William Devane

A charismatic lead on television and in the occasional feature, William Devane was an inveterate scene-stealer whose devilish grin and intense focus were among the highlights of such projects as "The Missiles of October" (ABC, 1974), "Marathon Man" (1976), "Rolling Thunder" (1977) and the soap "Knots' Landing" (CBS, 1980-1993). Devane's versatility allowed him to play presidents and politicians, including several Kennedys, with the same degree of believability as his evil but lovable Greg Sumner on "Knots." Along the way, he netted Emmy nods, a fistful of Soap Opera Digest Awards, and a favored player status among television audiences that was reserved for very few performers over the course of a four-decade career. As much in demand in his seventh decade as he was at the beginning of his career, Devane remained one of the most respected and appreciated actors to frequent the small screen.