Kiefer Sutherland

Having made over seventy films in a distinguished 20-plus years career, Kiefer Sutherland continues to cast a spell over audiences with his acting abilities. A man of many characters, his most famous to date is that of Federal Agent Jack Bauer on FOX's hit "real time" series 24.

From Toronto to Hollywood

Grandson of former Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas

Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland and his twin sister Rachel were born on December 21st 1966 to actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas while the pair were working in London, England. As a result Kiefer holds both Canadian and British passports. Shortly after the family settled in Los Angeles, California. When Kiefer was four his parents divorced.

Kiefer's first taste of the dramatic life was at 9 when he made his debut in Throne of Straw at the Los Angeles Odyssey Theater, shortly before his mother moved the family to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1975. Kiefer grew up and attended schools in Toronto, learning to speak fluently in both English and French.

It was not until he was eighteen that Kiefer realized his father was a famous actor. While his father's dramatic prowess inspired his son, later when asked why he got into acting, Kiefer replied "I got into it for the girls."

After doing some television work in New York, Kiefer landed his first film role in 1983's Max Dugan Returns and from that point he's never looked back.

Joining the Brat Pack

Birth of a Cult Classic

After Max Dugan Returns, Kiefer starred in his first dramatic turn as Donald Campbell in 1984's The Bay Boy. Set in 1930's Nova Scotia, the coming-of-age film garnered Kiefer his first Genie award, the Canadian equivalent of an Oscar.

More dramatic roles followed; turns in At Close Range with Sean Penn and as a mentally and emotionally disturbed boy in a made-for-television movie Trapped in Silence gave the world a taste of Sutherland's acting chops. But two of his most-known characters would soon turn him into a cult-classic hero.

In 1986 Kiefer played the small-town hood Ace Merrill in Stand By Me. Co-star Wil Wheaton said in an interview that Kiefer stayed in character while on-set and actually scared him. In 1987 Kiefer played David, leader of a pack of vampires in 1987's The Lost Boys, a role that secured him as one of film's most famous vampire villains.

Notable roles continued to pour in. Kiefer starred in Young Guns and Young Guns II, Flatliners, Bright Lights, Big City, 1969, Renegades, and Flashback. He became identified as one of the 'Brat Pack', a group of several actors and actresses known for classic 1980's films.

As the decade turned, Kiefer found himself filling supporting roles. Notably in A Few Good Men and The Three Musketeers. He also tried his hand behind the camera, directing Truth or Consequences, N.M. and Last Light.

Behind the scenes, his personal life took more dramatic turns then in front of the camera and it became time for a change. Kiefer left the bright lights of Hollywood and turned to a different life, one filled with rodeos and horses.

Greatest Roles

#1: David of The Lost Boys

Who?: In 1987 Kiefer played David, leader of the vampires in the cult classic The Lost Boys.

Why we love him?: Hip, sexy, and with trademark smirk, David brought vampires to a new generation and paved the way for series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. No girl could resist David and every guy wanted to be him.

The Lost Boys (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Amazon Price: $21.99 (as of 10/06/2008)

Cowboy Up

Actor turned Cowboy

After learning horsemanship while on set of The Three Musketeers, Kiefer's interest in horses and the rodeo circuit grew. Buying a 900-acre ranch in Montana, he acquired the horses he rode in both Young Guns films and took up learning the ways of a ranch hand.

Eventually he found himself trying his hand at the rodeo circuit. During his first competition he broke three fingers and found that the professionals weren't too sure of the actor-cum-cowboy. Slowly but surely Kiefer proved he wasn't in it for kicks and eventually championships in Phoenix and Albuquerque.

But acting was still in his blood as well, and he filmed a few movies during his time as a cowboy. Satisfied, Kiefer sold the Montana ranch and returned to Hollywood.

The Right Temptation

From Silver Screen to Small Screen

"There are a lot of movies I'd like to throw away. That's not to say that I went in with that attitude. Any film I ever started, I went in with all the hope and best intentions in the world, but some films don't just work." -Kiefer Sutherland

By now it was the late 1990s and Kiefer was turning out several films a year. Many were straight-to-video affairs or box office bombs.

The decade wasn't without its own positives. Kiefer took on an extremely challenging role as a member of the Klu-Klux-Klan in A Time To Kill as well as a role in the sci-fi cult film Dark City. In 1998 he also returned to the rodeo circuit and with his roping partner John English won several competitions as well as 1998 U.S. Team Roping Championships.

Still, Kiefer needed a change, a chance to show he still had the fire within. That chance would come in 2000, as a script for a new type of television show fell into Kiefer's hands...

Captain America

The rise of Jack Bauer

In 2001, 24 premiered on FOX. The concept of 'real-time' episodes was a dicey one, with each hour long episode corresponding to one hour of a day. And another risk was the subject matter; the show about fighting terror was debut shortly after the 9/11 terror attacks in the US. Would audiences be ready for such heavy subject matter?

They were. Kiefer's portrayal of Jack Bauer, a no-holds-barred federal agent who plays by his own rules to win the fight connected with audiences and sparked a phenomenal series that is about to enter its 7th season.

The show has come out on top, drawing millions of viewers riveted to their screens during the intensely dramatic 4th and 5th seasons. As season 7 is set to start in January 2009, fans wait to see what Jack Bauer will do next. A two-hour prequel movie is set to air in November 2008 to fill the gap between seasons 6 and 7, due to the writer's strike.

For Kiefer it has allowed him to open up and learn new skills and grow as an actor, since television is vastly different from film. For his first continuous television series, 24 has garnered him new respect and legions of fans, old and new. Devoting 10 months of the year to filming a season of 24, he also manages to fit in a few films if his schedule allows.

While in theory 24 could go on forever, Kiefer has expressed interest in killing off the character of Jack Bauer. But for now he'll have to keep on surviving as Kiefer's contractually obligated for one more season after the 7th.

Greatest Roles

#2: Jack Bauer of 24

Who?: In 2001 the world was introduced to Federal Agent Jack Bauer, who was having the worst day of his life.

Why?: Fighting terrorism with any means nessecary, Jack has had 7 worst days of his life, having to fake his own death and return to save family, friends and the world from nuclear bombs, bio-terrorism, and cougars! Jack Bauer is a true American hero!

24 - Seasons 1-5

Amazon Price: (as of 10/06/2008)

Behind the Scenes

Kiefer's personal life

Kiefer's personal life hasn't been without its ups and downs. Alcohol, drugs, and a free spirit nature have all played parts.

In his late teens, Kiefer began a life-long love affair with partying. While he's always tried hard to keep professional, sometimes it can leak over. In 1987 at 21 he married actress Camelia Kath, becoming an instant step-father to Camelia's daughter Michelle and a father to his own daughter Sarah Jude in 1988.

It is rumored that his hard-partying ways lead to the ending of his first marriage in 1990. But his love life soon included an engagement to actress Julia Roberts. The two were set to marry in June 1991 but three days before the nuptials Roberts flew to Europe with Jason Patric and ended the engagement. Once again the rumors of Kiefer's late night partying reared up but the fact remains no one will ever know exactly why they parted.

In 1996, Kiefer settled down again with Kelly Winn, becoming step-father to her sons. Things seemed happy for the couple and Kiefer seemed to calm down. Unfortunately in 2004 the couple divorced.

A bright side to the turmoil was becoming a grandfather in 2006 to step-daughter Michelle's first baby.

As of now Kiefer is single and has mentioned he doesn't feel he will ever remarry.

In addition to his sister Rachel, he has three step-brothers Roeg, Rossif, and Angus from his father's third marriage.

Kiefer is soft-spoke, polite, and ever a gentleman, most unlike many of his characters.

"And the Emmy goes to..."

Awards & Recognition

During his career, Kiefer has been nominated over thirty times for various awards. His first real recognition came with winning a Genie for his role in The Bay Boy.

His role as Jack Bauer on 24 has garnered the most attention and recognition, having won two SAG awards, a Golden Globe, and two Emmy awards (one for Best Lead Actor and one for 24) in recent years.

Kiefer has also been honored by Canada's Walk of Fame, joining both his parents as an inductee in 2005.

One of his most proudest moments was being able to share his Emmy win in 2006 with his father, who was at the Awards show.

Ironworks

Kiefer the music lover

In addition to his passions for acting and rodeo, Kiefer has a huge love of music. He collects guitars and has even been honored with his own Signature guitar, the KS-336 by Gibson.

Along with musician and partner Jude Cole, Kiefer runs Ironworks, a recording studio and music label based in Los Anglese, California. Their most famous artist to date is Rocco de la Luca and the Burden.

"That would explain everything."

Kiefer versus the Christmas Tree

While acting as tour manager for Rocco de la Luca & the Burden, Kiefer infamously 'attacked' a Christmas tree in a London hotel. Captured on film in the documentary I Trust You To Kill Me, the clip has become famous in its own right.

I Trust You to Kill Me

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Filmography

The collected works of Kiefer Sutherland

Films
Max Dugan Returns (1983)
The Bay Boy (1984)
Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories 1985
Brotherhood of Justice (TV, 1986)
At Close Range
Trapped In Silence (TV, 1986)
Stand By Me (1986)
Promised Land (1987)
The Lost Boys (1987)
Crazy Moon (1987)
The Killing Time (1987)
Bright Lights, Big City (1988)
Young Guns (1988)
1969 (1988)
Renegades (1989)
Flashback (1990)
Chicago Joe and the Showgirl (1990)
Young Guns II (1990)
Flatliners (1990)
The Nutcracker Prince (Voice, 1990)
Article 99 (1992)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)
A Few Good Men (1992)
The Vanishing (1993
Last Light (TV,1993)
The Three Musketeers (1993)
Teresa's Tattoo (1994)
The Cowboy Way (1994)
Hourglass (1995)
Freeway (1996)
Eye For An Eye (1996)
Duke of Groove (TV, 1996)
A Time To Kill (1996)
The Last Days of Frankie the Fly (1997)
Truth or Consequences, N.M. (1997)
Armitage III: Poly Matrix (Voice, 1997)
Dark City (1998)
A Solider's Sweetheart (1998)
Break Up (1998)
Ground Control (1998)
After Alice (1998)
Desert Saints (2000)
Beat (2000)
Woman Wanted (2000)
Picking Up the Pieces (2000)
The Right Temptation (2000)
Cowboy Up (2001)
To End All Wars (2001)
Dead Heat (2002)
Phone Booth (2002)
Behind the Red Door (2003)
Paradise Found (2003)
The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration (Voice, 2003)
Taking Lives (2004)
The Flight That Fought Back (TV, Voice, 2005)
River Queen (2005)
The Wild (Voice, 2006)
The Sentinel (2006)
Mirrors (2007)
Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight (Voice, 2007)
Mirrors (2008)
Monsters vs. Aliens (Voice, 2009)
24 (2009)

Director
Last Light (TV, 1993)
Fallen Angels (episode 'Love and Blood', 1995)
Truth Or Consequences, N.M. (1997)
Woman Wanted (2000)

Television
Saturday Night Live (host, 1991)
Fallen Angels (episode 'Love and Blood', 1995)
Watership Down (? episodes, 1999)
24 (7 seasons, 2001-?)
The Simpsons ('GI (Annoyed Grunt)' & '24 Minutes', 2006/2007)

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