He was born in Dublin, the son of a jazz musician.
[1] He was brought up in Booterstown and studied in Mount Merrion.
His acting career began with the New Irish Players in Killarney.
He is best known for his roles in Chekhov's The Seagull and Eugene O'Neill's A Moon for the Misbegotten and The Clash of the Ash.
[2] Devlin died suddenly at his home in Dalkey, Dublin on 13 May 2011.