Homeland star wrote his own obituary

James Rebhorn, right, in a scene from Homeland. He has died at the age of 65.

James Rebhorn wrote his own obituary before he died.

The Homeland actor passed away on Friday aged 65 following a lengthy battle with skin cancer, and wrote a touching piece in which he paid tribute to his late parents, wife Becky and their daughters Hannah and Emma at some point during his final days.

The full piece was first posted on the website for his church, St Paul Lutheran Church in Jersey City, New Jersey and praised his parents for giving him "faith and wisely [encouraging] him to stay in touch with God."

The obituary went on to describe Rebhorn's wife and their children as the "center of his being".

He wrote: "They 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.

"His children made him immensely proud. Their dedication to improving our species and making the world a better place gave him hope for the future. They deal with grief differently, and they should each manage it as they see fit. He hopes, however, that they will grieve his passing only as long as necessary."

And the Scent of a Woman star concluded the writing to thank those who had helped with his career.

He closed: "Jim was fortunate enough to earn his living doing what he loved. He was a professional actor. His unions were always there for him, and he will remain forever grateful for the benefits he gained as a result of the union struggle. Without his exceptional teachers and the representation of the best agents in the business, he wouldn't have had much of a career. He was a lucky man in every way."

- Bang! Showbiz