William Devane

William Devane

Acting
Born 1939-09-05Albany, New York, USA

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.

Movies (83)

Interstellar
8.5

Interstellar

2014Movie8.5
The Dark Knight Rises
7.8

The Dark Knight Rises

2012Movie7.8
Hollow Man
6.0

Hollow Man

2000Movie6.0
Payback
6.8

Payback

1999Movie6.8
Timestalkers
5.4

Timestalkers

1987Movie5.4
Space Cowboys
6.4

Space Cowboys

2000Movie6.4
Marathon Man
7.2

Marathon Man

1976Movie7.2
Stargate: Continuum
7.1

Stargate: Continuum

2008Movie7.1
Truth
6.5

Truth

2015Movie6.5
Yanks
5.9

Yanks

1979Movie5.9
Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise
6.9

Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise

2006Movie6.9
Honky Tonk Freeway
5.4

Honky Tonk Freeway

1981Movie5.4
The River Why
5.3

The River Why

2010Movie5.3
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
7.2

McCabe & Mrs. Miller

1971Movie7.2
Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise
6.6

Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise

2015Movie6.6
Family Plot
6.8

Family Plot

1976Movie6.8
Testament
6.4

Testament

1983Movie6.4
Good Morning, Killer
4.9

Good Morning, Killer

2011Movie4.9
Jesse Stone: No Remorse
6.8

Jesse Stone: No Remorse

2010Movie6.8
Monte Walsh
6.1

Monte Walsh

2003Movie6.1
Night Watch
4.7

Night Watch

1995Movie4.7
Jesse Stone: Thin Ice
6.9

Jesse Stone: Thin Ice

2009Movie6.9
Jesse Stone: Sea Change
7.0

Jesse Stone: Sea Change

2007Movie7.0
Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost
6.5

Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost

2011Movie6.5
The Least Among You
4.0

The Least Among You

2009Movie4.0
Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt
6.8

Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt

2012Movie6.8
Rolling Thunder
6.8

Rolling Thunder

1977Movie6.8
Victim of Beauty
6.7

Victim of Beauty

1991Movie6.7
The Fall
5.5

The Fall

2009Movie5.5
The Badge
5.7

The Badge

2002Movie5.7
Vital Signs
4.6

Vital Signs

1990Movie4.6
The Dark
4.7

The Dark

1979Movie4.7
Race to Space
6.0

Race to Space

2001Movie6.0
Leprechaun's Revenge
5.1

Leprechaun's Revenge

2012Movie5.1
The Preppie Murder
5.6

The Preppie Murder

1989Movie5.6
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
6.0

Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady

1982Movie6.0
Jane Doe
6.5

Jane Doe

1983Movie6.5
My Old Man's Place
6.8

My Old Man's Place

1971Movie6.8
Fear on Trial
9.0

Fear on Trial

1975Movie9.0
For the Love of Nancy
7.1

For the Love of Nancy

1994Movie7.1
Freefall: Flight 174
5.7

Freefall: Flight 174

1995Movie5.7
Chasing the Green
4.6

Chasing the Green

2009Movie4.6
50 to 1
6.7

50 to 1

2014Movie6.7
The Missiles of October
7.5

The Missiles of October

1974Movie7.5
The President's Child
9.0

The President's Child

1992Movie9.0
Report to the Commissioner
6.6

Report to the Commissioner

1975Movie6.6
Lady in Waiting
3.1

Lady in Waiting

1994Movie3.1
The Pursuit of Happiness
6.2

The Pursuit of Happiness

1971Movie6.2
The Absolute Truth
4.5

The Absolute Truth

1997Movie4.5
The Man Who Used to Be Me
5.8

The Man Who Used to Be Me

2000Movie5.8
Plotting 'Family Plot'
6.9

Plotting 'Family Plot'

2001Movie6.9
The Dealership

The Dealership

2009Movie
The Kane Files: Life of Trial
4.8

The Kane Files: Life of Trial

2010Movie4.8
Poor White Trash
4.6

Poor White Trash

2000Movie4.6
Lady Liberty
5.6

Lady Liberty

1971Movie5.6
Forgotten Sins
5.5

Forgotten Sins

1996Movie5.5
Crime Club
10.0

Crime Club

1973Movie10.0
Red Flag: The Ultimate Game
5.3

Red Flag: The Ultimate Game

1981Movie5.3
The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training
5.8

The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training

1977Movie5.8
Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story
5.6

Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story

1993Movie5.6
Exception to the Rule
3.6

Exception to the Rule

1997Movie3.6
A Christmas Visitor
5.4

A Christmas Visitor

2002Movie5.4
Red Alert
5.3

Red Alert

1977Movie5.3
Bad Turn Worse
5.4

Bad Turn Worse

2014Movie5.4
The Bait
6.5

The Bait

1973Movie6.5
Doomsday Rock
5.3

Doomsday Rock

1997Movie5.3
Hadley's Rebellion
4.8

Hadley's Rebellion

1983Movie4.8
With Intent to Kill
6.5

With Intent to Kill

1984Movie6.5
Murder C.O.D.
8.1

Murder C.O.D.

1990Movie8.1
Virus
4.8

Virus

1995Movie4.8
Obsessed
6.2

Obsessed

1992Movie6.2
Deceit
4.2

Deceit

2004Movie4.2
Threat of Exposure
5.0

Threat of Exposure

2002Movie5.0
Chips, the War Dog
8.3

Chips, the War Dog

1990Movie8.3
In the Country
8.0

In the Country

1967Movie8.0
Rubdown
4.0

Rubdown

1993Movie4.0
Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita
8.0

Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita

1974Movie8.0
Flag of My Father
6.0

Flag of My Father

2011Movie6.0
The Other Victim
8.0

The Other Victim

1981Movie8.0
Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story
4.5

Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story

2001Movie4.5
The 300-Year Weekend
4.3

The 300-Year Weekend

1971Movie4.3
The Irish Whiskey Rebellion
5.5

The Irish Whiskey Rebellion

1972Movie5.5
Ancient Secrets of the Bible
8.0

Ancient Secrets of the Bible

1992Movie8.0

TV Shows (35)

NCIS
7.6

NCIS

2003Series7.6
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
24
7.8

24

2001Series7.8
The X-Files
8.4

The X-Files

1993Series8.4
Stargate SG-1
8.3

Stargate SG-1

1997Series8.3
The West Wing
8.3

The West Wing

1999Series8.3
Psych
7.9

Psych

2006Series7.9
Ironside
6.8

Ironside

1967Series6.8
American Playhouse
6.6

American Playhouse

1982Series6.6
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
6.9

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

1993Series6.9
Revenge
7.5

Revenge

2011Series7.5
Mannix
6.8

Mannix

1967Series6.8
Knots Landing
7.0

Knots Landing

1979Series7.0
Touched by an Angel
7.2

Touched by an Angel

1994Series7.2
Film '72
5.1

Film '72

1971Series5.1
Gunsmoke
6.7

Gunsmoke

1955Series6.7
Early Edition
7.4

Early Edition

1996Series7.4
Bosch: Legacy
8.0

Bosch: Legacy

2022Series8.0
Medical Center
6.4

Medical Center

1969Series6.4
The Grinder
6.7

The Grinder

2015Series6.7
What About Brian
6.3

What About Brian

2006Series6.3
Hope and Gloria
6.3

Hope and Gloria

1995Series6.3
Notes from the Underbelly
7.0

Notes from the Underbelly

2007Series7.0
The Michael Richards Show
5.7

The Michael Richards Show

2000Series5.7
Crumbs
6.5

Crumbs

2006Series6.5
The Snoop Sisters
7.5

The Snoop Sisters

1973Series7.5
Phenom
5.3

Phenom

1993Series5.3
Turks
8.0

Turks

1999Series8.0
The Monroes
9.0

The Monroes

1995Series9.0
A Woman Named Jackie
8.8

A Woman Named Jackie

1991Series8.8
From Here to Eternity
7.3

From Here to Eternity

1979Series7.3
Black Beauty
7.0

Black Beauty

1978Series7.0
Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac
9.0

Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac

1997Series9.0
Rogues Gallery

Rogues Gallery

1997Series
The Missiles of October
8.8

The Missiles of October

1974Series8.8