William Devane

Birthday: 1939-09-05
Birthplace: Albany, New York, USA
Gender: Male
Owned By: Unowned

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. 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.

Credits

Year Title Character
2015-10-18 Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise Dr. Dix
2015-10-16 Truth Gen. Hodges (voice) (uncredited)
2014-11-05 Interstellar Williams
2014-08-15 Bad Turn Worse Big Red
2014-03-21 50 to 1 Leonard Doc Blach
2012-07-17 The Dark Knight Rises President
2012-05-19 Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt Dr. Dix
2012-03-17 Leprechaun's Revenge Pop O'Hara
2011-12-13 Good Morning, Killer Everett Morgan Gray
2011-11-01 Flag of My Father Jake
2011-05-21 Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost Dr. Dix
2010-10-02 The Kane Files: Life of Trial Thompson
2010-05-09 Jesse Stone: No Remorse Dr. Dix
2010-04-09 The River Why Dutch Hines
2009-10-30 The Fall judge Stanley Seeban
2009-03-01 Jesse Stone: Thin Ice Dr. Dix
2009-01-12 The Least Among You Alan Beckett
2009-01-01 The Dealership Frank Carson
2008-07-29 Stargate: Continuum President Henry Hayes
2007-05-22 Jesse Stone: Sea Change Dr. Dix
2006-04-30 Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise Dr. Dix
2004-03-15 Deceit Grove McCarthy
2003-01-17 Monte Walsh Cal Brennan
2002-11-24 A Christmas Visitor George Boyajian
2002-11-07 Threat of Exposure Col. Weldon
2002-09-07 The Badge The Judge
2001-10-31 Race to Space Roger Thornhill
2001-06-22 Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story Tom Kincaid
2000-12-01 Poor White Trash Ron Lake
2000-08-04 Space Cowboys Eugene Davis
2000-08-04 Hollow Man Dr. Kramer
2000-07-16 The Man Who Used to Be Me Older Sam Ryan
1999-02-05 Payback Carter
1997-08-23 Doomsday Rock Dr. Karl Sorenson
1997-04-30 The Absolute Truth Sen. Emmett Hunter
1997-01-01 Exception to the Rule Lawrence Kellerman
1996-03-07 Forgotten Sins Dr. Richard Ofshe
1995-10-10 Freefall: Flight 174 Capt. Bob Pearson
1995-10-04 Night Watch Nick Caldwell
1995-05-08 Virus Dr. Harbuck
1994-12-07 Lady in Waiting Lt. Barrett
1994-10-02 For the Love of Nancy Tom
1993-09-15 Rubdown Harry Orwitz
1993-05-04 Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story Daniel 'Dan' Fields
1992-10-27 The President's Child Elliot McSwain
1992-09-26 Obsessed Ed Bledsoe
1991-12-10 Nightmare in Columbia County Sheriff Jim Metts
1990-09-24 Murder C.O.D. Alex Brandt
1990-04-13 Vital Signs Dr. Chatham
1990-03-24 Chips, the War Dog Col. Charnley
1989-09-24 The Preppie Murder Jack Litman
1987-03-10 Timestalkers Scott McKenzie
1984-10-24 With Intent to Kill Aaron Charney
1983-11-04 Testament Tom Wetherly
1983-09-30 Hadley's Rebellion Coach Ball
1983-03-12 Jane Doe William Quinn
1981-11-04 The Other Victim Harry Langford
1981-10-03 Red Flag: The Ultimate Game Maj. Phil Clark
1981-08-21 Honky Tonk Freeway Mayor Kirby T. Calo
1979-09-01 Yanks John
1979-04-27 The Dark Roy Warner, aka Steve Dupree
1977-11-02 Rolling Thunder Major Charles Rane
1977-07-08 The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training Mike Leak
1977-05-18 Red Alert Frank Brolen
1976-10-08 Marathon Man Janeway
1976-04-09 Family Plot Arthur Adamson
1975-10-02 Fear on Trial John Henry Faulk
1975-02-05 Report to the Commissioner Asst. D.A. Jackson
1974-12-18 The Missiles of October President John F. Kennedy
1974-06-11 Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita
1973-03-13 The Bait Earl Stokey
1973-03-06 Crime Club Kilburn
1972-01-10 The Irish Whiskey Rebellion LT. Ashley
1971-12-22 Lady Liberty Jock Fenner
1971-06-29 My Old Man's Place Jimmy Pilgrim
1971-06-24 McCabe & Mrs. Miller The Lawyer
1971-02-26 The 300-Year Weekend Tom
1971-02-23 The Pursuit of Happiness Pilot
1967-01-01 In the Country