‘White Collar,’ possible ‘Homeland’ season 4 actor James Rebhorn dead at 65

Sad news breaking now from Los Angeles: Actor James Redhorn, long regarded as one of film and TV’s best character actors, died on Friday. His agent confirmed the news, but did not release a plethora of other details at this time. He was 65 years old.

Rebhorn’s reputation was such that almost everyone could identify his face and some of the roles that he played, even if they did not know his name. This is a man with so many great TV credits to his name, including “Third Watch,” “The Practice,” “Law & Order,” “Boston Legal,” “As the World Turns,” and others from the 1980s and 90s. He was always extremely busy, even if he did not have a regular role on many of the shows in which he appeared in.

More recently, Rebhorn was known for a number of different shows, including the short-lived (but brilliant) “Enlightened” along with a recurring role of Reese Hughes on “White Collar” and as Carrie’s father on “Homeland.” The latter is particularly significant, mostly since the story was set up in such a way that Carrie and Brody’s child may have lived with this character as she went overseas to take on a new mission in Turkey. We will have to wait and see if there are any things that will need to be changed by the writers for this Showtime series in order to accommodate this very sad news. For now, there are clearly other priorities.

There were a number of great tributes that poured in across the internet earlier today, but we find this one from comedian / actor Patton Oswalt to be especially moving:

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

We’ll have of course more news and reaction to this passing as more is announced. For now, thoughts go out to his family and loved ones.

Photo: Showtime