Keifer Sutherland as Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer is portrayed by Keifer Sutherland on the series,
24. He was the Director of Field Operations at the CTU Los Angeles. Born in California to German-American parents, Bauer earned his bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Art from the University of California, Los Angeles. For his post-graduate studies, he attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he eventually obtained his Master of Science in Criminology and Law.
After he completed his academic pursuits, Jack enlisted for the US Army, and after acquiring necessary combat skills and receiving training, was selected to become a part of Delta Force. He was also asked to become a member of the Coral Snake, an elite army brigade, and thereafter joined the Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team. Prior to working with the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU), Jack also served as a CIA agent.
He was a key member of CTU who has prevented major terrorist attacks on the United States, saving both civilians and government leaders, but was fired during Day 3 for his heroin addiction. He headed Operation Proteus and was responsible for the implication of three CTU agents who were accepting bribes. His honesty and integrity has been perceived as “whistleblowing” by some of his more notorious colleagues and superiors. Jack has done so at great personal expense, as those he has thwarted have come after him and his loved ones many times. As a result, he has had a difficult time separating his personal life from his job. Among the people who have posed a threat to Jack’s life are the Drazen family, Stephen Saunders, Cheng Zhi and Abu Fayed.
He has one daughter, Kim Bauer, and their relationship became strained after Teri, Jack’s wife and Kim’s mother, was killed by the CTU mole, Nina Meyers. Jack and Kim were able to resolve their differences only after 18 months. Jack also turned away from his father, Phillip Bauer, some time after Teri’s funeral.
(Photo courtesy of FOX)