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.
TV Shows(32)
Bosch: Legacy
Whitney Vance
2022
The Grinder
Dean Sanderson Sr.
2015
Revenge
Edward Grayson
2011
Notes from the Underbelly
Walter
2007
Psych
Peters
2006
What About Brian
Michael Davis
2006
Crumbs
Billy Crumb
2006
NCIS
Nicolas Mason
2003
24
James Heller
2001
The Michael Richards Show
Brady McKay
2000
The West Wing
Lewis Berryhill
1999
Turks
Sergeant Joseph Turk
1999
Stargate SG-1
President Hayes
1997
Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac
Greg Sumner
1997
Rogues Gallery
Self – Narrator
1997
Early Edition
Bernie Hobson
1996
The Monroes
1995
Hope and Gloria
William Devane
1995
Touched by an Angel
Benjamin Parker
1994
Phenom
Lou Della Rosa
1993
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Al Capone
1993
The X-Files
General Mark Suveg
1993
A Woman Named Jackie
Black Jack Bouvier
1991
Knots Landing
Greg Sumner
1979
From Here to Eternity
Sgt. Milt Warden
1979
Black Beauty
John Manly
1978
The Missiles of October
John F. Kennedy - US President
1974
The Snoop Sisters
David Prine
1973
Medical Center
Dr. Ray Waltham
1969
Mannix
Al Kordic
1967
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Gunsmoke
Moss Stratton
1955
Movies(82)
Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise
Dr. Dix
2015
Truth
Gen. Hodges (voice) (uncredited)
2015
Interstellar
Williams
2014
Bad Turn Worse
Big Red
2014
50 to 1
Leonard Doc Blach
2014
The Dark Knight Rises
President
2012
Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt
Dr. Dix
2012
Leprechaun's Revenge
Pop O'Hara
2012
Good Morning, Killer
Everett Morgan Gray
2011
Flag of My Father
Jake
2011
Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost
Dr. Dix
2011
The Kane Files: Life of Trial
Thompson
2010
Jesse Stone: No Remorse
Dr. Dix
2010
The River Why
Dutch Hines
2010
The Fall
judge Stanley Seeban
2009
Jesse Stone: Thin Ice
Dr. Dix
2009
The Least Among You
Alan Beckett
2009
The Dealership
Frank Carson
2009
Stargate: Continuum
President Henry Hayes
2008
Jesse Stone: Sea Change
Dr. Dix
2007
Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise
Dr. Dix
2006
Deceit
Grove McCarthy
2004
Monte Walsh
Cal Brennan
2003
A Christmas Visitor
George Boyajian
2002
Threat of Exposure
Col. Weldon
2002
The Badge
The Judge
2002
Race to Space
Roger Thornhill
2001
Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story
Tom Kincaid
2001
Plotting 'Family Plot'
Self
2001
Poor White Trash
Ron Lake
2000
Space Cowboys
Eugene Davis
2000
Hollow Man
Dr. Kramer
2000
The Man Who Used to Be Me
Older Sam Ryan
2000
Payback
Carter
1999
Doomsday Rock
Dr. Karl Sorenson
1997
The Absolute Truth
Sen. Emmett Hunter
1997
Exception to the Rule
Lawrence Kellerman
1997
Forgotten Sins
Dr. Richard Ofshe
1996
Freefall: Flight 174
Capt. Bob Pearson
1995
Night Watch
Nick Caldwell
1995
Virus
Dr. Harbuck
1995
Lady in Waiting
Lt. Barrett
1994
For the Love of Nancy
Tom
1994
Rubdown
Harry Orwitz
1993
Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story
Daniel 'Dan' Fields
1993
The President's Child
Elliot McSwain
1992
Obsessed
Ed Bledsoe
1992
Ancient Secrets of the Bible
Host & Narrator
1992
Nightmare in Columbia County
Sheriff Jim Metts
1991
Murder C.O.D.
Alex Brandt
1990
Vital Signs
Dr. Chatham
1990
Chips, the War Dog
Col. Charnley
1990
The Preppie Murder
Jack Litman
1989
Timestalkers
Scott McKenzie
1987
With Intent to Kill
Aaron Charney
1984
Testament
Tom Wetherly
1983
Hadley's Rebellion
Coach Ball
1983
Jane Doe
William Quinn
1983
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
1982
The Other Victim
Harry Langford
1981
Red Flag: The Ultimate Game
Maj. Phil Clark
1981
Honky Tonk Freeway
Mayor Kirby T. Calo
1981
Yanks
John
1979
The Dark
Roy Warner, aka Steve Dupree
1979
Rolling Thunder
Major Charles Rane
1977
The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training
Mike Leak
1977
Red Alert
Frank Brolen
1977
Marathon Man
Janeway
1976
Family Plot
Arthur Adamson
1976
Fear on Trial
John Henry Faulk
1975
Report to the Commissioner
Asst. D.A. Jackson
1975
The Missiles of October
President John F. Kennedy
1974
Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita
1974
The Bait
Earl Stokey
1973
Crime Club
Kilburn
1973
The Irish Whiskey Rebellion
LT. Ashley
1972
Lady Liberty
Jock Fenner
1971
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Lawyer
1971
My Old Man's Place
Jimmy Pilgrim
1971
The 300-Year Weekend
Tom
1971
The Pursuit of Happiness
Pilot
1971
In the Country
1967