--- description: The "Homeland" actor, who died on Mar. 21 of melanoma, wrote his own obituary which was published by St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jersey City title: James Rebhorn wrote his own beautiful obituary image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8fdd7e9c490ce309/6986871a55a85908b8a7fe82/146608237.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [tribute](/tag/tribute/) ## tribute Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # _Homeland_ Actor James Rebhorn Wrote His Own Obituary by [Megan Gibson](/author/megan-gibson/) ## Megan Gibson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 25, 2014 12:50 PM CUT  James Rebhorn in 2012 in New York City. James Rebhorn in 2012 in New York City.Robin Marchant—Getty Images by [Megan Gibson](/author/megan-gibson/) ## Megan Gibson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 25, 2014 12:50 PM CUT Actor James Rebhorn — who had roles in _Homeland, Meet The Parents, My Cousin Vinny_ and _Independence Day —_ [died on Friday at the age of 65](http://time.com/34952/james-rebhorn-remembering-the-actor-and-his-many-roles/ "undefined"), from melanoma. The veteran actor worked in show business for 50 years, with dozens of parts to his name, and he continued to take on roles long after his diagnosis in 1992\. Before his death, Rebhorn was able to write his own obituary, a loving ode to his family detailing the adoration he felt for his parents, sister, wife and daughters. The obit, titled “His Life, According to Jim,” was [posted by the](http://stpauljerseycity.org/stpaul/2014/03/24/in-memory-of-jim-rebhorn/#hislife "undefined")[ St. Paul Lutheran Church](http://stpauljerseycity.org/stpaul/2014/03/24/in-memory-of-jim-rebhorn/#hislife "undefined") in Jersey City on Monday. You can read the full, tear-jerking tribute here: --- > “” --- \[[_Vulture_](http://www.vulture.com/2014/03/read-actor-james-rebhorns-self-written-obituary.html "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/36824/james-rebhorn-self-penned-obituary/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/36824/james-rebhorn-self-penned-obituary/"},"headline":"Homeland Actor James Rebhorn Wrote His Own Obituary","datePublished":"2014-03-25T12:50:31.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T06:56:44.807Z","description":"And it's a tear-jerker","url":"https://time.com/36824/james-rebhorn-self-penned-obituary/","keywords":["tribute","movies","remembrance","film","Actor","Homeland","obit","Televison"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8fdd7e9c490ce309/6986871a55a85908b8a7fe82/146608237.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Megan Gibson","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/megan-gibson/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8fdd7e9c490ce309/6986871a55a85908b8a7fe82/146608237.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"James Rebhorn in 2012 in New York City.","caption":"James Rebhorn in 2012 in New York City.","creditText":"Robin Marchant—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/tribute/","name":"tribute"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/36824/james-rebhorn-self-penned-obituary/","name":"Homeland Actor James Rebhorn Wrote His Own Obituary"}}]}] ```