Share:

William Devane

Screenwriter / Actor | * 09/05/1939 (84) | Albany, New York (United States of America (USA))
1,185
William Joseph Devane (born September 5, 1939) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Greg Sumner on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing (1983–1993) and as James Heller on the Fox serial dramas 24 (2001–2010) and 24: Live Another Day (2014). He is also known for his work in films such as Family Plot (1976), Marathon Man (1976), Rolling Thunder (1977), Payback (1999), and Space Cowboys (2000). ()
Photo of 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. 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.

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Thriller | TV Movies

Known for these Movies & Shows

Ad Protect Your Online Privacy with a VPN

Don't risk your personal information and online activities being exposed to hackers, government surveillance, and other online threats. A VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP, giving you maximum security and privacy. Take control of your online safety, switch to a VPN now. Choose one of these services to learn more:

Movies with William Devane as Actor(78)

as Gen. Hodges (voice) (uncredited)2015 Truth
as Leonard Doc Blach2014 50 to 1
as Big Red2014 Bad Turn Worse
as Williams2014 Interstellar
as President2012 The Dark Knight Rises
as Pop O'Hara2012 Red Clover
as Jake2011 Flag of My Father
as Everett Morgan Gray2011 Good Morning, Killer
as Dutch Hines2010 The River Why
as Dr. Dix2009 Jesse Stone: Thin Ice
as judge Stanley Seeban2009 The Fall
as Alan Beckett2009 The Least Among You
as President Henry Hayes2008 Stargate: Continuum
as Cal Brennan2003 Monte Walsh
as Col. Weldon2002 Threat of Exposure
as George Boyajian2002 A Christmas Visitor
as The Judge2002 The Badge
as Roger Thornhill2001 Race to Space
as himself2001 Plotting 'Family Plot'
as Dr. Howard Kramer2000 Hollow Man
as Older Sam Ryan2000 The Man Who Used to Be Me
as Eugene Davis2000 Space Cowboys
as Ron Lake2000 Poor White Trash
as Carter1999 Payback
as Sen. Emmett Hunter1997 The Absolute Truth
as Lawrence Kellerman1997 Exception to the Rule
as Dr. Karl Sorenson1997 Doomsday Rock
as Dr. Richard Ofshe1996 Forgotten Sins
as Nick Caldwell1995 Night Watch
as Capt. Bob Pearson1995 Freefall: Flight 174
as Dr. Harbuck1995 Virus
as Lt. Barrett1994 Lady in Waiting
as Harry Orwitz1993 Rubdown
as Daniel 'Dan' Fields1993 Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story
as Ed Bledsoe1992 Obsessed
as Host & Narrator1992 Ancient Secrets of the Bible
as Elliot McSwain1992 The President's Child
as Sheriff Jim Metts1991 Nightmare in Columbia County
as Dr. Chatham1990 Vital Signs
as Alex Brandt1990 Murder C.O.D.
as Col. Charnley1990 Chips, the War Dog
as Jack Litman1989 The Preppie Murder
as Scott McKenzie1987 Timestalkers
as Aaron Charney1984 With Intent to Kill
as William Quinn1983 Jane Doe
as Coach Ball1983 Hadley's Rebellion
as Tom Wetherly1983 Testament
as Maj. Phil Clark1981 Red Flag: The Ultimate Game
as Mayor Kirby T. Calo1981 Honky Tonk Freeway
as Harry Langford1981 The Other Victim
as John1979 Yanks
as Roy Warner, aka Steve Dupree1979 The Dark
as Major Charles Rane1977 Rolling Thunder
as Frank Brolen1977 Red Alert
as Arthur Adamson1976 Family Plot
as Janeway1976 Marathon Man
as John Henry Faulk1975 Fear on Trial
as Asst. D.A. Jackson1975 Report to the Commissioner
as President John F. Kennedy1974 The Missiles of October
as Earl Stokey1973 The Bait
as Kilburn1973 Crime Club
as LT. Ashley1972 The Irish Whiskey Rebellion
as Jimmy Pilgrim1971 My Old Man's Place
as The Lawyer1971 McCabe & Mrs. Miller
as Jock Fenner1971 Lady Liberty

TV Shows/Series with William Devane as Actor(24)

as Whitney Vance2022 Bosch: Legacy
as Dean Sanderson Sr.2015 The Grinder
as Edward Grayson2011 Revenge
as Peters2006 Psych
2006 Crumbs
as Nicolas Mason2003 NCIS
as President James Heller2001 24
as James Hiller2001 24
as Brady McKay2000 The Michael Richards Show
as Secretary of State Lewis Berryhill1999 The West Wing
as Sergeant Joseph Turk1999 Turks
as Chuck Garrison (voice)1997 King of the Hill
as President Hayes1997 Stargate SG-1
as President Henry Hayes1997 Stargate SG-1
as General Mark Suveg1993 The X-Files
as Lou Della Rosa1993 Phenom
as Black Jack Bouvier1991 A Woman Named Jackie
as Sgt. Milt Warden1979 From Here to Eternity
as Greg Sumner1979 Knots Landing
as John Manly1978 Black Beauty
as Moss Stratton1955 Gunsmoke

Movies with William Devane as Crew(2)

Writing/Writer1976 The Million Dollar Rip-Off
Crew/Additional Dialogue1971 The 300-Year Weekend

Full Name: William Devane
Born: Tuesday, 09/05 1939 (September) in Albany, New York (United States of America (USA)) (current age: 84 years + 234 days)
Zodiac sign: Virgo (Chinese zodiac sign: Rabbit)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Educated at: American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Albany High School
Children: Joshua Devane
Other names for William Devane (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"William Joseph Devane"
"Γουίλιαμ Ντιβέιν"
William Devane frequently works together with these people:
David Herman (90x, Actor)
Tom Selleck (22x, Actor)
Scott Klace (21x, Actor)
Phil Hendrie (19x, Actor)
Gregg Palmer (19x, Actor)
Morgan Woodward (18x, Actor)
Victor French (18x, Actor)
Shug Fisher (17x, Actor)
Bill Erwin (15x, Actor)
Jack Elam (14x, Actor)
Denver Pyle (14x, Actor)
Anthony Caruso (14x, Actor)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:8592, Added: 05/06/2018, Last updated: 04/07/2024