J. G. Devlin

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. 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 – 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 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"

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

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 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. Lauden1961 The Big Gamble The Driving Instructor The Frightened City Informer Johnny Nobody Caretaker Attempt to Kill Elliott Edgar Wallace Mysteries episode. 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 Tinker1969 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 Steptoe and Son Frank Ferris The Desperate Hours, episode. Ser.5.1980 The Outsider Sean Tweeny Sir Henry at Rawlinson End Old Scrotum1985 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

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