Cross & Crescent

Born and raised a Lutheran, James Rebhorn (Wittenberg 1970) had heard of Wittenberg University as early as junior high school. When it came time to apply to college, it was on the top of his list. He was accepted and majored in political science and theater arts.

As graduation approached, Rebhorn had a job lined up at the YMCA in Chicago, Illinois, an organization he had been active in throughout high school and college.

“I had enjoyed theater and thought it was valuable so I decided to go ahead and apply and audition to accredited theater schools,” Rebhorn says. “I wasn’t thinking about becoming a career actor but that I would teach.”

Rebhorn applied and was accepted to the University of Minnesota, Southern Methodist University, and Columbia University. He decided to attend Columbia because it was located New York City, New York. He thought the location would give him exposure to the professional theater.

“So much in this business is determined by luck and by who you know,” Rebhorn says. “Some of the early jobs I had in theater were through people I went to school with or had studied with.”

He got his foot in the door in theater and continues to do much of his work there. He was doing theater mainly in summer stock, dinner theater, and regional theater.

Simultaneously, Rebhorn began gaining experience in front of the camera starring in TV commercials. He had roles in more than 60 commercials, including ones for Wisk (ring around the collar), McDonald’s, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, and General Motors.

“Theater and commercials were the two prongs that I pursued,” Rebhorn says.

The Movies

Rebhorn explains that getting into film was just a matter of luck. When a casting call comes up, agents give out a list of their clients who they think fit the role. He says he was fortunate because when he was starting in the film industry, they would do in-person auditions on the East Coast, something that rarely happens in today’s market.

“That doesn’t happen much anymore because the climate of motion picture has changed and they don’t want to incur that cost,” explains Rebhorn. “So they will audition with a digital camera and send it on the internet. This process has not worked out in my benefit.”

Though he realizes the film industry is strongest on the West Coast, he has never been inclined to leave the New York area.

Rebhorn is most often seen where he is featured in dark villain roles. His character is usually a lawyer, political official, some kind of agent, or some other kind of guy in a suit.

“Film and television, though creative, tend to be very uncreative when it comes to casting,” he claims. “They generally want to hire you based on the last thing they saw you in. It is very difficult to break out and do roles that are out of that type.”

Last year he did get the call to do a Hallmark Hall of Fame special, “Candles on Bay Street,” when Director John Erbman asked him to play the part of a farmer.

“It was a small role but it was a pleasure to be a character who doesn’t wear a suit,” jokes Rebhorn. “I try to make it known to directors and producers that I am interested in doing other types of roles than the ones I have done, but it is difficult. It is such a huge investment of money in motion pictures that they don’t want to take chances.”

Though Rebhorn has appeared in blockbusters such as “Independence Day,” “Scent of a Woman,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” and “Carlito’s Way,” he finds that he is able to take something from any role he is given.

“The way I look at the world, if you can’t find a way to get something good out of the experience, then you have lived an unhappy life,” he says. “All the actors I have worked with, superstars or otherwise, I have enjoyed.”

He does admit there are jobs as an actor that have been more challenging and enriching. He found “8 Seconds,” which was a rodeo movie, to be very challenging and compelling. Other movies that have had a large impact on him are “The Game,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “Snow Falling on Cedar,” “Lorenzo’s Oil,” and a number of independent films.

Rebhorn has had a stint of comedy, too, including appearing in the finale of “Seinfeld.” He laughs because even in that episode he was a lawyer in a suit but it was in a comic forum.

“Probably the most humorous movie I did was “Scotland PA,” which was an independent film. It was a take on Macbeth and it was very funny,” Rebhorn says. “The other one — once again I was wearing a suit and tie playing a FBI agent — was called the “Last Shaw.” It was with Alec Baldwin and Matthew Broderick, and again a very funny movie.”

And who can forget his role in “Meet the Parents.”

The Theater

Rebhorn got his start in theater and still acts there on a regular basis as he does one Broadway show a year. Most of his stage work is done at the Roundabout Theatre Company. He recently finished a revival of “Prelude to a Kiss.” He also did a seven-month stint of “12 Angry Men.”

He says that the immediate feedback in stage and the relationship you have with the audience is very stimulating, exciting, and gratifying.

“It is also exciting to play something from the beginning to the middle to the end,” Rebhorn says. “In a movie, more often than not, you will do the final scene on your first or second day of work. On occasion, though very rare, they try to film in order.”

He does admit the drawbacks of the stage. It is not nearly as lucrative as film or television, and it is exhausting.

“To do a show eight times a week is tiring,” he says. “Particularly on the weekends when you want to spend time with your family.”

The Fraternity

When Rebhorn showed up on the Wittenberg campus, he took part in formal rush. He remembers being immediately impressed with the Lambda Chi house because they stressed education and they consistently had the highest grade point average.

“That was appealing to me,” Rebhorn says. “When I got talking to them about what they thought fraternity was about, it became clear they valued the importance of brotherhood and that appealed to me.”

The other appealing attribute of the Lambda Chi house was their stance on the impending Vietnam War. At the time it was atypical that fraternity groups supported the anti-war counter–culture, of which Rebhorn was a part.

“At Lambda Chi, it was not only welcome, it was encouraged,” he says. “Not that there was a majority of the house that was anti-war but there was a feeling that one could be an individual while still being a part of the group.

Rebhorn says speaking out against the war was embraced because the different viewpoints actually strengthened the brotherhood.

“You were encouraged to be an individual while still being a part of the group,” he says. “I found that to be a very compelling argument for Fraternity life…and still do.”

Rebhorn served the chapter as ritualist. To date, Rebhorn holds the ritual close to his heart and considers it the best memory of his Fraternity days.

He also stays in touch with many of the brothers from Wittenberg. He finds it a thrill, too, when his brothers come to see his shows.

“I get reports on people, get sent pictures and letters, and some come see me in shows while in New York,” he says.

He reunited with a brother who went to see him in “Prelude to a Kiss” and during the run of “12 Angry Men” over 20 brothers saw the show.

Next Act

Rebhorn recently wrapped up his yearly stint on Broadway and says he tries not to talk about what is coming up because so much can change.

“There are a few independent films in the can but whether they will have a broader audience I don’t know,” he says. “For now I have this beat up old house that I keep working on as my hobby.”