William Devane
Acting
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
Acting116
tvBosch: Legacy
2022
Whitney Vance
movieTruth
2015
Gen. Hodges (voice) (uncredited)
tvThe Grinder
2015
Dean Sanderson Sr.
movieInterstellar
2014
Williams
movieBad Turn Worse
2014
Big Red
movie50 to 1
2014
Leonard Doc Blach
movieThe Dark Knight Rises
2012
President
movieLeprechaun's Revenge
2012
Pop O'Hara
movieGood Morning, Killer
2011
Everett Morgan Gray
tvRevenge
2011
Edward Grayson
movieThe River Why
2010
Dutch Hines
The Fall
2009
judge Stanley Seeban
The Least Among You
2009
Alan Beckett
The Dealership
2009
Frank Carson
movieStargate: Continuum
2008
President Henry Hayes
tvPsych
2006
Peters
tvWhat About Brian
2006
Michael Davis
tvCrumbs
2006
Billy Crumb
movieDeceit
2004
Grove McCarthy
tvNCIS
2003
Nicolas Mason
movieMonte Walsh
2003
Cal Brennan
movieA Christmas Visitor
2002
George Boyajian
movieThreat of Exposure
2002
Col. Weldon
movieThe Badge
2002
The Judge
tv24
2001
James Heller
movieRace to Space
2001
Roger Thornhill
moviePoor White Trash
2000
Ron Lake
tvThe Michael Richards Show
2000
Brady McKay
movieSpace Cowboys
2000
Eugene Davis
movieHollow Man
2000
Dr. Kramer
movieThe Man Who Used to Be Me
2000
Older Sam Ryan
tvThe West Wing
1999
Lewis Berryhill
moviePayback
1999
Carter
tvTurks
1999
Sergeant Joseph Turk
Doomsday Rock
1997
Dr. Karl Sorenson
tvStargate SG-1
1997
President Hayes
tvKnots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac
1997
Greg Sumner
movieThe Absolute Truth
1997
Sen. Emmett Hunter
tvRogues Gallery
1997
Self – Narrator
movieException to the Rule
1997
Lawrence Kellerman
tvEarly Edition
1996
Bernie Hobson
movieForgotten Sins
1996
Dr. Richard Ofshe
movieFreefall: Flight 174
1995
Capt. Bob Pearson
movieNight Watch
1995
Nick Caldwell
movieVirus
1995
Dr. Harbuck
tvHope and Gloria
1995
William Devane
movieLady in Waiting
1994
Lt. Barrett
tvTouched by an Angel
1994
Benjamin Parker
movieRubdown
1993
Harry Orwitz
tvPhenom
1993
Lou Della Rosa
tvThe X-Files
1993
General Mark Suveg
movieProphet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story
1993
Daniel 'Dan' Fields
movieThe President's Child
1992
Elliot McSwain
movieObsessed
1992
Ed Bledsoe
movieAncient Secrets of the Bible
1992
Host & Narrator
movieVictim of Beauty
1991
Sheriff Jim Metts
tvA Woman Named Jackie
1991
Black Jack Bouvier
movieMurder C.O.D.
1990
Alex Brandt
movieVital Signs
1990
Dr. Chatham
movieChips, the War Dog
1990
Col. Charnley
movieThe Preppie Murder
1989
Jack Litman
movieTimestalkers
1987
Scott McKenzie
movieWith Intent to Kill
1984
Aaron Charney
movieTestament
1983
Tom Wetherly
movieHadley's Rebellion
1983
Coach Ball
movieJane Doe
1983
William Quinn
tvAmerican Playhouse
1982
Tom Wetherly
movieThe Other Victim
1981
Harry Langford
movieRed Flag: The Ultimate Game
1981
Maj. Phil Clark
movieHonky Tonk Freeway
1981
Mayor Kirby T. Calo
tvKnots Landing
1979
Greg Sumner
movieYanks
1979
John
movieThe Dark
1979
Roy Warner, aka Steve Dupree
tvFrom Here to Eternity
1979
Sgt. Milt Warden
tvBlack Beauty
1978
John Manly
movieRolling Thunder
1977
Major Charles Rane
movieRed Alert
1977
Frank Brolen
movieMarathon Man
1976
Janeway
movieFamily Plot
1976
Arthur Adamson
movieFear on Trial
1975
John Henry Faulk
movieReport to the Commissioner
1975
Asst. D.A. Jackson
movieThe Missiles of October
1974
President John F. Kennedy
tvThe Missiles of October
1974
John F. Kennedy - US President
tvThe Snoop Sisters
1973
David Prine
movieThe Bait
1973
Earl Stokey
movieCrime Club
1973
Kilburn
movieThe Irish Whiskey Rebellion
1972
LT. Ashley
movieLady Liberty
1971
Jock Fenner
movieMy Old Man's Place
1971
Jimmy Pilgrim
tvMedical Center
1969
Dr. Ray Waltham
tvMannix
1967
Al Kordic
tvGunsmoke
1955
Moss Stratton
Crew1
movieThe 300-Year Weekend
1971
Additional Dialogue
