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William Devane

William Devane

Actor, also writer · Born September 5, 1939 (87) · 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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 5, 1939 (87)
From
Albany, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
70 on MovieCove · 115 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 35% in 30 days

What are William Devane's films like?

Across their 47 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
29%
Survival
19%
Bonds
16%
Self
15%
Power
9%
Society
6%
Ideas
5%
Justice16 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 44 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 10 · Serious 15 · Dark 19

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 34 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 24 · Intense 16

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 22 · Shifting 20 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 33 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 23 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 12 · Affecting 18 · Heavy 14

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 26 · Open-ended 16 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

33 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 9 of 33 analyzed roles.

Hero
9 of 33
Mentor
9 of 33
Threshold guardian
4 of 33
Trickster
3 of 33
Shapeshifter
3 of 33
Shadow
3 of 33
Ally
1 of 33
Herald
1 of 33
Show the 33 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
36
Melancholic
20
Dread
10
Hopeful
13
Thrilling
11
Other
30

How their films linger

Hopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet25
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch William Devane's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 44 of their 70 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (21).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William Devane's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

115 credits, 70 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Bosch: Legacy(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Whitney Vance

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise(2015)

    as Dr. Dix

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Truth(2015)

    as Gen. Hodges (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Grinder(2015)

    Show 22 episodes · as Dean Sanderson Sr.

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Interstellar(2014)

    as Williams

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Bad Turn Worse(2013)

    as Big Red

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • 50 to 1(2014)

    as Leonard Doc Blach

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Dark Knight Rises(2012)

    as President

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt(2012)

    as Dr. Dix

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Red Clover(2012)

    as Pop O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Good Morning, Killer(2011)

    as Everett Morgan Gray

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Flag of My Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Jake

  • Revenge(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Edward Grayson

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost(2011)

    as Dr. Dix

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Kane Files: Life of Trial(2010)

    as Thompson

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Jesse Stone: No Remorse(2010)

    as Dr. Dix

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The River Why(2010)

    as Dutch Hines

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Fall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as judge Stanley Seeban

  • Chasing the Green (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Jesse Stone: Thin Ice(2009)

    as Dr. Dix

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Least Among You(2009)

    as Alan Beckett

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Dealership (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Frank Carson

  • Stargate: Continuum(2008)

    as President Henry Hayes

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Jesse Stone: Sea Change(2007)

    as Dr. Dix

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Notes from the Underbelly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Peters

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise(2006)

    as Dr. Dix

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • What About Brian(2006)

    Show 6 episodes · as Michael Davis

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Crumbs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 13 episodes · as Billy Crumb

  • Deceit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Grove McCarthy

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Nicolas Mason

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Monte Walsh(2003)

    as Cal Brennan

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Visitor(2002)

    as George Boyajian

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Threat of Exposure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Col. Weldon

  • The Badge(2002)

    as The Judge

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • 24(2001)

    Show 32 episodes · as James Heller

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Race to Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Roger Thornhill

  • Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story(2000)

    as Tom Kincaid

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Poor White Trash(2000)

    as Ron Lake

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Michael Richards Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 9 episodes · as Brady McKay

  • Hollow Man(2000)

    as Dr. Kramer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Space Cowboys(2000)

    as Eugene Davis

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Used to Be Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Older Sam Ryan

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lewis Berryhill

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Payback(1999)

    as Carter

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Turks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 13 episodes · as Sergeant Joseph Turk

  • Doomsday Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Dr. Karl Sorenson

  • Stargate SG-1(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · as President Hayes

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Greg Sumner

  • The Absolute Truth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Sen. Emmett Hunter

  • Exception to the Rule(1997)

    as Lawrence Kellerman

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Early Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 5 episodes · as Bernie Hobson

  • Forgotten Sins(1996)

    as Dr. Richard Ofshe

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Falling from the Sky: Flight 174(1995)

    as Capt. Bob Pearson

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Detonator II: Night Watch(1995)

    as Nick Caldwell

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Monroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • Virus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Dr. Harbuck

  • Hope and Gloria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as William Devane

  • Lady in Waiting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Lt. Barrett

  • For the Love of Nancy(1994)

    as Tom

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Benjamin Parker

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Rubdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Harry Orwitz

  • Phenom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 22 episodes · as Lou Della Rosa

  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Al Capone

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as General Mark Suveg

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story(1993)

    as Daniel 'Dan' Fields

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The President's Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Elliot McSwain

  • Obsessed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Ed Bledsoe

  • Ancient Secrets of the Bible (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Host & Narrator

  • Nightmare in Columbia County(1991)

    as Sheriff Jim Metts

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • A Woman Named Jackie(1991)

    Show 3 episodes · as Black Jack Bouvier

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Murder C.O.D.(1990)

    as Alex Brandt

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Vital Signs(1990)

    as Dr. Chatham

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Chips, the War Dog(1989)

    as Col. Charnley

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Preppie Murder(1989)

    as Jack Litman

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Timestalkers(1987)

    as Scott McKenzie

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • With Intent to Kill(1984)

    as Aaron Charney

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Testament(1983)

    as Tom Wetherly

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Hadley's Rebellion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Coach Ball

  • Jane Doe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as William Quinn

  • Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady(1982)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Wetherly

  • The Other Victim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Harry Langford

  • Red Flag: The Ultimate Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Maj. Phil Clark

  • Honky Tonk Freeway(1981)

    as Mayor Kirby T. Calo

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 269 episodes · as Greg Sumner

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Yanks(1979)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Dark(1979)

    as Roy Warner, aka Steve Dupree

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • From Here to Eternity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sgt. Milt Warden

  • Black Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 5 episodes · as John Manly

  • Rolling Thunder(1977)

    as Major Charles Rane

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training(1977)

    as Mike Leak

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Red Alert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Frank Brolen

  • Marathon Man(1976)

    as Janeway

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Million Dollar Rip-Off(1976)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Family Plot(1976)

    as Arthur Adamson

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Fear on Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as John Henry Faulk

  • Report to the Commissioner(1975)

    as Asst. D.A. Jackson

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Missiles of October(1974)

    as President John F. Kennedy

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Missiles of October (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · as John F. Kennedy - US President

  • Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya — General Yamashita (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • The Snoop Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as David Prine

  • The Bait (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Earl Stokey

  • Crime Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Kilburn

  • The Irish Whiskey Rebellion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as LT. Ashley

  • Lady Liberty(1971)

    as Jock Fenner

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • McCabe & Mrs. Miller(1971)

    as Lawyer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • My Old Man's Place(1971)

    as Jimmy Pilgrim

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The 300-Year Weekend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Additional Dialogue · as Tom

  • The Pursuit of Happiness(1971)

    as Pilot

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Medical Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Ray Waltham

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Al Kordic

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Smiley

  • In the Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Moss Stratton

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 115 titles from 1955 to 2022; peak year 1976.

Biggest box office

Hollow Man (2000)

$190M worldwide

Highest rated

The Missiles of October (1974)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Knots Landing (1979)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19552022

Peak 1976 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 12 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting114 of 115: 113 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stWriting1 of 115: 1 only writing, 0 with another roleOther crew1 of 115: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s4 · acting1970s25 · 24 acting · 2 crew1980s11 · acting1990s31 · acting2000s26 · acting2010s16 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 13% of 32 roles
71810111

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do William Devane's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 55; across their 44 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Reach · how many have seen their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Midcredits score across 70 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up28
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th21
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 70 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed29

Most divisive · actor

The Least Among You (2009)

89th percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Interstellar (2014)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 43 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is William Devane's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles36–86 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles25–62 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles41–85 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles14–61 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles42–85 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does William Devane work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Devane's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Brandman shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers