James Gerard Devlin (8 October 1907 – 17 October 1991) was a Northern Irish actor who made his stage debut in 1931, and had long association with the Ulster Group Theatre.[1][2][3] In a career spanning nearly sixty years, he played parts in TV productions such as Z-Cars, Dad's Army, The New Avengers and Bread.[4][5] He also guest starred, alongside Leonard Rossiter, in an episode of Steptoe and Son, "The Desperate Hours".[6] The writers of Steptoe and Son – Ray Galton and Alan Simpson – later said Devlin was second choice to play the part of Albert Steptoe in the series, behind Wilfrid Brambell.[7] He also appeared as Father Dooley, a Catholic priest, in several episodes of Carla Lane's Bread, his last television appearance.[8]
J.G. Devlin | |
|---|---|
 Devlin in an episode of One Step Beyond (1961) | |
| Born | James Gerard Devlin 8 October 1907 |
| Died | 17 October 1991 (aged 84) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1955–1991 |
In 1969, he was in the Abbey Theatre production of Macook's Corner.[9] where he played the part of Neal Macook.[10]
In 1956, he appeared in a play by Irish playwright Teresa Deevy "Light Falling"[11] where he played the part of Pat Scully, this was produced by Jack MacGowran in the Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith) as an 'opener' for Seán O'Casey play "The Shadow of a Gunman"
In 1978, he had a small part in the Thames Television / Euston Films Drama The Sweeney (Season 4 Episode 5, 'Nightmare'), playing 'Hay' a handyman in an antique dealers yard. The yard owner was a former IRA operative.
He was Vivian Stanshall's personal choice for the role of Old Scrotum, the Wrinkled Retainer in the Charisma Films version of Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, released in 1980.
Early life
editDevlin was born at 35 Waterville Street, Belfast, the eldest child of labourer Edward Devlin and Isabella Hamill. He had three younger sisters, Rose, Kathleen and Isabella.
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Captain Lightfoot | Tuer O'Brien | Film debut |
| 1956 | Jacqueline | Mr. Lord's Servant | |
| 1957 | The Rising of the Moon | Moran | (as Players from the Abbey Theatre Company) |
| 1959 | Darby O'Gill and the Little People | Tom Kerrigan | |
| 1960 | A Terrible Beauty | Const. Lauden | |
| 1961 | The Big Gamble | The Driving Instructor | |
| The Frightened City | Informer | ||
| Johnny Nobody | Caretaker | ||
| Attempt to Kill | Elliott | ||
| 1961 | One Step Beyond | Leo | Episode: Eyewitness |
| 1962 | I Thank a Fool | Coroner | |
| 1963 | A Place to Go | Neighbour | Uncredited |
| 1964 | The Comedy Man | Gus Sloppitt | |
| 1967 | The Caper of the Golden Bulls | The Tinker | |
| 1969 | Guns in the Heather | Muldoon | |
| The Reckoning | Cocky Burke | ||
| 1970 | Dad's Army | Patrick Regan | Episode: Absent Friends |
| 1972 | Innocent Bystanders | Waiter | |
| The Alf Garnett Saga | Irishman | Uncredited | |
| 1980 | The Outsider | Sean Tweeny | |
| Sir Henry at Rawlinson End | Old Scrotum | ||
| 1985 | Taggart | Bill Lynch | 3 episodes |
| No Surrender | George Gorman | ||
| 1988 | The Raggedy Rawney | Jake | |
| 1991 | The Miracle | Mr. Beausang | |
| 1992 | Far and Away | Villager #1 | Final film |
Playography
edit- Pat Scully in Light Falling (1956)
- Neal Macook in Macook's Corner 1969 (Abbey)
References
edit- ^ "J.G. Devlin". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012.
- ^ "D". Ulster Actors.
- ^ "The Ulster Group Theatre". Culture Northern Ireland.
- ^ "Overview for J. G. Devlin". Turner Classic Movies.
- ^ "J. G. Devlin". TV.com.
- ^ "» Galton And Simpson Present – Part 5". britishclassiccomedy.co.uk.
- ^ "Rawlinson End". iankitching.me.uk.
- ^ "Bread". comedy.co.uk.
- ^ "Abbey Theatre Archive".
- ^ "Abbey Theatre Archive".
- ^ "Teresa Deevy Archive".
External links
edit- J.G. Devlin at IMDb
- J.G.Devlin at the Teresa Deevy Archive
- J.G.Devlin at the Abbey Theatre Archive