Born:
December 21, 1966
in
London
Best Known For:
Real-time drama series 24.
Early-life:
Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland was born in London on December 21, 1966. He's the son of actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas, and grandson of former Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas. He has a twin sister called Rachel and was named after Warren Kiefer, the director of his father's debut movie, Castle of the Living Dead. His early childhood was spent in California, but he lived in Canada with his mother after his parents split. Sutherland left school at 15 to study acting in New York, then moved to Los Angeles, where he sometimes slept rough to save money.
Career:
He made his film debut alongside his father in the 1983 movie Max Dugan Returns, then took the lead in The Bay Boy. Although it wasn't a hit, the movie was well received, and led to bigger roles, including Stand By Me, The Lost Boys, and the Young Guns films. The 1990s weren't as successful, although highlights were A Few Good Men and A Time to Kill. He also directed the movies Last Light, Truth or Consequences, NM, and Woman Wanted, before starring in and producing the hugely successful 24, for which he won Golden Globe and Emmy awards. He's also appeared in the movies Phone Booth, Taking Lives, The Sentinel, Mirrors, and the TV series Touch.
Quote:
"When you're a young actor you like to go for characters with a bit of flair, so in many films I ended up playing the weirdos. But I can assure you I'm not a psycho or a criminal or a bully."
Trivia:
Sutherland plays ice hockey on a celebrity team.