James Gerard Devlin (8 October 1907 – 17 October 1991) was a

Northern Irish Northern Irish people is a demonym for all people born in Northern Ireland or people who are entitled to reside in Northern Ireland without any restriction on their period of residence. Most Northern Irish people either identify as Northern ...

actor who made his stage debut in 1931, and had long association with the Ulster Group Theatre. In a career spanning nearly sixty years, he played parts in TV productions such as ''

Z-Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by the BBC, it debut ...

'', ''

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'', '' The New Avengers'' and '' Bread''. He also guest starred, alongside Leonard Rossiter, in an episode of ''

Steptoe and Son ''Steptoe and Son'' is a British sitcom written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson about a father-and-son rag-and-bone business in 26a Oil Drum Lane, a fictional street in Shepherd's Bush, London. Four series were broadcast by the BBC in black and ...

'', "The Desperate Hours". 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. He also appeared as Father Dooley, a Catholic priest, in several episodes of Carla Lane's ''Bread'', his last television appearance. In 1969, he was in the

Abbey Theatre The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the pu ...

production of ''Macook's Corner''. where he played the part of Neal Macook. In 1956, he appeared in a play by Irish playwright Teresa Deevy "Light Falling" where he played the part of Pat Scully, this was produced by

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in the

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as an 'opener' for

Seán O'Casey Seán O'Casey ( ga, Seán Ó Cathasaigh ; born John Casey; 30 March 1880 – 18 September 1964) was an Irish dramatist and memoirist. A committed socialist, he was the first Irish playwright of note to write about the Dublin working classes. ...

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 'Haig' a handyman in an antique dealers yard. The yard owner was a former IRA operative. He was

Vivian Stanshall Vivian Stanshall (born Victor Anthony Stanshall; 21 March 1943 – 5 March 1995) was an English singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet and wit, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his exploration of the British upper ...

'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

Devlin 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

Playography

* Pat Scully in ''Light Falling'' (1956) * Neal Macook in ''Macook's Corner'' 1969 (Abbey)

References

External links

* * J.G.Devlin at th
Teresa Deevy Archive
* J.G.Devlin at th
Abbey Theatre Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devlin, J.G. Male television actors from Northern Ireland 1907 births 1991 deaths Male actors from Belfast 20th-century male actors from Northern Ireland