William Devane Biography

Date of Birth: September 5, 1939

He was born in Albany, New York, and got his first acting experience in local theatre. He was awarded a scholarship to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and made his official stage debut as a spear carrier in a production of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. He later went on to give a critically acclaimed performance in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest on Broadway.

Many recognize him as Greg Sumner from the television series Knot's Landing, a character he began playing in 1983. "Greg's one of the few characters in television -- certainly in that format, which is soap opera -- who is not a victim," says Devane. "He's a guy with a private persona and a public persona that are in conflict. The audience gets to see the private side."

Besides Sumner, Devane has also played President John F. Kennedy in The Missiles of October, a television performance for which he received an Emmy nomination. On the big screen, he has appeared opposite Sir Laurance Olivier in Marthon Man and Vanessa Redgrave in Yanks.

In private, Devane is a committed family man who has two sons and a 30-year-old-long marriage. He says, "Neither one of us has much of an education, so we have a tendency to stay in that kind of place. Not to say it's been easy. One day, it's nobody has the courage to leave, then next day, it's just the best place I've been." Devane is known for his direct sense of humour and has remarked elsewhere, "We only have one car, so she can't go anywhere."