filmed Entertainment
Actor James Rebhorn attends the premiere of \"The Box\", in New York, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)
Actor James Rebhorn in New York in November 2009.Peter Kramer / Today

James Rebhorn, the busy character actor who played the father of Claire Danes' troubled CIA officer Carrie Mathison on the Showtime drama "Homeland," has died. He passed away at his home on Friday, his agent Dianne Busch confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 65.

Rebhorn also had a recent recurring role on the USA Network hit "White Collar" as Special Agent Reese Hughes, head of the FBI's Manhattan white-collar crime unit.

During his prolific five-decade career, the Philadelphia native also was memorable as the district attorney that sent Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer to jail on the "Seinfeld" finale in 1998 and as the prosecution’s FBI expert automotive witness in the hilarious film "My Cousin Vinny" (1992). He also had stints as attorneys on the David E. Kelley shows "The Practice" and "Boston Legal" and recurring roles on "Third Watch," "The Book of Daniel," "Law & Order" and "Big Lake."

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Rebhorn played the school's headmaster Mr. Trask in "Scent of a Woman" (1992) and was President Signoff in "The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle" (2000).

James+Rebhorn,+RIP.+On+behalf+of+all+film+buffs,+we+took+for+granted+you'd+always+be+there+&+be+great,+'cause+you+always+were.

—+Patton+Oswalt+(@pattonoswalt)+March+23,+2014+

So+sad+to+hear+about+the+passing+of+James+Rebhorn.+He+played+my+dad+in+Sleepwalk+With+Me.+I+feel+so+lucky+to+have+known+such+a+great+person.

—+Mike+Birbiglia+(@birbigs)+March+23,+2014+

One+of+the+greatest+character+actors+of+all+time,+James+Rebhorn,+passed+away+at+the+age+of+65.+http://t.co/PEnpvnxfcn

—+Al+Roker+(@alroker)+March+23,+2014+

James+Rebhorn,+RIP.+One+of+the+great+"Oh,+it's+that+guy"+actors.+http://t.co/3hfH6RZeRF

—+Radley+Balko+(@radleybalko)+March+23,+2014+

His vast film résumé also includes "Silkwood" (1983), "The House on Carroll Street" (1988), "Desperate Hours" (1990), Regarding Henry (1991), Shadows and Fog (1991), Basic Instinct (1992), "Lorenzo's Oil" (1992), "Guarding Tess" (1994), "Independence Day" (1996), "The Game" (1997), "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999), "Snow Falling on Cedars" (1999), "Meet the Parents" (2000), "Far From Heaven" (2002), "Cold Mountain" (2003), "Real Steel" (2011) and "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" (2012).

Rebhorn was a mainstay of the Roundabout Theatre Company and most recently starred as a father stricken with Alzheimer's in "Too Much, Too Much, Too Many," which opened in November at the Black Box Theatre in New York.

He appeared onstage in the original production of "I'm Not Rappaport" in 1985 and in the revivals of "Our Town," "The Man Who Had All the Luck," "Dinner at Eight," "Twelve Angry Men" and "Prelude to a Kiss."

He also was seen on the TV shows "Kate & Allie," "The Equalizer," "Wiseguy," "Enlightened" and "30 Rock."

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