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. 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.
Filmography
all 115
Movies 86
TV Shows 29
self 5
Voice 1
Writer 1
Bosch: Legacy (2022)
Truth (2015)
The Grinder (2015)
Interstellar (2014)
Bad Turn Worse (2014)
50 to 1 (2014)
Leprechaun's Revenge (2012)
Good Morning, Killer (2011)
Revenge (2011)
The River Why (2010)
The Fall (2009)
Chasing the Green (2009)
The Least Among You (2009)
The Dealership (2009)
Stargate: Continuum (2008)
Payback: Straight Up (2006)
Psych (2006)
Crumbs (2006)
Deceit (2004)
NCIS (2003)
Monte Walsh (2003)
A Christmas Visitor (2002)
Threat of Exposure (2002)
The Badge (2002)
24 (2001)
Race to Space (2001)
Poor White Trash (2000)
The Michael Richards Show (2000)
Space Cowboys (2000)
Hollow Man (2000)
The Man Who Used to Be Me (2000)
The West Wing (1999)
Payback (1999)
Turks (1999)
Doomsday Rock (1997)
Stargate SG-1 (1997)
The Absolute Truth (1997)
Exception to the Rule (1997)
Forgotten Sins (1996)
Freefall: Flight 174 (1995)
Night Watch (1995)
The Monroes (1995)
Virus (1995)
Hope and Gloria (1995)
Lady in Waiting (1994)
Touched by an Angel (1994)
Rubdown (1993)
Phenom (1993)
The X-Files (1993)
Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story (1993)
The President's Child (1992)
Obsessed (1992)
Ancient Secrets of the Bible (1992)
Nightmare in Columbia County (1991)
A Woman Named Jackie (1991)
Murder C.O.D. (1990)
Vital Signs (1990)
Chips, the War Dog (1990)
The Preppie Murder (1989)
Timestalkers (1987)
With Intent to Kill (1984)
Testament (1983)
Hadley's Rebellion (1983)
Jane Doe (1983)
The Other Victim (1981)
Red Flag: The Ultimate Game (1981)
Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
From Here to Eternity (1980)
Knots Landing (1979)
The Dark (1979)
From Here to Eternity (1979)
Black Beauty (1978)
Rolling Thunder (1977)
Red Alert (1977)
Marathon Man (1976)
Family Plot (1976)
Fear on Trial (1975)
Report to the Commissioner (1975)
The Missiles of October (1974)
The Missiles of October (1974)
The Snoop Sisters (1973)
The Bait (1973)
Crime Club (1973)
The Irish Whiskey Rebellion (1972)
Lady Liberty (1971)
My Old Man's Place (1971)
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)
Medical Center (1969)
Mannix (1967)
Gunsmoke (1955)
Testament at 20
Gallery
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1939-09-05 (85 years old)
Birth NameWilliam Joseph Devane
Birth PlaceAlbany, United States
ChildrenJoshua Devane
CitizenshipsUnited States
Also Known AsWilliam Joseph Devane, Γουίλιαμ Ντιβέιν
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