James Heller

James Heller
24 character
William Devane as James Heller
First appearance	Day 4 – Episode 1
Last appearance	Day 9 – Episode 12
Created by	Joel Surnow Robert Cochran
Portrayed by	William Devane
Seasons	4, 5, 6, 9
Information
Full name	James Heller
Occupation	President of the United States (Season 9) United States Secretary of Defense (Season 3–5) Member of the United States House of Representatives from New York (Pre-Series)
Title	Captain
Spouse(s)	Alicia Heller (died) Susan Heller (died)
Children	Audrey Raines (daughter) Richard Heller (stepson)
Political party	Republican Party
Hometown	Albany, New York
Alma mater	Yale University (Bachelor of Arts)

James Heller is a fictional character played by William Devane in the television series 24. During the show's fourth and fifth seasons, Heller is the United States Secretary of Defense. The show's ninth season sees him as the President of the United States.

Heller has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Yale University. He is characterized as a loyal public servant, serving in the United States Army as a pilot and air defense artillery officer, obtaining the rank of Captain, and became a reservist upon his retirement from active duty. He was CEO of Anderson Aerospace before serving as a Congressman and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and the Commission to Assess National Security Policy. He was also director of the President's Economic Stabilization Program. Heller was appointed Secretary of Defense under President John Keeler and retained this position under President Charles Logan. Viewers of the TV series learn in season 4 of 24 that Heller is the father of his senior policy analyst, Audrey Raines, and that he is a widower. His son Richard frequently participates in anti-government/anti-corporate protests, much to his father's chagrin; Heller refers to his son's ideology as "6th Grade Michael Moore logic." In season 9 it is revealed that Heller is the President of the United States.