Heartwarming Reason Behind Donald Sutherland’s Decision to Decline Major Role

Summary

– Donald Sutherland passed on the role of a villain in “24” to avoid playing a father trying to kill his son, Kiefer Sutherland.

– Donald wanted their first on-screen collaboration to be something positive, akin to Sean Connery and Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones.”

– James Cromwell ultimately took on the role of Phillip Bauer in “24.”

Donald Sutherland, a celebrated actor known for his extensive filmography, once turned down a significant role in the hit TV series “24.” The reason behind his decision was both touching and profound: he did not want his first on-screen interaction with his son, Kiefer Sutherland, to involve playing an antagonist who tries to kill him.

During an interview with the BBC in 2006, Donald Sutherland revealed that the role of Phillip Bauer, the villainous father of Kiefer’s character Jack Bauer, was initially offered to him. However, he declined because he desired their first professional collaboration to be more positive and akin to the dynamic between Sean Connery and Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”

Donald explained, “We had a long dinner, and he asked me to play his dad in ’24.’ I said, ‘OK, but on one condition—the relationship has to be the same sort of relationship Sean Connery had with Harrison Ford in ‘Indiana Jones.’ He came back and said, ‘No, Dad, they want you to try and kill me.’ I said, ‘No way, that’s not going to work.'”

As a result, James Cromwell took on the role of Phillip Bauer. Despite Cromwell’s efforts, the character’s storyline received mixed reviews, and Cromwell himself later expressed his discontent with the show’s use of torture and the character’s erratic motives.

Interestingly, Donald Sutherland pitched an alternative twist for the show’s finale, suggesting that his character could have been revealed as Jack Bauer’s biological father, reframing the entire story. However, the showrunners did not pursue this idea.

Donald and Kiefer Sutherland eventually shared the screen in the 2015 western film “Forsaken,” where they played an estranged father and son. This marked their first and only collaboration where they directly interacted on-screen, directed by Jon Cassar, a long-time director of “24.”

Donald Sutherland’s decision to prioritize a positive on-screen relationship with his son over a high-profile TV role underscores his deep familial bond and professional integrity. His legacy in the film industry remains substantial, having contributed to numerous iconic roles over decades.