There’s plenty to ask the man who Donald Sutherland calls “son”. He’s British for starters – born in 1966 in St Mary’s hospital in Paddington. He’s named after American director Warren Kiefer, who directed Donald Sutherland in 1964’s horror Castle of the Living Dead, and grew up with his mother in Canada alongside his twin sister, who looks spookily similar if you care to Google her.
Sutherland’s film career has spanned nearly 40 years. He made his debut in 1983 comedy drama Max Dugan Returns with Donald Sutherland and Matthew Broderick. He soon became one of the names associated with the Brat Pack – the group of young Hollywood actors who frequently appeared together in 80s coming-of-age films. He played the bully, Ace, in 1986’s Stand By Me with River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Wil Wheaton and Jerry O’Connell; Doc in 1988 and 1989’s Young Guns and Young Guns II with Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez and Christian Slater; and vampire gang leader David Powers in 1987’s The Lost Boys. There’s talk of The Lost Boys being remade with A Quiet Place’s Noah Jupe and Jaeden Martell, from It. How does Kiefer feel about a younger generation fanging up his legacy? Time to join the club? Or death by stereo?
Sutherland was nearly cast as Robin in an early script of Michael Keaton’s 1989 version of Batman. Then there’s 1990 horror Flatliners with – of course – Julia Roberts, 1992’s A Few Good Men … Plus 2002’s Phone Booth, where Kiefer literally but brilliantly phones in his role as a mysterious but threatening voice on the end of a phone in a phone box.
Since 2001, you’d probably most associate Kiefer with playing 24’s Jack Bauer, who over nine seasons (and one special) loses his wife, fakes his own death, deliberately becomes addicted to heroin and spends 20 months being tortured by the Chinese, all whilse seemingly holding it in. His bladder of steel has even been the subject of its own Guardian discussion. So – be our guest – and someone please do ask: when does Jack Bauer go to the toilet?
Most recently, Sutherland has gone from loyally serving Presidents Palmer and Heller (but not – boo, hiss – President Logan) to playing POTUS in three series of Designated Survivor from 2015 to 2019. At one point, the calm and collected President Kirkman counters a deadly virus spreading over the world, leading some people to wonder: did Kiefer predict the future?
Sutherland is also about to release his third country album, Bloor Street (“I asked myself, what do I love about acting and music?” For me, it’s storytelling …”). He’s in the process of rescheduling his UK tour due to the Covid situation. Still, at least it’s not the lethal Cordilla pulmonary-immuno virus from Day 3 of 24.
So, dammit! Post your questions for Kiefer in the comments below by [tick … tock … tick … tock … ] 12:00 hours on Monday and we’ll get Chloe to upload the schematics ready to publish in Film&Music in print and online on 28 January. Mr President, it’s been an honour …
