William Devane
Known for Acting · 115 credits
- Born
- 1939-09-05 (age 86)
- Place of birth
- Albany, New York, USA
- Also known as
- William Joseph Devane · Γουίλιαμ Ντιβέιν · ویلیام دیوان
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.
Known For
TV Shows (33)
NCIS
2003
as Nicolas Mason
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
Stargate SG-1
1997
as President Hayes
24
2001
as James Heller
The X-Files
1993
as General Mark Suveg
Psych
2006
as Peters
Mannix
1967
as Al Kordic
The West Wing
1999
as Lewis Berryhill
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993
as Al Capone
Knots Landing
1979
as Greg Sumner
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Benjamin Parker
Revenge
2011
as Edward Grayson
Early Edition
1996
as Bernie Hobson
Medical Center
1969
as Dr. Ray Waltham
Gunsmoke
1955
as Moss Stratton
Bosch: Legacy
2022
as Whitney Vance
Film '72
1971
as Self
What About Brian
2006
as Michael Davis
The Grinder
2015
as Dean Sanderson Sr.
Hope and Gloria
1995
as William Devane
Notes from the Underbelly
2007
as Walter
Phenom
1993
as Lou Della Rosa
The Michael Richards Show
2000
as Brady McKay
The Snoop Sisters
1973
as David Prine
Crumbs
2006
as Billy Crumb
A Woman Named Jackie
1991
as Black Jack Bouvier
Black Beauty
1978
as John Manly
From Here to Eternity
1979
as Sgt. Milt Warden
Turks
1999
as Sergeant Joseph Turk
Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac
1997
as Greg Sumner
The Monroes
1995
Rogues Gallery
1997
as Self – Narrator
The Missiles of October
1974
as John F. Kennedy - US President
Movies (82)
Interstellar
2014
as Williams
The Dark Knight Rises
2012
as President
Hollow Man
2000
as Dr. Kramer
Payback
1999
as Carter
Space Cowboys
2000
as Eugene Davis
Marathon Man
1976
as Janeway
Stargate: Continuum
2008
as President Henry Hayes
Family Plot
1976
as Arthur Adamson
Testament
1983
as Tom Wetherly
Vital Signs
1990
as Dr. Chatham
Truth
2015
as Gen. Hodges (voice) (uncredited)
Monte Walsh
2003
as Cal Brennan
The Badge
2002
as The Judge
Jesse Stone: Sea Change
2007
as Dr. Dix
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
1971
as Lawyer
Jesse Stone: No Remorse
2010
as Dr. Dix
Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise
2006
as Dr. Dix
Rolling Thunder
1977
as Major Charles Rane
Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise
2015
as Dr. Dix
The River Why
2010
as Dutch Hines
Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt
2012
as Dr. Dix
Yanks
1979
as John
50 to 1
2014
as Leonard Doc Blach
Timestalkers
1987
as Scott McKenzie
The Dark
1979
as Roy Warner, aka Steve Dupree
Jesse Stone: Thin Ice
2009
as Dr. Dix
Freefall: Flight 174
1995
as Capt. Bob Pearson
Report to the Commissioner
1975
as Asst. D.A. Jackson
Lady Liberty
1971
as Jock Fenner
Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost
2011
as Dr. Dix
The Missiles of October
1974
as President John F. Kennedy
Virus
1995
as Dr. Harbuck
Red Alert
1977
as Frank Brolen
Nightmare in Columbia County
1991
as Sheriff Jim Metts
The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training
1977
as Mike Leak
The Man Who Used to Be Me
2000
as Older Sam Ryan
Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita
1974
Obsessed
1992
as Ed Bledsoe
The Preppie Murder
1989
as Jack Litman
Night Watch
1995
as Nick Caldwell
Honky Tonk Freeway
1981
as Mayor Kirby T. Calo
Fear on Trial
1975
as John Henry Faulk
Good Morning, Killer
2011
as Everett Morgan Gray
The Absolute Truth
1997
as Sen. Emmett Hunter
Forgotten Sins
1996
as Dr. Richard Ofshe
Crime Club
1973
as Kilburn
The Pursuit of Happiness
1971
as Pilot
Jane Doe
1983
as William Quinn
Poor White Trash
2000
as Ron Lake
Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story
1993
as Daniel 'Dan' Fields
For the Love of Nancy
1994
as Tom
The Fall
2009
as judge Stanley Seeban
Leprechaun's Revenge
2012
as Pop O'Hara
Race to Space
2001
as Roger Thornhill
The Bait
1973
as Earl Stokey
Red Flag: The Ultimate Game
1981
as Maj. Phil Clark
Rubdown
1993
as Harry Orwitz
Deceit
2004
as Grove McCarthy
Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story
2001
as Tom Kincaid
Lady in Waiting
1994
as Lt. Barrett
Exception to the Rule
1997
as Lawrence Kellerman
The President's Child
1992
as Elliot McSwain
Bad Turn Worse
2014
as Big Red
The Dealership
2009
as Frank Carson
With Intent to Kill
1984
as Aaron Charney
The Least Among You
2009
as Alan Beckett
Threat of Exposure
2002
as Col. Weldon
The Kane Files: Life of Trial
2010
as Thompson
A Christmas Visitor
2002
as George Boyajian
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
1982
Murder C.O.D.
1990
as Alex Brandt
The Other Victim
1981
as Harry Langford
The 300-Year Weekend
1971
as Tom
My Old Man's Place
1971
as Jimmy Pilgrim
Chips, the War Dog
1990
as Col. Charnley
Flag of My Father
2011
as Jake
Hadley's Rebellion
1983
as Coach Ball
Doomsday Rock
1997
as Dr. Karl Sorenson
Plotting 'Family Plot'
2001
as Self
The Irish Whiskey Rebellion
1972
as LT. Ashley
Ancient Secrets of the Bible
1992
as Host & Narrator
In the Country
1967
About William Devane
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. Ken… With 115 credits spanning from 1955 to 2022, William Devane has appeared in 82 films and 33 TV shows.
Fans searching for William Devane movies, William Devane filmography, or the latest projects starring William Devane can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular William Devane Movies
- Interstellar (2014) — as Williams
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012) — as President
- Hollow Man (2000) — as Dr. Kramer
- Payback (1999) — as Carter
- Space Cowboys (2000) — as Eugene Davis
Where to Watch William Devane Films
Most William Devane movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring William Devane, check our movies catalogue and browse page.