Yet as the decade wore on, he began to mature, spread out into a variety of roles and, in the years beyond, make a name for himself on television as an action hero and a statesman.
Through it all, I could not stop thinking, “Boy does Kiefer Sutherland look like his dad!”
Early days
Initially, I heard about Kiefer Sutherland more than I actually saw him. He had appeared in this Canadian movie that won a bunch of Genie awards. It was called “The Bay Boy”, came out in 1984 and has Sutherland playing a man named Donald Campbell growing up in Nova Scotia in the 1930s. When I saw a clip all I could think was how much he looked like his dad.
Initially, I heard about Kiefer Sutherland more than I actually saw him. He had appeared in this Canadian movie that won a bunch of Genie awards. It was called “The Bay Boy”, came out in 1984 and has Sutherland playing a man named Donald Campbell growing up in Nova Scotia in the 1930s. When I saw a clip all I could think was how much he looked like his dad.
A year later, in 1985, I saw his name again, this time in an episode of Steven Spielberg’s entré into television called “Amazing Stories”. Sutherland plays part of a Second World War air crew. I didn’t see the show, but when I saw a photo from it, I thought how much he looked like his dad.
Big screen bully
Pretty soon, Sutherland migrated to the big screen. The first time I saw Kiefer Sutherland was in 1986 as the older brother of one of the four boys in “Stand by Me”. That's where he terrorized the young adventurers.
Pretty soon, Sutherland migrated to the big screen. The first time I saw Kiefer Sutherland was in 1986 as the older brother of one of the four boys in “Stand by Me”. That's where he terrorized the young adventurers.
He gave new meaning to the word terrorize in 1987 when I saw him as a teenage vampire in “The Lost Boys", terrorizing Cory Haim and Corey Feldman.
Sutherland was awesome in both roles as a psychotic, violent antagonist.
It would have been easy to get type cast, but he avoided that, for the most part.
Incidentally, he also appeared alongside Michael J. Fox as a self-destructive party animal in “Bright Lights, Big City” in 1988, but I never did see that movie.
Go west young man
His next role was in 1988 where he played “Doc”, one of the more reasonable friends of Emilio Estevez’s “Billy the Kid” in “Young Guns”. My overriding memory of Doc is being in the wrong place at the wrong time, getting blood spattered on the side of his face when “Billy the Kid” shot someone in the side of the head. He just kept on as if nothing happened. It was a bit chilling.
His next role was in 1988 where he played “Doc”, one of the more reasonable friends of Emilio Estevez’s “Billy the Kid” in “Young Guns”. My overriding memory of Doc is being in the wrong place at the wrong time, getting blood spattered on the side of his face when “Billy the Kid” shot someone in the side of the head. He just kept on as if nothing happened. It was a bit chilling.
It was also a totally different role.
Double time
Sutherland had appeared in “Young Guns” with Lou “Diamond” Phillips, who was a good friend of Sutherland’s. The two teamed up in 1989 a movie called “The Renegades”. Sutherland plays a city cop who teams up with Phillips, playing a man hunting a murderer.
Sutherland had appeared in “Young Guns” with Lou “Diamond” Phillips, who was a good friend of Sutherland’s. The two teamed up in 1989 a movie called “The Renegades”. Sutherland plays a city cop who teams up with Phillips, playing a man hunting a murderer.
I saw that movie in the theatre with my good fried Sean Drake. When we were leaving the theatre, the thing we both mentioned first was how long the car chase that opened the movie was.
We agreed it was the longest car chase we’d ever seen.
The years after
Things just got better for Kiefer Sutherland on the big screen after that. He would appear in “Flatliners” in 1990; “Young Guns II” the same year; “A Few Good Men” in 1992 and “A Time to Kill” in 1996. In the latter two movies, he again played a bully prone to violence.
Things just got better for Kiefer Sutherland on the big screen after that. He would appear in “Flatliners” in 1990; “Young Guns II” the same year; “A Few Good Men” in 1992 and “A Time to Kill” in 1996. In the latter two movies, he again played a bully prone to violence.
Sutherland would find major success on TV. First, he had a long run as an operative working for a counter-terrorist unit in “24”. Later he played a man who unexpectedly becomes president of the United States when everyone in front of him in the line of succession dies in “Designated Survivor”.
He continues acting to this day with his most recent television role in “Rabbit Hole”.
Parting thoughts
I always root for Canadians in Hollywood, and Kiefer Sutherland was no exception. Yet, initially it seemed as if he played the same role over and over as the bully with a mean streak that often turned violent. He was really good at appearing creepy and, on occasion, soulless. It was the same in “Stand by Me”; “The Lost Boys”; “A Few Good Men”; and “A Time to Kill”.
I always root for Canadians in Hollywood, and Kiefer Sutherland was no exception. Yet, initially it seemed as if he played the same role over and over as the bully with a mean streak that often turned violent. He was really good at appearing creepy and, on occasion, soulless. It was the same in “Stand by Me”; “The Lost Boys”; “A Few Good Men”; and “A Time to Kill”.
Yet he would branch out to different roles, most notably in television, and forged a solid career that continues to this day.
He no longer is the actor who looks like his dad.
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