How Kiefer Sutherland’s self-destructive influences shaped his career
It’s no secret that many actors are often plagued by self-destructive behaviours. A number of creative geniuses and talented young people have met their end through alcoholism, drug abuse, and reckless decisions. For Kiefer Sutherland, this legacy is something that actually drew him towards a creative professional life instead of scaring him away and, in many ways, shaped his career.
Despite being the son of the late great Donald Sutherland, Kiefer wasn’t drawn to acting due to his father’s work, given their often fraught relationship. Instead, it was the extremity of those legends who had come before him that seemed to attract him to the career. Speaking with The Guardian about famed actors renowned for their self-destructive behaviour, Sutherland said, “They were just great, I loved their stories, I loved all of that about them.”
The “extraordinary” actors he is referencing as his self-described “heroes” were Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole and Richard Harris. The three were known just as much for their hell-raising antics and lost weekends as they were for their great abilities as performers. In fact, many of those weekends were spent together with the rest of a rag-tag group of thespians. Both Burton and Harris were known alcoholics, with O’Toole having to give up drinking due to his health. However, all three sustained incredible acting careers and are still considered some of the best to this day despite their self-destructive tendencies.
Whether these tendencies were due to their fame and fortune or were what drew them to the work is unknown, but Sutherland is sure it’s the latter. “I’ve certainly always been of the view that [acting] attracts those people,” he told the BBC without hesitation, with ‘those people’ meaning self-destructive hedonists. And Sutherland has attempted to follow in his hero’s footsteps in more ways than one. A critically acclaimed actor himself, he also had a string of DUIs between 1989 and 2009 and was nearly charged with assault for punching fashion designer Jack McCullough in the face at a MoMA fundraiser.
However, in the 15 years since, Sutherland has managed to keep a low profile regarding his self-destructive behaviours and has continued to have a successful career as an actor and musician. This move away from the darker side of showbiz is hinted at in his interview with The Guardian, where he remarked how he also thinks “there’s a balance”.
Also, noting Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks as two of his favourite actors, he makes the point that it doesn’t always take self-destruction to be a successful actor and not all those who are drawn to the job are hedonists. After all, Stewart and Hanks are known for their ‘strong morality’ on and off screen, becoming some of Hollywood’s most beloved stars.
So, while the self-destructive, intense lives of some of acting’s biggest stars are what inspired and shaped Sutherland, his subsequent turnaround and dedication to a less chaotic life prove that acting doesn’t have to lead to your demise to be worthwhile. In fact, steering clear of the intensity that marred the lives of Burton, O’Toole, and Harris seems to ensure a longer and much more consistent career.
