Kiefer Sutherland Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ 

Anyone else feel like this could have gone on for 2 hours? He is a gifted storyteller on top of being a great actor.

One thing Kiefer Sutherland didn't touch on but what I think is really important about 24, is that when this was being made, Hollywood actors looked down on tv shows and considered it a death rattle to their careers if they moved into tv. Kiefer Sutherland proved them wrong and helped to elevate the credibility of tv shows long before we had streaming services, to the point where they are arguable better entertainment than most movies now.

he talked more of his adoration towards the works of his co-actors than about himself, so humble and what a genuine person

Dark City was the movie where I fell in love with Kiefer Sutherland. One of the most underrated scifi movies.

The fact that people hate you for a character you played makes you a genius actor. I love him best in Phone Booth with Colin Farrell. His voice in that movie still gives me chills.

Man Kiefer was my guy back in the day!! Dope actor. Dope voice. And his father Donald could never deny him on Maury.

I’m surprised Young Guns isn’t on here. One of my favourites of his, along with The Lost Boys, Stand By Me and 24. Kiefer’s a brilliant actor, he deserves more credit!

Honestly I would love to see 12 more seasons of 24. Its one of the best shows ever.

I’d love to see Kiefer back as Jack Bauer one more time and bring his story full circle.

Kiefer is really underappreciated if you ask me. Terrific actor.

His "Venom Snake" character will always be special to me, the character had so much weight around and suspense because of his voicing.

I love him as David in The Lost Boys. He’s a great actor, seems like a nice guy.

He seems like a guy who really appreciates the career he's had

24 was the best. I've binge watched the entire thing multiple times and I'd love to see it come back more than any other show.

Forest Whitaker is right about Kiefer's role in A Time To Kill. That role required some big balls to tackle properly and do justice to the material. Thank you very much for what you have given us, Kiefer Sutherland. You and your dad are a treasure!

His performance in 24 was outstanding 👏 👌 🙌 😍

The son of one of the very greatest actors of all time, he’s carved his own distinct path. His dad must be super proud of him.

24 is still one of my favourite shows ever..Jack Bauer was a badass and excellently portrayed by Kiefer Sutherland

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, Kiefer has played some of the most iconic characters of my childhood. He's a friggin legend.

Kiefer sounds like such a genuinely great person. 24 is one of the pillars of my childhood.

Love this man. He single handedly elevated Flatliners to a guilty pleasure of mine, he was stellar in Dark City and The Lost Boys, and 24 is my favorite show of all time.

The raspy whisper of Keifer Sutherland is Legendary.

Kiefer is the NICEST MAN IVE EVER MET!!!! Got to hang out with him when he started his music career. Stull wish to hang with him or move his equipment for music anyday.

First time I've seen Kiefer Sutherlsnd in an interview, what a wonderful man he is. I loved all of his stuff but Designated Survivor is great, I can't believe it got cancelled

Underrated Legend! And humble. He spends his whole time when talking about A Few Good Men just praising Jack and Tom. Class act.

I loved him in Phone Booth. That was my first exposure to him. The fact that I didn't know him prior to watching made it even better. He was just the disembodied voice of a vigilante mastermind with a deep, rich timbre and a wickedly dark sense of humor.

He is very articulated in his use of words. His ability of expression is at a much higher level than most people who has graduate or master’s degree or more. Really enjoyed this interview

Kiefer is so underrated as an actor and you see here, what a great storyteller he is. 24 is one of my favourite TV shows of all time and Kiefer's performance in it is amazing. I frequently find myself going back and rewatching the series when I have a few days to spare. Equally, A Time to Kill is one of the most brutal, tragic and well-written stories I've ever seen converted to film. The actors in that movie are second to none and it is one of the few films I have scored a 10 on IMDb, because of the performance of the actors, the story and the way it plays with your emotions throughout. Matthew McConaughey is truly exceptional in that film.

I met him about 15 years ago at the Jay Leno show. I told him I was a huge fan but he also absolutely scared THE CRAP OUTTA ME since ‘an eye for an eye’. He laughed and gave me a hug. A DOLL of a human being. ❤️

Bruce Willis sitting in on the "You can't handle the truth" scene Is magical

His reverence for Dark City is so cool to see.

Forever one of my favorite actors…..he seems so down to earth and I love how he’s so complimentary of other actors and their craft while so humble about his own gift! This is one actor I would love to one day meet!

Keifer Sutherland voice acting in "Call of Duty: World at War" felt like "Jack Bauer" jumped into my game... definitely made the experience cooler, lol. And of course his voice acting in MGSV.

What a humble, down to earth man...he's so talented, yet he talks about the talents of the others around him.

He is one of my favorite actors ever. No matter what you watch that he was been in that iconic voice will stay with you forever.

What a great guy, he's so humble. Talented as he is he actually spent the majority of this talking about how great his co-stars and crew were.

24 is one of the best tv-series of all time! I will love it forever! the first five seasons were just so incredibly good! I also enjoyed season 7 and loved season 8. Still, prime 24 for me has always been seasons 4-5. That was the peak for me!

Missed his performance in Phone Booth. Sure, it was only his voice, but a huge part of why the movie was so entertaining.

Those 20 minutes felt like 2. What an incredible story teller, exceptionally well-spoken and captivating.

Kiefer in Dark City is my favorite of his. Absolutely chews the scenery.

Not sure how you missed Young Guns & Flatliners. Two of his best. Also Flashback with Dennis Hopper is an absolute Classic. You could have easily dropped a few on this list for these.

Kiefer is an incredible actor. 24 is one of my favorite tv shows I’ve ever watched! I’d be thrilled to hear if 24 returns!

His performance as Special Agent Sam Stanley in the Twin Peaks film was so subtle and perfect. I wish they would've asked him about that role.

For this guy to sit there in that chair and tell what he feels on all what he's done as an actor was amazing! I love this guy and his dad as well. Such a great actor, and VERY easy on the eyes, no matter what hairstyle he's wearing lol I do wish he would have talked about his Young Gun's movies.

I'm glad to know he has the same affection for 24 as we all do. If they do ever something with the show again it would be amazing to see him back and get the final conclusion he wants for Jack Bauer.

24. Nothing even comes close to the epic epicness that is 24. And no one could have played Jack Bauer better than him

This guy is an absolute legend and it must run in the blood because his father is absolutely great as well

God I love this guy. One of the few actors never pigeonholed or typecast. And what an incredible way of looking at his craft.

I also love seeing him on the Three Musketeers.. he played an awesome character big time. It'll always be a special place in my heart..

I was born in 1980, so I really grew up watching him in a lot films. Few actors (maybe other than Jack Nicholson!) have been able to play such deplorable characters as Kiefer has and still be so loved by the public. He's taken some genuine risks in his career with characters whom many actors wouldn't be able to find the humanity in. That is a rare gift that few actors possess. If you've never seen Freeway, it's one of his most daring and underrated performances. I think Kiefer is one of our greats, and he seems to be a genuinely humble and fantastic human being. Hollywood could use more like him.

It is an absolute crime that they didn't have him talk about his rolls in Young Guns and Young Guns 2. Such an iconic roll dealing with the struggles of morality as Doc in those movies.

The first time I saw Kiefer was in his first leading role in the 1984 Canadian movie, "The Bay Boy", which won a bunch of Canadian Genie awards, and Kiefer, still a teenager, was nominated in his category. (Getting the urge to watch it again.) To kind of bookend that, people should check out his mezmerizing performance of FDR in the mini-series, "First Lady" - extraordinary!

Jack Bauer is one of my favorite TV/Movie characters ever. A man who will do what he believes is right no matter the cost is epic. Especially after Jack was given up by his country to China and tortured by them for years he still came back to serving his country without a single doubt. Glad to know that he'd be open for something 24-like in the future. Id loved to see it.

Dark City is one of the greatest films of all time, and Mr. Sutherland's performance is a big part of the reason why.

I was lucky enough to meet Kiefer when he was a young actor on his first trip to Maui. He was so kind and gracious and made me feel so special as I’m sure he does with everyone else. He will always be one of my favorite actors💜

His character in Eye for an Eye still haunts me to this day! Hands down one of the greatest actors out there!

Fantastic retrospective. He speaks with so much reverence, consideration, and humility. Seems a like really wonderful person. Love listening to his stories and process.

Dark City is an underrated masterpiece. Lost Boys is tons of fun. Stand by Me a gem. Flatliners, Young Guns, A Few Good Men... wow, what a filmography.

I absolutely love how much he looks like his dad even more so now. The eyes and smile. Us 80’s/90’s babies will always love the both of them! ❤

Loved him in flashback and flat liners. Great actor

He’s one of my favorite actors. He’s so good at becoming the character he’s put into. Love seeing the thought process behind it 💛

Please do a 24 sequel!! When he said that he'd be up for it, made my day! Best show ever!!!

Eye for and Eye, with Sally Field and Ed Harris. Is by far one of my favorite Movies with Kiefer. It changed how I was as a mom and I changed how my kids were allowed to do things.

I’ve never seen Kiefer give less than 110% in anything I’ve seen him in. Be it Lost Boys to Flatliners , Dark City to 24. Designated Survivor was the last thing I watched him in and he was amazing in that too. It’s because of him, if anything bad is happening in the world I now always say “Jack Bauer wouldn’t stand for this” 👍

I will forever love this man, rooting for him to go for a few bigger films in the future and maybe a return to 24 at some point for one last season!

He's a talented actor and the parts he plays are memorable. I've heard of his issues in the past but never really thought about it. This video was great. I have a new view towards him by listening to him talk about his rolls and watching his eyes.

I can speak for all of us when I say, we need Jack Bauer back for one more day of 24 for a proper retirement to one of the greatest characters 😎

Wow, I don’t see him in interviews often, but he is so well spoken and insightful. I wish this was two hours long! What a legend.

Such a great, magnetic character. I have not seen all his movies, but I was fascinated with the ones I did see..... I feel the same fascination watching this documentary

Great interview. Keifer is one of those few incredibly talented and charismatic actors I'll tune in to watch anything he does. Not mentioned was his role in Flatliners - loved the movie and his character. He's also a talented musician and I really like his song Something You Love. AND - he's a fellow Canuck - his grandfather Tommy Douglas is widely credited as being instrumental to starting universal healthcare in Canada.

the Man, the Myth, the 24 Legend, keep it rocking Jack

He is like a mirror of reality, a divine spark of intelligence. Love his reflection and introspection 💖

He speaks with such joy about his career and his projects. It's so lovely too. See someone who is so self reflective and reflective on the characters that he's played in. Chosen the experiences that have gone along with those films

My favorite movie with Kiefer Sutherland is the The Vanishing. Really good movie. They should have talked about the The Vanishing where he is the main protagonist not a side actor.

Haven't seen too many of his performances, but I LOVED him as David in The Lost Boys. He was absolutely perfect for that role.

Got goosebumps listening to him talking about wanting to come back to 24. We need one more final season to end that character's story

I just love his voice! i wish they would have continued 'designated survivor', really liked that show!

Kiefer is an extremely talented actor in my book. I know we all want to see him do another 24, but he has done so many magnificent movies. I recently watched Forsaken with Kiefer and his father Donald Sutherland. I should say both men are fabulous actors!

I loved designated survivor ! Wish there was more seasons

Wow his recollection and story about Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson on A Few Good Men. I got chills listening to that.

Such a wonderful actor and great person. He also start looking more and more like his dad, and that is certainly a positive thing

Met him outside a restaurant years ago in NYC. Nicest dude.

Great actor. I know that Metal Gear Solid V isn't a movie or show, but I'd love to hear his experience voicing Snake.

Kiefer probably has one of the coolest voices in Hollywood. Plays a great bad guy and great good guy.

24 is probably my all time favorite tv show, and I don't think anything will come close to topping it. I hope one day I get to see one final season of 24 before he stops acting haha.

He makes such a great point about people not understanding how different characters are used in a story. I see people mention that all the time in groups for tv shows. They'll say they didn't like a certain character because they found them irritating, mean, etc. The point of the character was to rub you the wrong way. The writers and director and actors did not want you to like that character. That's not why they're in the story. Good stories have an antagonist, otherwise it's an episode of Teletubbies.

The thing I enjoy about Kiefer is his ability to bring these characters to life. He said he was amazed that American audiences disliked him for a portrayal of a particular character. That speaks volumes about the job he did. Funny thing is I never like his characters immediately. It’s after seeing them more than once like 24 or rewatching a movie that I feel the depth

Kiefer has a lot of layers to his acting ability. He can play a convincing antagonist in one movie, then the next movie he plays a convincing protagonist. I can’t think of too many actors that can flip flop like that and do a good job. I really enjoyed his role in Designated Survivor.

A Time To Kill is one of my favourite films ever I first saw it in school in 1998 in a lesson of R.E I was hooked to it that when It finally came on dvd I instantly bought it, it was my first 2 sided dvd I ever owned Love his father Donald who also an awesome actor truly, Backdraft is one movie I loved him in and A Time To Kill as well

Thank you GQ for making this interview happen. Kiefer Sutherland is my favorite actor of all time and this deep dive is excellent! Thank you!

When “24” was broadcasted, the night it aired was “24” day! This went on for many years. I would love to see him be back in this role. And as the lead, nothing less!

Kiefer is such an amazing actor. A joy to watch in everything he does.

Will always be a FAN! One of the greatest actors of all time. Not to mention very humble!

Kiefer is amazing. I really hope they make a part two so we can hear him talk about working on Touch.

Keifer is an amazing actor and am so happy to see him tell his story.

This is such an amazingly talented actor. So many iconic movie roles. But for me 24 is the best show ever. Love it so much that for the past two years I would start with watching the first season straight through and continue till I reached the last episode of Live Another Day. Then I would go back and start with season 1 again and finish with Live Another Day. I keep doing this over and over and over again. And each time is just as exciting as the first time when the show first began on tv. And as much as I love Jack when he's fighting the bad guys, what really draws me to keep watching continuously is his vulnerability. Jack is tough and someone you don't want to make angry, but he is so much more. He is so humble and has such a big caring heart. That's what draws me in every time. It's why I keep watching 24 so much. And now that he's got a singing career with his band his vulnerability and humbleness and his caring heart still shines through. And he's a darn good singer too. My two favorite songs of his are "I Can't Stay Away" and "I'll Do Anything". Kiefer Sutherland is such an all around amazingly gifted and talented man. Thank you Kiefer for all the memorable characters and for your wonderful music. We love you.

Such a fan been watching him and his pops all my life fantastic actor

24, Lost, Prison Break etc. These earlier 2000's shows are what made TV finally elevate above many movies: fantastic memories of that period, watching superb TV.

This was awesome and Kiefer is a really smart dude (like his dad) and this was very interesting too to listen to here as he described his career so beautifully. He took very good scripts, and with his talent, created a wonderful viewing experience for us the public, so thank you sir! :)

When can we get another season 24 again? The entire series is a masterpiece.