James Gerard Devlin (8 October 1907 â€" 17 October 1991) was a
Northern Irish 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, Dad's
Army, The New Avengers and Bread. He also guest starred, alongside
Leonard Rossiter, in an episode of Steptoe and Son, "The Desperate
Hours". The writers of Steptoe and Son - Ray Galton and Alan Simpson -
have since revealed that 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 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 Jack MacGowran in the Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith)
as an 'opener' for Seán O'Casey play "The Shadow of a Gunman"
Northern Irish 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, Dad's
Army, The New Avengers and Bread. He also guest starred, alongside
Leonard Rossiter, in an episode of Steptoe and Son, "The Desperate
Hours". The writers of Steptoe and Son - Ray Galton and Alan Simpson -
have since revealed that 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 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 Jack MacGowran in the Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith)
as an 'opener' for Seán O'Casey play "The Shadow of a Gunman"
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