Keifer Sutherland as Jack Bauer on "24"

As our obsession with celebrity personalities grows we are introduced to new characters on a regular basis. Some of them make us cry, some make us laugh, others touch our hearts, and a handful inspire us to become better people. With the pilot of the television series "24" began a roller coaster of events that now has the world watching, conscientiously, every Monday night on Fox television. The series has redefined the drama genre and is filled with conflict between the forces of good and evil and with unforgettable characters that are at the core of dangerous twists in plot.

The name Jack Bauer has become so legendary in the world of television that most of us can't keep up with him. Women coddle over him and men aspire to be like him. From distant husband, to loving father, to loyal and devoted American citizen, US government agent Jack Bauer has risked his life for his president and saved the American people countless times from the onslaught of terrorist attacks.

Actor Keifer Sutherland, son of actor Donald Sutherland and actress Shirley Douglas, was born in London, England in 1966. He is also the twin brother of television post-production supervisor Rachel Sutherland. He has one daughter, Sarah, with his first wife Camelia Kath, who was named after actress Sarah Jessica Parker. He also has three step children. Sutherland attended Martingrove Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke, Ontario and also St. Andrews College in Aurora, Ontario. He has attended seven schools over a ten-year period.

Sutherland was first introduced to the film industry in 1983 in the motion picture "Max Dugan Returns." In 1984 he earned his first nomination for Best Actor Award in favor of his role in a Canadian film called "The Bay Boy." Not long after, Sutherland moved to Los Angeles and began making appearances on episodes of small television shows and telefilms. He was initiated into Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto in 2005 and has also been bestowed a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television. He has played leading roles and co-starred in films including "A Few Good Men," "The Sentinel," "Phone Booth," and most recently "Mirrors."

His biggest television role is that of a government agent named Jack Bauer on the popular drama series "24." Commencing the signing of a contract in 2005 for three more seasons of "24" he is now the highest paid actor to play a role on a major television drama series. Of his role on "24" Sutherland has been quoted as saying, "Do I think it's important to the show that Jack eventually dies and does so when you least expect it? Yeah. It will be very obvious when people start going, 'Oh, please. How many bad days can one guy have?'

Sources

Time Magazine

TV Guide

Internet Movie Database

Los Angeles Times Blogs