Kiefer Sutherland talks to Closer about fatherhood, his new music career and more!
The 24 star opens up about his kids, a budding music career and battling his demons
You’d think Kiefer Sutherland would be satisfied with starring in his blockbuster show 24 for nine seasons, or his upcoming turn in the new political thriller Designated Survivor (premiering Sept. 21 on ABC). But the son of acting legend Donald Sutherland is determined to try out a new role — country star — with his debut CD, Down in a Hole. “In the last eight to 10 years I’ve been writing a lot, and the truth is, all of this is a discovery,” Kiefer, 49, shares. “The songs are all very personal to me. It’s the closest thing I’ve got to a journal.” The album and his small-scale tour have allowed the private actor to open up to his fans like never before. Now, in this exclusive interview with Closer, Kiefer’s ready to reveal even more about the most personal part of his life: fatherhood. “I became a dad when I was 20 years old,” he says of the birth of his actress daughter Sarah, 28 (Veep). “It made me deal with certain things at a very young age, and it made me grow up.”
You’re a singer and musician. Who knew?
[Laughs] I’ve been playing music all my life. I asked a friend of mine, Jude Cole, to record a
couple songs I’d written and see if artists would be interested in recording them. He realized they were very personal and encouraged me to record a few, to see if I could come to terms with — or accept myself — doing them.
In what ways are these songs personal?
A bunch of people asked who the girl was in “Can’t Stay Away.” Truth is, it wasn’t about a girl — it’s about a bar up the street from where I was living in East LA. It was something I needed to look at. My main objective with writing, at least in the beginning, was to come to terms with some things. Almost all of the other songs were experiences from my life that I wrote about to try and gain some perspective.
Did you learn anything about yourself?
That I have more patience than I thought. With “Calling Out Your Name,” there was a part of a relationship that bothered me even 20 years later. When I wrote the song, I had to re-examine it, and I realized it wasn’t anyone’s fault. Everyone was young. I was grateful for that.
You were a young dad. How did that experience change you?
You realize very quickly that you’re responsible for things that are outside of yourself and your responsibility to those things is more important than any other thing. My children didn’t make the choice to be born — I did and their mom did.
Are any of them following in your footsteps?
My daughter Sarah is a wonderful actor — she plays Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ daughter on Veep. The others [stepchildren Michelle, Julian and Timothy] do something different.
Does Sarah ever ask you for acting advice?
Nope. She’s done really all of it on her own.
Did your dad have an influence on you becoming a performer?
Not in the way most people would think. I grew up with my mother and started as an actor when I was quite young in a theater up in Canada. My dad’s shows were mostly for people 18 years or older, so I hadn’t seen a lot of his work. Then the VHS tapes came out, and in about two or three days I watched
“I’m very glad to have made it this far in my life. A few friends haven’t been so lucky.” — Kiefer
10 or 15 of his movies. The diversity of the films and his characters was extraordinary, which had a massive influence on what I thought was smart and what I wanted to accomplish.
What’s the biggest lesson he taught you?
The only advice he ever gave me was, “Don’t ever get caught lying to an audience.” That means, don’t fake-cry. It finally sunk in. I learned there has to be an honesty in everything you’re doing as an actor.
Which role are you most thankful for?
24 was probably the most dynamic part of my career. I did that for 10 years, loved playing that character, loved the crews that I got to make it with. Yeah, I was incredibly grateful to have had that opportunity.
What was so appealing about the part?
I had great respect for the kind of person that Jack Bauer was. He tried to do the best that he could, and he had a very strong moral compass in what he was forced to deal with. And the character just kept evolving: If you look at Jack in season one, he’s very different than in season nine. I really valued that.
What’s your greatest accomplishment?
I still share a beautiful relationship with my children, and that has been one of the greatest blessings in my life.
— Reporting by Ilyssa Panitz
“We all make mistakes and have lost.” — Kiefer