William Devane | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Devane inThe Missiles of October (1974) | |
| Born | William Joseph Devane (1939-09-05)September 5, 1939 (age 86) Albany, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
William Joseph Devane (born September 5, 1939) is an American actor. He is known for his role asGreg Sumner on the primetime soap operaKnots Landing (1983–1993)[1] and asJames Heller on theFox serial dramas24 (2001–2010) and24: Live Another Day (2014). He is also known for his work in films such asFamily Plot (1976),Marathon Man (1976),Rolling Thunder (1977),Payback (1999), andSpace Cowboys (2000).
Devane was born on September 5, 1939, inAlbany, New York,[2] the son of Joseph Devane, who had beenFranklin D. Roosevelt'schauffeur when he was governor of New York.[3] His father was of Irish descent and his mother Kate had Dutch and German ancestry.[4] Devane graduated from Philip Schuyler High School in Albany, and then theAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City in 1962.[2]
Devane began his acting career with theNew York Shakespeare Festival, where he performed in fifteen plays.[2]
In 1966, Devane portrayedRobert F. Kennedy in theoff-Broadway spoofMacBird.[2] He gained acclaim for his role as PresidentJohn F. Kennedy in a televisiondocudrama about theCuban Missile Crisis,The Missiles of October (1974)[2] and again when he playedblacklisted radio personalityJohn Henry Faulk in theEmmy Award-winning TV movieFear on Trial (1975).[5] Devane starred as Master Sgt. Milt Warden in the miniseries remake ofFrom Here to Eternity (1979);[5] he later reprised that role in a weekly series that was canceled after one season. Devane is widely known for his ten years as the ambitious and hardnosed politician-turned-corporate titanGreg Sumner onKnots Landing.[5]
In 1971, he starred off-Broadway as Randle McMurphy in the first stage revival ofOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest alongsideDanny DeVito as Martini, who would go on to reprise the role in the acclaimedfilm of the same name alongsideJack Nicholson.[6][7]
In 1994, Devane appeared asAl Capone inLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman in an episode entitled"That Old Gang of Mine".[5] He had a recurring role as the lead character's father on the CBS showEarly Edition (1996–2000),[5] and appeared in the filmsMcCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971);[5]Lady Liberty (1971);[5]Family Plot (1976),[5] directed byAlfred Hitchcock;Marathon Man (1976);[5]Rolling Thunder (1977);[5]Yanks (1979);[5] with Jane Alexander inTestament (1983);[5] withLauren Hutton andKlaus Kinski inTimestalkers (1987);[5] withJohn Shea inForgotten Sins (1996);[5]Exception to the Rule (1997);[5]Payback (1999);[5]Hollow Man (2000),[5] andSpace Cowboys (2000).[5]
Devane has played members of thePresidential Cabinet on two evening dramas. In 2004, onThe West Wing, he guest-starred as thesecretary of state and potentialvice presidential nominee.[8] Devane appeared in several scenes withMartin Sheen; they also appeared together as President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert, respectively, 30 years earlier inThe Missiles of October (1974).[5] In 2005, he joined the cast of24 asSecretary of Defense James Heller for seasons four through six.[5]
In 2004, Devane appeared in three episodes ofStargate SG-1 asPresidentHenry Hayes and appears in the direct-to-DVD movieStargate: Continuum.[5] He also co-starred in the short-lived sitcomCrumbs[5] and as Brian's real-estate broker father inWhat About Brian (2006–07).[5] In 2008, he appeared in Russ Emanuel'sChasing the Green alongsideJeremy London, Ryan Hurst, andRobert Picardo. He also appears as police officer turned psychologist Dr. Dix in theJesse Stone mystery movies withTom Selleck.[5] In 2010, he appeared in theNCIS[5] episode "Worst Nightmare" as a grandfather who is not what he appears to be, and is actually a former U.S. deep-cover special-operations agent, of a child kidnapped fromMarine Corps Base Quantico. Also in 2010, Devane guest starred as retired Detective Peters along withCarl Weathers in episode 6 of season 5 ofPsych,[5]Viagra Falls.[5]
In 2012, Devane began a recurring role as Grandpa Edward Grayson on the ABC primetime soap operaRevenge.[9] Devane also played the President of the United States in theChristopher Nolan filmThe Dark Knight Rises. Devane reprised his role as James Heller, now President, in the limited-run series24: Live Another Day (2014).[5]
Devane had a cameo role as Williams, as part of NASA, in the filmInterstellar (2014),[5] and was also part of the regular cast of the sitcomThe Grinder.[5] In 2022, he appeared in a four-episode guest arc on theAmazon Prime Video detective seriesBosch: Legacy.[5]
He married Eugenie McCabe in 1961. They lived inSherman Oaks, Los Angeles, with their two sons.[2]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | In the Country | Unknown | |
| 1969 | Gunsmith of Williamsburg | The Narrator | |
| 1971 | The Pursuit of Happiness | Pilot | |
| The 300 Year Weekend | Tom | ||
| McCabe & Mrs. Miller | Clement Samuels, Esq | ||
| My Old Man's Place | Jimmy Pilgrim | ||
| Lady Liberty | Jock Fenner | ||
| 1972 | The Irish Whiskey Rebellion | Lieutenant Ashley | |
| 1975 | Report to the Commissioner | Assistant District Attorney Jackson | |
| 1976 | Family Plot | Arthur Adamson / Edward Shoebridge | |
| Marathon Man | Commander Peter "Janey" Janeway | ||
| 1977 | The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training | Mike Leak | |
| Rolling Thunder | Major Charles Rane | ||
| 1979 | The Dark | Roy Warner | |
| Yanks | Captain John | ||
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Mayor Kirby T. Calo | |
| 1981 | Red Flag - The Ultimate Game | Major Phil Clark | |
| 1983 | Testament | Tom Wetherly | |
| 1987 | Hadley's Rebellion | Coach Ball | |
| 1987 | Timestalkers | Dr. Scott McKenzie | |
| 1990 | Vital Signs | Dr. Chatham | |
| 1992 | Obsessed | Ed Bledsoe | |
| 1994 | Lady in Waiting (Alternate title:Hollywood Madam) | Lieutenant Barrett | |
| 1995 | Falling from the Sky: Flight 174 | Captain Robert Pearson | |
| 1997 | Exception to the Rule | Lawrence Kellerman | |
| 1999 | Payback | Carter | |
| 2000 | The Man Who Used To Be Me | Sam | |
| Poor White Trash | Ron Lake | ||
| Space Cowboys | Flight Director Eugene "Gene" Davis | ||
| Hollow Man | Dr. Howard Kramer | ||
| 2001 | Race to Space | Roger Thornhill | |
| 2002 | The Badge | The Judge | |
| Threat of Exposure | Colonel Weldon | ||
| 2003 | The Wind Effect | L.T. Porter | |
| Monte Walsh | Cal Brennan | ||
| 2008 | The Fall | Judge Stanley Seeban | |
| Stargate Continuum | President Henry Hayes | ||
| 2009 | The Least Among You | Alan Beckett | |
| Chasing the Green | Victor Gatling | ||
| 2010 | The River Why | "Dutch" Hines | |
| The Kane Files: Life of Trial | Thompson | ||
| 2011 | Flag of My Father | Jake | |
| 2012 | Red Clover | "Pops" O'Hara | |
| The Dark Knight Rises | The President | ||
| 2013 | Bad Turn Worse | "Big Red" | |
| 2014 | 50 to 1 | Leonard "Doc" Blach | |
| Interstellar | Williams | ||
| 2015 | Truth | Gen. Hodges | Voice; Uncredited |
