Birth Day: 1939-09-05
Place of birth: Albany, New York, USA
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.
Credits
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As Gen. Hodges (voice) (uncredited) -
As Dr. Dix -
As Williams -
As Big Red -
As Leonard Doc Blach -
As President -
As Dr. Dix -
As Pop O'Hara -
As Everett Morgan Gray -
As Dr. Dix -
As Jake -
As Dr. Dix -
As Thompson -
As Dutch Hines -
As judge Stanley Seeban -
As Alan Beckett
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As Dr. Dix -
As Frank Carson
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As President Henry Hayes -
As Dr. Dix -
As Fred Carter -
As Dr. Dix -
As Grove McCarthy -
As Cal Brennan -
As George Boyajian -
As Col. Weldon -
As The Judge -
As Tom Kincaid -
As Roger Thornhill -
As Self -
As Eugene Davis -
As Dr. Kramer -
As Older Sam Ryan -
As Ron Lake -
As Carter -
As Sen. Emmett Hunter -
As Lawrence Kellerman -
As Dr. Karl Sorenson
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As Dr. Richard Ofshe
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As Dr. Harbuck -
As Nick Caldwell -
As Capt. Bob Pearson -
As Tom -
As Lt. Barrett -
As Harry Orwitz -
As Daniel 'Dan' Fields -
As Ed Bledsoe -
As Host & Narrator
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As Elliot McSwain -
As Sheriff Jim Metts -
As Dr. Chatham -
As Alex Brandt -
As Col. Charnley -
As Jack Litman -
As Scott McKenzie -
As Aaron Charney -
As William Quinn -
As Tom Wetherly -
As Coach Ball -
As Mayor Kirby T. Calo -
As Maj. Phil Clark -
As Harry Langford -
As John -
As Roy Warner, aka Steve Dupree -
As Major Charles Rane -
As Frank Brolen -
As Mike Leak -
As Janeway -
As Arthur Adamson -
As John Henry Faulk -
As Asst. D.A. Jackson -
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As President John F. Kennedy -
As Kilburn -
As Earl Stokey -
As LT. Ashley -
As Tom -
As The Lawyer -
As Jock Fenner -
As Pilot -
As Jimmy Pilgrim -
