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Biography
He was born in London, England while his parents were working there, but was raised in Ontario, Canada, where he attended Martingrove Collegiate Institute, as a result, he holds both Canadian and British passports.
He is the son of Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas, both successful actors. He is the grandson of Canadian statesman and inventor of Canadian medicare Tommy Douglas, who was in 2004 voted by CBC viewers as The Greatest Canadian.
He has a twin sister named Rachel, who has had a few credits in film production but does not work as an actress.
Sutherland is an accomplished musician, but this is mainly a hobby as he considers acting his primary career.
Originally known for his work in films and for being a member of the Brat Pack in the 1980s, now Sutherland is probably best known for his role as federal agent Jack Bauer on the hit U.S. television show 24. The fifth season began in January 2006. On January 28, 2006, Kiefer Sutherland won the "Best Actor in a Drama Series" award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Sutherland also lent his voice and motion design, along with various other cast members from the series, to 24: The Game. The game is based on events that occurred between the second and third seasons of the show and was released in late February 2006. There was also a graphic novel published by IDW that was released in the summer of 2004. The graphic novel is about Sutherland's character Jack Bauer when he first joins CTU; this takes place before the first season occurs.
After the original broadcast of the November 25, 2003 episode of 24, Sutherland broke character to address the issue of gun safety, possibly to limit the liability of Fox Network in case someone attempted to recreate the Russian roulette scenes. Sutherland gave a promotion for an organization called Americans for Gun Safety Foundation.
Sutherland broke character again on 24 during the original broadcast of the February 7, 2005 episode for a PSA addressing Arab Americans portrayed on the show.
He said that Arab-Americans are united with other Americans in their stand against terrorists. This PSA was in response to a complaint and possible lawsuit by an Arab-American group.
On April 18, 2000, Sutherland was a featured speaker at the Friends of Medicare rally in Edmonton, Alberta, which sought to prevent the governing Conservative premier Ralph Klein from amending Bill 11 in a manner which protesters alleged would permit "two-tier health care" in Canada.
During the fall of 2001, Sutherland unintentionally interrupted the filming of the premiere episode of the online series, The Lonely Island.
In the episode "White Power", The Dudes beat an old lady and steal her purse to facilitate their addiction to teeth whiteners. Sutherland, driving by at the time, jumped out of his car and intervened, only to discover that he was interrupting a student film. A portion of Sutherland's appearance is displayed after the credits.
Kiefer is named after Warren Kiefer, who directed the Donald Sutherland-starring movie Castle of the Living Dead. During high school, Sutherland's nickname was "Reefer".
Kiefer's 24-based fame extends to Japan where he reprised his role as Agent Jack Bauer to be the spokesman for Calorie Mate Japan, a nutritional supplement brand.
Selected filmography
Sutherland has directed three and appeared in over 50 films. Some of them are listed below.
24 (2006) filming fifth season and has been the main cast member since the first season in 2001.
24: The Game (2006) performing voice acting and motion capture design scans.
The Wild (2006) as the Lion, animated film, only voice provided
The Sentinel (2006)
Taking Lives (2004)
Phone Booth (2003), as the caller / sniper.*
The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration (2003), supplied his voice as Bron (Littlefoot's Father).*
Desert Saints (2002)
To End All Wars (2001)
After Alice (1999), plays Mickey Hayden, private investigator
Woman Wanted (1999), director and playing Wendell Goddard.
Dark City (1998), as Dr. Daniel Schreber.
Truth or Consequences, NM (1997). Director and supporting actor, playing a double crossing criminal who ends up on the wrong side of Martin Sheen's crime lord.
Armitage III: Poly-Matrix (1997), as voice of lead male charicter; detective Ross Syllabus.
A Time to Kill (1996), plays Freddie Lee Cobb a KKK member. He plays alongside his father Donald Sutherland.
Freeway (1996) in this film loosely based on the famous Little Red Riding Hood Kiefer plays a serial killer who gives Reese Witherspoon's character a ride.
An Eye for an Eye (1996) playing the rapist and killer of Sally Field's character's daughter in this tale of revenge.
The Cowboy Way (1994) playing a cowboy named Sonny Gilstrap
The Three Musketeers (1993), a Walt Disney film also starring Charlie Sheen, Tim Curry and Chris O'Donnell. Based loosely on the classic novel by Alexander Dumas.
A Few Good Men (1992). Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick. Supporting actor alongside: Jack Nicholson, Kevin Bacon, and Tom Cruise.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), the prequel to the acclaimed Twin Peaks series. Sutherland plays the partner of Chet (Chris Isaak) in this supporting role.
Young Guns II (1990)
Flatliners (1990), along with Julia Roberts and Kevin Bacon playing a group of medical students experimenting with death. Kiefer Sutherland and Julia Roberts became engaged during filming, however shortly afterwards Julia Roberts broke off the engagement.
Renegades (1989)
Young Guns (1988), with Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen. A story about a group of outcast cowboys trying to defend the land of a man who took them in and helped educate them.
The Lost Boys (1987) playing the leading vampire in a small town in the United States in this cult classic.
Stand By Me (1986). Critically acclaimed film revolving around a group of young boys search for a dead body. Also starring: River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman.
The Bay Boy (1984), his first film role, which earned him a Genie nomination for best actor.
Trivia
Kiefer Sutherland is the narrator for Verizon, Apple and Ford Canada television commercials. Wayne Gretzky is one of his closest friends and the two appeared together in Ultimate Gretzky, a two DVD set featuring a look at the hockey legend's career. Gretzky is also prominently featured in Ford commercials in Canada.
His name actually derives from another man's pseudonym: when his father, Donald Sutherland, was acting in italian horror movie "Il castello dei morti vivi", the film's italian director, Lorenzo Sabatini, was using the alias Warren Kiefer. Was originally signed to play his own grandfather Tommy Douglas in a 2005 Canadian miniseries. However, he had to pull out due to conflicts with the fourth season of 24.
Kiefer Sutherland does the voiceover in a new Apple/Intel Mac ad, as of January 11, 2006: "The Intel chip. For years it's been trapped inside PCs. Inside dull little boxes. Dutifully performing dull little tasks when it could have been doing so much more... Starting today, the Intel chip will be set free and get to live life inside a Mac. Imagine the possibilities."
From 1988-1990 Kiefer was married to actress Camelia Ortiz Kath, widow of original Chicago guitarist, Terry Kath, and they had a child, Sarah Jude, together, before they ended up divorcing.
In an appearance on the TV show Inside the Actor's Studio Kiefer said that gravitas is his favorite word and that nigger was his least favorite.
On a 2006 episode of The Late Late Show (CBS), Sutherland said he has never been on the CN Tower because he has a fear of heights.
