Kiefer Sutherland, a London-born Canadian actor, director, and producer, boasts a net worth of $100 million. His remarkable career spans several decades, beginning in the late 1980s and continuing to captivate audiences with a diverse range of roles in film and television.
How Did Kiefer Sutherland Begin His Career?
Kiefer Sutherland was born on December 21, 1966, in Paddington, London, England. He is the son of renowned actors Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland. Kiefer has a twin sister, Rachel, who works as a post-production film supervisor. The family relocated to Corona, California, in 1968, and Kiefer moved to Toronto, Canada, with his mother and sister following his parents’ divorce in 1975.
Sutherland’s acting career began with small roles, with his first screen appearance in the 1983 film “Max Dugan Returns,” which also starred his father. He gained critical acclaim for his role in the 1985 film “The Bay Boy,” earning a Genie Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. His breakout role in the U.S. came with “Stand by Me” in 1986, based on a novella by Stephen King, followed by his role as a vampire in “The Lost Boys” in 1987.
What Were Kiefer Sutherland’s Breakthrough Roles?
Sutherland cemented his status as a young movie star with roles in “Young Guns” (1988) and its sequel “Young Guns II” (1990), “Flatliners” (1990), “A Few Good Men” (1992), and “The Three Musketeers” (1993). These films established him as a versatile actor capable of taking on various genres, from action and drama to horror and thriller.
How Did Kiefer Sutherland’s Career Progress in the 1990s?
Throughout the 1990s, Sutherland’s career experienced fluctuations. While he starred in moderately successful films like “The Three Musketeers,” “Freeway,” and “Dark City,” it wasn’t until his role in “A Time to Kill” (1996) that he found significant box office success again. Despite these ups and downs, Sutherland remained a prominent figure in Hollywood.
What Role Brought Kiefer Sutherland Back to Prominence?
In 2001, Sutherland landed the role of counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer on the groundbreaking television show “24.” The series ran until 2010, with Sutherland reprising his role in the TV movie “24: Redemption” (2008) and the limited-run series “24: Live Another Day” (2014). His portrayal of Bauer earned him critical acclaim, including six Emmy Award nominations, six Golden Globe nominations, and wins in both categories, along with multiple Screen Actors Guild and Satellite Awards.
What Were Kiefer Sutherland’s Earnings on “24”?
In April 2006, Sutherland signed a lucrative contract with 20th Century Fox Television, making him the highest-paid actor on television at the time. The contract paid him $40 million upfront for three seasons, translating to approximately $9.6 million per season, or $400,000 per episode. This deal also made him an executive producer on the show and gave him a first-look deal for his production company.
What Other Roles Did Kiefer Sutherland Take On?
Between 2016 and 2019, Sutherland starred in the political drama “Designated Survivor,” which aired for three seasons and 53 episodes. During this time, he earned $250,000 per episode. He also directed films like “Last Night” (1993) and “Truth or Consequences, N.M.” (1997), and released two albums, “Down in a Hole” (2016) and “Reckless & Me” (2019). Sutherland has also performed on Broadway, appearing in the 2011 production of “That Championship Season.”
What Is Known About Kiefer Sutherland’s Personal Life?
Sutherland has had a colorful personal life, marked by relationships and legal issues. He married Camelia Kath in 1987, with whom he had a daughter, Sarah, before divorcing in 1990. He was engaged to Julia Roberts in 1991, but the engagement ended three days before the wedding. Sutherland married Kelly Winn in 1996, separated in 1999, and finalized their divorce in 2008. He began a relationship with actress Cindy Vela in 2014, and they got engaged in 2017.
Sutherland has faced legal troubles, including four DUI charges since 1989 and a 48-day jail sentence in 2007 for drunk driving. He also faced charges for head-butting a fashion designer in 2009, which were later dropped.
What Awards and Honors Has Kiefer Sutherland Received?
Sutherland has received numerous awards for his work on “24,” including an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and several Gold Derby Awards. He has stars on the Canada Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2013, he was named Hasty Pudding Man of the Year, and the Zurich Film Festival awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.
What Real Estate Holdings Does Kiefer Sutherland Have?
Sutherland has made several real estate transactions over the years. In 2000, he sold a ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley for $3.6 million. In 2002, he bought a converted foundry in Silver Lake for $700,000 and sold it for $3 million in 2009. In 2008, he purchased a New York City townhouse for $8.2 million and sold it for $17.5 million in 2012. In 2018, he bought a home in LA’s Atwater Village for $1.2 million and listed it for sale in 2023 for $1.8 million. In 2022, he sold a home in LA’s Toluca Lake neighborhood for $8 million and purchased a 73-acre property in New York’s Hudson Valley for $5 million.
Conclusion
Kiefer Sutherland’s net worth of $100 million is a testament to his enduring success and versatility as an actor, director, and producer. From his early roles in iconic films to his groundbreaking performance in “24,” Sutherland has made a significant impact on the entertainment industry. Despite personal challenges and legal issues, he has continued to thrive professionally, earning critical acclaim and financial success throughout his career.