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William Devane
Actor

William Devane

5 Sep 1939Born
87Age
115Credits
Albany, New York, USABirthplace

Biography

William Joseph Devane (born September 5, 1937) is an American film, television and theater actor, known for his role as Greg Sumner on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing and as James Heller on the Fox serial drama 24, the role he reprised in Live Another Day. He is also known for his supporting roles in films such as McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Family Plot), Marathon Man, Rolling Thunder and Space Cowboys.

Devane began his acting career with the New York Shakespeare Festival where he performed in 15 plays. In 1966, Devane portrayed Robert F. Kennedy in the Off-Broadway spoof MacBird. He gained acclaim for his role as President John F.

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Kennedy in a television docudrama about the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Missiles of October, and again when he played blacklisted radio personality John Henry Faulk in the Emmy Award-winning TV movie Fear on Trial. He is widely known for his ten years as the ambitious and hardnosed politician-turned-corporate titan Greg Sumner on Knots Landing.

In 1994, Devane appeared as Al Capone in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman in an episode entitled "That Old Gang of Mine". He also had a recurring role on the CBS show Early Edition as the lead character's father. Devane appeared in the films McCabe & Mrs. Miller; Lady Liberty; Family Plot; Marathon Man; Rolling Thunder; Yanks; Testament; Timestalkers; Forgotten Sins; Exception to the Rule; Payback; Hollow Man and Space Cowboys.

Devane has played members of the Presidential Cabinet on two evening dramas. In 2004, on The West Wing, he guest-starred as the Secretary of State and potential Vice-Presidential nominee. Devane appeared in several scenes with Martin Sheen; they also appeared together as President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert, respectively, 30 years earlier in The Missiles of October. In 2005, he joined the cast of 24 as Secretary of Defense James Heller for seasons 4, 5 and 6.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 115 credits.

  1. 2022Bosch: LegacySeries: Whitney Vance (4 episodes)
  2. 2015Jesse Stone: Lost in ParadiseFilm: Dr. Dix
  3. 2015TruthFilm: Gen. Hodges (voice) (uncredited)
  4. 2015The GrinderSeries: Dean Sanderson Sr. (22 episodes)
  5. 2014InterstellarFilm: Williams
  6. 2014Bad Turn WorseFilm: Big Red
  7. 201450 to 1Film: Leonard Doc Blach
  8. 2012The Dark Knight RisesFilm: President
  9. 2012Jesse Stone: Benefit of the DoubtFilm: Dr. Dix
  10. 2012Leprechaun's RevengeFilm: Pop O'Hara
  11. 2011Good Morning, KillerFilm: Everett Morgan Gray
  12. 2011Flag of My FatherFilm: Jake
  13. 2011RevengeSeries: Edward Grayson (2 episodes)
  14. 2011Jesse Stone: Innocents LostFilm: Dr. Dix
  15. 2010The Kane Files: Life of TrialFilm: Thompson
  16. 2010Jesse Stone: No RemorseFilm: Dr. Dix
  17. 2010The River WhyFilm: Dutch Hines
  18. 2009The FallFilm: judge Stanley Seeban
  19. 2009Chasing the GreenFilm
  20. 2009Jesse Stone: Thin IceFilm: Dr. Dix
  21. 2009The Least Among YouFilm: Alan Beckett
  22. 2009The DealershipFilm: Frank Carson
  23. 2008Stargate: ContinuumFilm: President Henry Hayes
  24. 2007Jesse Stone: Sea ChangeFilm: Dr. Dix
  25. 2007Notes from the UnderbellySeries: Walter (1 episode)
  26. 2006PsychSeries: Peters (1 episode)
  27. 2006Jesse Stone: Death in ParadiseFilm: Dr. Dix
  28. 2006What About BrianSeries: Michael Davis (6 episodes)
  29. 2006CrumbsSeries: Billy Crumb (13 episodes)
  30. 2004DeceitFilm: Grove McCarthy
  31. 2003NCISSeries: Nicolas Mason (1 episode)
  32. 2003Monte WalshFilm: Cal Brennan
  33. 2002A Christmas VisitorFilm: George Boyajian
  34. 2002Threat of ExposureFilm: Col. Weldon
  35. 2002The BadgeFilm: The Judge
  36. 200124Series: James Heller (32 episodes)
  37. 2001Race to SpaceFilm: Roger Thornhill
  38. 2001Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family StoryFilm: Tom Kincaid
  39. 2000Poor White TrashFilm: Ron Lake
  40. 2000The Michael Richards ShowSeries: Brady McKay (9 episodes)
  41. 2000Space CowboysFilm: Eugene Davis
  42. 2000Hollow ManFilm: Dr. Kramer
  43. 2000The Man Who Used to Be MeFilm: Older Sam Ryan
  44. 1999The West WingSeries: Lewis Berryhill (2 episodes)
  45. 1999PaybackFilm: Carter
  46. 1999TurksSeries: Sergeant Joseph Turk (13 episodes)
  47. 1997Doomsday RockFilm: Dr. Karl Sorenson
  48. 1997Stargate SG-1Series: President Hayes (3 episodes)
  49. 1997Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-SacSeries: Greg Sumner (2 episodes)
  50. 1997The Absolute TruthFilm: Emmett Hunter
  51. 1997Exception to the RuleFilm: Lawrence Kellerman
  52. 1996Early EditionSeries: Bernie Hobson (5 episodes)
  53. 1996Forgotten SinsFilm: Dr. Richard Ofshe
  54. 1995Freefall: Flight 174Film: Capt. Bob Pearson
  55. 1995Night WatchFilm: Nick Caldwell
  56. 1995The MonroesSeries (9 episodes)
  57. 1995VirusFilm: Dr. Harbuck
  58. 1995Hope and GloriaSeries: William Devane (1 episode)
  59. 1994Lady in WaitingFilm: Lt. Barrett
  60. 1994For the Love of NancyFilm: Tom
  61. 1994Touched by an AngelSeries: Benjamin Parker (1 episode)
  62. 1993RubdownFilm: Harry Orwitz
  63. 1993PhenomSeries: Lou Della Rosa (22 episodes)
  64. 1993Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanSeries: Al Capone (1 episode)
  65. 1993The X-FilesSeries: General Mark Suveg (1 episode)
  66. 1993Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron StoryFilm: Daniel 'Dan' Fields
  67. 1992The President's ChildFilm: Elliot McSwain
  68. 1992ObsessedFilm: Ed Bledsoe
  69. 1992Ancient Secrets of the BibleFilm: Host & Narrator
  70. 1991Victim of BeautyFilm: Sheriff Jim Metts
  71. 1991A Woman Named JackieSeries: Black Jack Bouvier (3 episodes)
  72. 1990Murder C.O.D.Film: Alex Brandt
  73. 1990Vital SignsFilm: Dr. Chatham
  74. 1990Chips, the War DogFilm: Col. Charnley
  75. 1989The Preppie MurderFilm: Jack Litman
  76. 1987TimestalkersFilm: Scott McKenzie
  77. 1984With Intent to KillFilm: Aaron Charney
  78. 1983TestamentFilm: Tom Wetherly
  79. 1983Hadley's RebellionFilm: Coach Ball
  80. 1983Jane DoeFilm: William Quinn

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.