Acting
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.
Filmography
Bosch: Legacy
Series · 2022
Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise
Film · 2015
Truth
Film · 2015
The Grinder
Series · 2015
50 to 1
Film · 2014
Bad Turn Worse
Film · 2014
Interstellar
Film · 2014
Leprechaun's Revenge
Film · 2012
Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt
Film · 2012
The Dark Knight Rises
Film · 2012
Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost
Film · 2011
Flag of My Father
Film · 2011
Good Morning, Killer
Film · 2011
Revenge
Series · 2011
The Kane Files: Life of Trial
Film · 2010
Jesse Stone: No Remorse
Film · 2010
The River Why
Film · 2010
The Least Among You
Film · 2009
The Dealership
Film · 2009
The Fall
Film · 2009
Jesse Stone: Thin Ice
Film · 2009
Chasing the Green
Film · 2009
Stargate: Continuum
Film · 2008
Jesse Stone: Sea Change
Film · 2007
Notes from the Underbelly
Series · 2007
Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise
Film · 2006
Crumbs
Series · 2006
Psych
Series · 2006
What About Brian
Series · 2006
Deceit
Film · 2004
Monte Walsh
Film · 2003
NCIS
Series · 2003
The Badge
Film · 2002
A Christmas Visitor
Film · 2002
Threat of Exposure
Film · 2002
Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story
Film · 2001
Race to Space
Film · 2001
Plotting 'Family Plot'
Film · 2001
24
Series · 2001
Space Cowboys
Film · 2000
Poor White Trash
Film · 2000
The Man Who Used to Be Me
Film · 2000
Hollow Man
Film · 2000
The Michael Richards Show
Series · 2000
Payback
Film · 1999
Turks
Series · 1999
The West Wing
Series · 1999
Doomsday Rock
Film · 1997
Exception to the Rule
Film · 1997
The Absolute Truth
Film · 1997
Stargate SG-1
Series · 1997
Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac
Series · 1997
Rogues Gallery
Series · 1997
Forgotten Sins
Film · 1996
Early Edition
Series · 1996
Night Watch
Film · 1995
Freefall: Flight 174
Film · 1995
Virus
Film · 1995
The Monroes
Series · 1995
Hope and Gloria
Series · 1995
For the Love of Nancy
Film · 1994
Lady in Waiting
Film · 1994
Touched by an Angel
Series · 1994
Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story
Film · 1993
Rubdown
Film · 1993
Phenom
Series · 1993
The X-Files
Series · 1993
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Series · 1993
Obsessed
Film · 1992
Ancient Secrets of the Bible
Film · 1992
The President's Child
Film · 1992
Victim of Beauty
Film · 1991
A Woman Named Jackie
Series · 1991
Murder C.O.D.
Film · 1990
Vital Signs
Film · 1990
Chips, the War Dog
Film · 1990
The Preppie Murder
Film · 1989
Timestalkers
Film · 1987
With Intent to Kill
Film · 1984
Testament
Film · 1983
Hadley's Rebellion
Film · 1983
Jane Doe
Film · 1983
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
Film · 1982
American Playhouse
Series · 1982
The Other Victim
Film · 1981
Red Flag: The Ultimate Game
Film · 1981
Honky Tonk Freeway
Film · 1981
Yanks
Film · 1979
The Dark
Film · 1979
Knots Landing
Series · 1979
From Here to Eternity
Series · 1979
Black Beauty
Series · 1978
Rolling Thunder
Film · 1977
The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training
Film · 1977
Red Alert
Film · 1977
Marathon Man
Film · 1976
Family Plot
Film · 1976
Report to the Commissioner
Film · 1975
Fear on Trial
Film · 1975
The Missiles of October
Film · 1974
Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita
Film · 1974
The Missiles of October
Series · 1974
The Bait
Film · 1973
Crime Club
Film · 1973
The Snoop Sisters
Series · 1973
The Irish Whiskey Rebellion
Film · 1972
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Film · 1971
Lady Liberty
Film · 1971
My Old Man's Place
Film · 1971
The 300-Year Weekend
Film · 1971
The Pursuit of Happiness
Film · 1971
Film '72
Series · 1971
Medical Center
Series · 1969
Hawaii Five-O
Series · 1969
In the Country
Film · 1967
Mannix
Series · 1967
Ironside
Series · 1967
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Series · 1962
Gunsmoke
Series · 1955