A Look into the Life of Kiefer Sutherland

A look at the life of Kiefer Sutherland

If you google the name Kiefer Sutherland, you will get approximately 2,300,000 results back. If you type in the actors given name of Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland, you will yield about 83 results, few of which actually relate to the actor at all. Fortunately, there are fanatics like me who will do all the research for you and you can find it all on Associated Content instead of clicking on header after header of search topic results.

Kiefer Sutherland was born on December 21^st, 1966 in London England. He and his family moved from London to Canada when he was 8. Son of Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland both actors, Kiefer landed his first acting role in Max Dugan Returns in 1983 as Bill. Kiefer has younger sister, Rachel. Younger by 7 minutes. Rachel Sutherland works in Toronto as a TV production supervisor. He also has 3 half brothers, Roeg, Rossif and Angus Redford Sutherland. Rossif Sutherland had an acting role on the top rated drama E.R. in 2003.

Growing up for Kiefer was tumultuous at best. His parents split up when he was only 5. His mother was arrested on a weapons charge for allegedly selling arms to the Black Panthers. She claimed and has maintained that it was an FBI set up. Kiefer attended 7 schools in just 10 years and was given the high school nickname "reefer". One of these schools was a Catholic boarding school, need I say more? Kiefer left Ontario at a young age for New York to do work in commercials. He earned enough money from a blue jeans ad to buy a car and move to L.A.

Los Angeles is known for living it up, and that he did. Notorious for his drinking, Kiefer thought it best if he let someone else do the driving one night. Good thing, too. He was in the car when actor Gary Oldman was arrested for drunk driving in 1991. Kiefer himself was arrested in 2004 of the same charge, pleaded no contest and preformed 50 hours of community service.

Maybe drinking had something to do with his failed marriages? His first wife, Camelia Kath and he were married from 1988 until 1990. Kiefer said a second set of "I do's" in 1996 to Kelly Winn but called it quits in 2000. Outside of marriage, he was engaged to actress Julia Roberts for a very short time but the wedding was cancelled after she ran off with Kiefer Sutherlands best friend at the time, Jason Patrick. He has forgiven Julia for seeing that they weren't right for each other. Besides, who wants Lyle Lovett leftovers?

He is also noted as dating fellow "24" actress Reiko Aylesworth (Michelle Dessler) and Angelina Jolie.

On a professional level, Kiefer started out doing movies that still no one has heard of. Titles like "The Bay Boy", "At Close Range" and "Crazy Moon" were his starter movies. They turned into better opportunities like Ace in "Stand By Me", David in "The Lost Boys" and Doc in "Young Guns". These were followed by a few bombs. Quite a few. He tried his hand at directing. You can find these pieces of his craft in the movies "Woman Wanted" & "Truth or Consequences". He also directed a couple of TV shows: "Fallen Angels" episode 1 (Love & Blood) and the "Last Light".

In the late 1990's Kiefer took some time off from acting, moved to Montana and entered the rodeo circuit. He broke a couple of fingers his first rodeo, but held on. When he was ready, he sold everything came back to Hollywood. Not long after, he was offered the leading role as Jack Bauer on the television show "24". He is also the highest paid TV actor and at the end of the shows 5^th season, Kiefer Sutherland had spent more time on screen as Jack Bauer than all his previous role combined. It has paid off, he has received more nominations for this show than in this entire career. Of course, this fame comes at a price. He schedule is demanding. He works 10 months a year 12-14 hours a day. He is the only actor to appear in every single episode of "24". True to form, in one season of "24" the plot required that he get a tattoo. Instead of dealing with the hassles of make up, he just got a real tattoo.

As if he hasn't got enough on his plate, Kiefer Sutherland also co-owns Ironworks Music. Having always wanted to be a musician, but didn't feel like he had what it took, he looks for the sound that he lacks. He found and signed singer/songwriter Rocco DeLuca and the Burden and did a stint as their tour manager. Feeling so strongly about the band he had a tattoo put on his forearm that reads "I Trust You To Kill Me" in the Icelandic language. You can see Kiefer and Rocco on the documentary "I Trust You To Kill Me".

After all this time, he's still a bad boy. Kiefer was sent an action figure in his likeness for his approval. He took the doll out on the town and ending up melting the thing in the parking lot. The next day, all that was left was a mound of wax. They called for his feedback he told them it was great. "Good" he said. "We need it back. That was the prototype. It took the guy a year to make it." Kiefer sweated it out for about a week before admitting to the destruction.

People are forgiving. In 2005 Kiefer Sutherland was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame. He is also slated to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Another note worthy tidbit, Kiefer Sutherland was the first child of a guest on "Inside the Actors Studio". Donald Sutherland appeared in 1998.

Here are some other things you may not know about the tall, dark and handsome...

*He's not actually all that tall standing on 5ft 10".

*His daughter likes to make fun of him for being "computer illiterate".
*He was partially named after Warren Kiefer, the director of Donald Sutherlands 1^st major film role, translated to "Castle of the Living Dead".

*Kiefer Sutherlands maternal grandfather is credited with starting Canadian Medicare.

*Got into acting, "for the girls".

*If acting hadn't worked out, Kiefer thinks he would probably be "laying phone cable in northern Ontario.

*The greatest quality in a woman: her sense of humor.

*He collects vintage guitars and owns, among others a 1995 Les Paul, a 1967 Telecaster and a 68 ES335.

*Starred in the movie "Flashback" with Dennis Hopper. Later, Hopper played villian Victor Drazen in the last four episodes of season 1 on "24".

*Attended funeral for Brandon Lee. Lee was accidentally shot by Michael Massee while filming, later Mussee appeared as bad guy Ira Gaines in Season 1 of "24".

I recently saw an interview with the star and was mesmerized by his presence. He almost didn't move. Not like he was a statue, but more like a tranquility had washed over him. It was infectious. Just watching him, I felt calmer. Quite a feat when your talking about a show that is non-stop stress. When it's time, I will mourn Jack Bauer but celebrate Kiefer Sutherland.