Acting · Albany, New York, USA · Born September 5, 1939
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.
TVBosch: Legacy
2022
as Whitney Vance
MovieJesse Stone: Lost in Paradise
2015
as Dr. Dix
MovieTruth
2015
as Gen. Hodges (voice) (uncredited)
TVThe Grinder
2015
as Dean Sanderson Sr.
MovieInterstellar
2014
as Williams
MovieBad Turn Worse
2014
as Big Red
Movie50 to 1
2014
as Leonard Doc Blach
MovieThe Dark Knight Rises
2012
as President
MovieJesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt
2012
as Dr. Dix
MovieLeprechaun's Revenge
2012
as Pop O'Hara
MovieGood Morning, Killer
2011
as Everett Morgan Gray
MovieFlag of My Father
2011
as Jake
TVRevenge
2011
as Edward Grayson
MovieJesse Stone: Innocents Lost
2011
as Dr. Dix
MovieThe Kane Files: Life of Trial
2010
as Thompson
MovieJesse Stone: No Remorse
2010
as Dr. Dix
MovieThe River Why
2010
as Dutch Hines
The Fall
2009
as judge Stanley Seeban
MovieJesse Stone: Thin Ice
2009
as Dr. Dix
The Least Among You
2009
as Alan Beckett
The Dealership
2009
as Frank Carson
MovieStargate: Continuum
2008
as President Henry Hayes
MovieJesse Stone: Sea Change
2007
as Dr. Dix
TVNotes from the Underbelly
2007
as Walter
TVPsych
2006
as Peters
MovieJesse Stone: Death in Paradise
2006
as Dr. Dix
TVWhat About Brian
2006
as Michael Davis
TVCrumbs
2006
as Billy Crumb
MovieDeceit
2004
as Grove McCarthy
TVNCIS
2003
as Nicolas Mason
MovieMonte Walsh
2003
as Cal Brennan
MovieA Christmas Visitor
2002
as George Boyajian
MovieThreat of Exposure
2002
as Col. Weldon
MovieThe Badge
2002
as The Judge
TV24
2001
as James Heller
MovieRace to Space
2001
as Roger Thornhill
MovieMiracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story
2001
as Tom Kincaid
MoviePlotting 'Family Plot'
2001
as Self
MoviePoor White Trash
2000
as Ron Lake
TVThe Michael Richards Show
2000
as Brady McKay
MovieSpace Cowboys
2000
as Eugene Davis
MovieHollow Man
2000
as Dr. Kramer
MovieThe Man Who Used to Be Me
2000
as Older Sam Ryan
TVThe West Wing
1999
as Lewis Berryhill
MoviePayback
1999
as Carter
TVTurks
1999
as Sergeant Joseph Turk
Doomsday Rock
1997
as Dr. Karl Sorenson
TVStargate SG-1
1997
as President Hayes
TVKnots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac
1997
as Greg Sumner
MovieThe Absolute Truth
1997
as Sen. Emmett Hunter
TVRogues Gallery
1997
as Self – Narrator
MovieException to the Rule
1997
as Lawrence Kellerman
TVEarly Edition
1996
as Bernie Hobson
MovieForgotten Sins
1996
as Dr. Richard Ofshe
MovieFreefall: Flight 174
1995
as Capt. Bob Pearson
MovieNight Watch
1995
as Nick Caldwell
TVThe Monroes
1995
MovieVirus
1995
as Dr. Harbuck
TVHope and Gloria
1995
as William Devane
MovieLady in Waiting
1994
as Lt. Barrett
MovieFor the Love of Nancy
1994
as Tom
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as Benjamin Parker
MovieRubdown
1993
as Harry Orwitz
TVPhenom
1993
as Lou Della Rosa
TVLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993
as Al Capone
TVThe X-Files
1993
as General Mark Suveg
MovieProphet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story
1993
as Daniel 'Dan' Fields
MovieThe President's Child
1992
as Elliot McSwain
MovieObsessed
1992
as Ed Bledsoe
MovieAncient Secrets of the Bible
1992
as Host & Narrator
MovieVictim of Beauty
1991
as Sheriff Jim Metts
TVA Woman Named Jackie
1991
as Black Jack Bouvier
MovieMurder C.O.D.
1990
as Alex Brandt
MovieVital Signs
1990
as Dr. Chatham
MovieChips, the War Dog
1990
as Col. Charnley
MovieThe Preppie Murder
1989
as Jack Litman
MovieTimestalkers
1987
as Scott McKenzie
MovieWith Intent to Kill
1984
as Aaron Charney
MovieTestament
1983
as Tom Wetherly
MovieHadley's Rebellion
1983
as Coach Ball
MovieJane Doe
1983
as William Quinn
MovieNatalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
1982
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Tom Wetherly
MovieThe Other Victim
1981
as Harry Langford
MovieRed Flag: The Ultimate Game
1981
as Maj. Phil Clark
MovieHonky Tonk Freeway
1981
as Mayor Kirby T. Calo
TVKnots Landing
1979
as Greg Sumner
MovieYanks
1979
as John
MovieThe Dark
1979
as Roy Warner, aka Steve Dupree
TVFrom Here to Eternity
1979
as Sgt. Milt Warden
TVBlack Beauty
1978
as John Manly
MovieRolling Thunder
1977
as Major Charles Rane
MovieThe Bad News Bears in Breaking Training
1977
as Mike Leak
MovieRed Alert
1977
as Frank Brolen
MovieMarathon Man
1976
as Janeway
MovieFamily Plot
1976
as Arthur Adamson
MovieFear on Trial
1975
as John Henry Faulk
MovieReport to the Commissioner
1975
as Asst. D.A. Jackson
MovieThe Missiles of October
1974
as President John F. Kennedy
TVThe Missiles of October
1974
as John F. Kennedy - US President
MovieJudgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita
1974
TVThe Snoop Sisters
1973
as David Prine
MovieThe Bait
1973
as Earl Stokey
MovieCrime Club
1973
as Kilburn
MovieThe Irish Whiskey Rebellion
1972
as LT. Ashley
MovieLady Liberty
1971
as Jock Fenner
Film '72
1971
as Self
MovieMcCabe & Mrs. Miller
1971
as Lawyer
MovieMy Old Man's Place
1971
as Jimmy Pilgrim
MovieThe 300-Year Weekend
1971
as Tom
MovieThe Pursuit of Happiness
1971
as Pilot
TVMedical Center
1969
as Dr. Ray Waltham
TVMannix
1967
as Al Kordic
MovieIn the Country
1967
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Moss Stratton
