Kiefer Sutherland Biography

Kiefer, who bears a strong resemblance to his father, made his breakthrough as a troubled teen in 'The Bay Boy'.

Named after writer-director Warren Kiefer, who helped his father on a breakthrough role in 'Castle of the Living Dead', Sutherland began acting at age nine. He moved with his mother to Toronto, where as a child actor he honed his craft in local stage productions.

After 'The Bay Boy', US audiences got their first glimpse of him as the radio operator of a WWII bomber in 'The Mission', an extended 1985 episode of the Spielberg-directed 'Amazing Stories'.

Beginning with his memorable turn as a small-town bully in 'Stand By Me', Sutherland became established in Hollywood features. He more than held his own as a one of the gang, led by a volatile Sean Penn, in 'At Close Range', and cut a swathe as a charismatic teen vampire in the Joel Schumacher-directed 'The Lost Boys'.

Over the next decade or so, Sutherland alternated between showy leads and nuanced character parts. He was perfectly cast in 'Bright Lights, Big City' and gave a poetic portrayal in the romantic 'Young Guns'.

The tepid 'Flatliners' introduced the actor to Julia Roberts and their resultant relationship spilled much tabloid ink. In particular, when Sutherland was spotted with another woman on the eve of their impending marriage, and Roberts' subsequent decision to cancel the wedding at the eleventh hour.

Two years later, Sutherland was back in high-profile roles, as a quirky FBI agent in the film prequel 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me' and an overly religious Marine in 'A Few Good Men'. The actor went on to team with Charlie Sheen and Oliver Platt, as 'The Three Musketeers'.

In 1993, Sutherland began a promising secondary career as a filmmaker, with the hard-hitting made-for-cable prison drama 'Last Light'. Moving to the big screen, Sutherland helmed 'Truth or Consequences, N.M.', an uneven but stylishly enjoyable hostage drama.

In what some may have seen as a surprising move, Sutherland began to seek work in series TV. After some false starts, he took the role of government agent Jack Bauer, who uncovers a plot to assassinate a presidential candidate, in the real-time monster hit '24'.

He also returned to the big screen for Joel Schumacher's thriller 'Phone Booth', opposite Colin Farrell.

He has now filmed six 'seasons' of '24' and is executive producer for the show. He has also directed three films, including 'Women Wanted', which his actress mother featured in.

In September 2007, Kiefer was arrested after failing a drink-driving test. He pled guilty to the charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol and agreed a deal with LA prosecutors to serve a 48-day jail sentence.

Sutherland has enjoyed a fairly eventful personal life and was engaged to Julia Roberts in 1991, although their relationship ended just five days before their planned marriage when she ran away with his friend Jason Patric.

He has one daughter, Sarah Jude, born in 1988, along with a stepdaughter, Michelle Kath, from his first marriage to Camelia Kath. In 2006, Sutherland became a grandfather when Michelle gave birth to a son. In 1996 he married Kelly Winn. They divorced in 2004.