Remember the greatest roles of Donald and Kiefer Sutherland

In this remake of the late 1950s sci-fi horror cult favorite, Donald Sutherland's character, who works for the San Francisco health department, joins up with a colleague to see how plant-like alien creatures are infiltrating human bodies and cloning them to live without any sense of moral feeling. Sutherland's Matthew Bennell tries to keep it together, but is often frazzled. There's not much substance to the character, but it's still one of Sutherland's most entertaining roles. 

We're talking about the original version, though Kiefer Sutherland finds himself back in this role for the needless 2017 remake. Kiefer's Nelson Wright, a medical student intrigued by the concept of life after death, is both inquisitive and a little creepy . He and some fellow students, including those played by Julia Roberts and Kevin Bacon, are willing to push the boundary of life and death to find out. Sutherland had no problem playing characters that are strange, borderline-psychotic or -sociopathic. 

One of Donald Sutherland's late-career roles, and of the television variety, where, as we'll see, Sutherland has done some strong work that's been recognized as such. So was the case with his performance in this psychological thriller of an HBO miniseries, which earned Sutherland a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and the victory for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie at the Critics' Choice Television Awards.

Sticking with Donald Sutherland's work on television. He won the first of his two Golden Globe Awards. With HBO's Path of War, it came in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role of Clark M. Clifford, presidential advisor to Lyndon Johnson, whose eyes this story of the Vietnam War is told from that individual standpoint. As we'll see on this list, Sutherland tends to be his best when he's not in a lead role. He was exceptional at subtly stealing scenes.

Donald Sutherland has an honorary Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. One of the latter came for this stellar portrayal Mikhail Fetisov, the famed detective of the Moscow Militia, who was in charge of the investigation into early 1980s Soviet serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. Sutherland also won his only Primetime Emmy Award, for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special, for his performance in this HBO movie.

Kiefer Sutherland was part of an all-star cast, of relatively young, hot Hollywood talent (Emilio Estevez, Lou Diamond Phillips,  Charlie Sheen,   Dermot Mulroney  and Casey Siemaszko) that spanned two highly successful Western action films. Sutherland plays "Doc" Scurlock, real-life right-hand man to Estevez's Billy the Kid. Doc is loyal to Billy, but has his moments of heightened individuality that makes him one of the more underrated characters from these movies. 

It's somewhat difficult to decide what to make of Donald Sutherland's Jennings. Is he a cool, hippie college literature professor? Or a creepy adult looking to prey on his female students by charming them with thoughtful insight on Milton or getting high with the group? It's one of Sutherland's more casual roles, but subtly memorable within all the comedic chaos of this comedy classic. 

One of Donald Sutherland's early film roles, four years after he made his big-screen debut. In Robert Aldrich's legendary war film, Sutherland's Pinkley is an unassuming oddball American soldier who is likely best known for being made to impersonate a general on the order of Major John Reisman (played by fellow legend Lee Marvin). It's also quite eerie how much a young Donald is reminiscent of son Kiefer in the early years of his acting career.

Just a miserable character — both on the pages and in the big screen version — of the popular John Grisham legal drama. Kiefer Sutherland's Freddie Lee Cobb is a racist member of the Klu Klux Klan, who also happens to be a rapist. Freddie is determined to seek revenge after his brother, Billy Ray (Nicky Katt) and friend Pete Willard (Doug Hutchison) are arrested for the abduction, assault and attempted rapë of young black girl. Sutherland is almost uncomfortable to watch due to the nature of his character. Then again, that's what makes him a successful actor. Interestingly enough, father Donald Sutherland was also in this movie.

It's one of Kiefer's more underrated roles. U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Tom Kirkman never thought about being president. Then, the U.S. Capital is blown up during the State of the Union, and the line of succession to the presidency leads to him. He tries his best to lead the country in recovery while also dealing with various issues that arise — not to mention the eventual death of his wife. As time goes on, Kirkman grows more confident and entertaining to watch, even as a number of people inside and out of his administration tried to undermine him, but he often stood his ground, played tough, and kept focused through it all, even after losing his wife.

Though Jane Fonda was the more celebrated star of this psychological thriller, Donald Sutherland more than holds his own as the detective who works with Fonda's call girl Bree Daniel on a case that involves a missing john who appeared to be stalking her. Sutherland played opposite some of the most legendary leading ladies during his stellar career (as we'll see on this list). In this case, he probably deserved more praise than he has earned over the years.

This massively popular Oliver Stone take on the John F. Kennedy Jr. assassination, through the eyes of New Orleans district attorney  Jim Garrison, is filled with plenty of conspiracy theories. Many of which are delivered via Sutherland's "X," a government official, who in Cloak-and-Dagger-style, confronts Garrison (Kevin Costner) about how the United States government had a hand in arranging and/or covering up the shooting. Sutherland is riveting in the few minutes he's actually on screen as a human amalgamation of conspiracy theories over the decades.

Kiefer Sutherland has played his share of despicable characters during his brilliant acting career. Near the top of the list is his memorable, smarmy, boot-licking, gung-ho Lt. Kendrick, who is a by-the-book Marine willing to put the corps above anything, and anyone, else — and do what it takes to get ahead. Not to mention in the good graces of Colonel  Nathan R. Jessep (Jack Nicholson). Good thing Naval attorney Lt.   Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) was there to take both down a notch.

This was the role that truly put Kiefer Sutherland on the map as one of Hollywood's young stars. He was deliciously evil, yet captivating as the leader of the teenage vampire gang that terrorized the fictional Santa Carla community, and looked to recruit some new members into the fold. Even though the younger Sutherland's most celebrated roles weren't as the bad guy, he does play the villain — or antagonist — to near perfection that these types of performances are usually quite memorable. 

There was never a scene in this great Rob Reiner flick where Ace wasn't an awful human being. He just might be the most hated character that Kiefer Sutherland has ever played, and that's saying much since he's portrayed some real demons. "Ace," the local bully who terrorized those of any age, was one of Sutherland's earliest roles, and drew plenty of attention to his promise. Especially among U.S. audiences. 

Donald Sutherland had no problem portraying real-life figures. In this case, he's perfect as the University of Oregon track and field coaching legend Bill Bowerman in this take of the Steve Prefontaine story. Another stoic performance from the great Sutherland, who's almost like a father figure to the extremely talented, but often arrogant and hard-headed Prefontaine. It earned Sutherland a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.

There might not be a more sinister and autocratic leader than President Snow. The ruler of Panem will do things his way, or his citizens (especially in the outlying districts) will pay. We've seen what he's capable of doing, and it's scary to see it all play out — especially when we're talking about sacrificing children to keep him satisfied and entertained. He controls everything, and essentially everybody, and does not care who stands in his way. Snow, however, met his match in Katniss Everdeen.  

Before Alan Alda made the "Hawkeye" pierce character a television icon, Sutherland introduced the world to the famed Korean War surgeon. While Alda's made-for-television tended to be more the goofy side (and audiences loved it), Sutherland's portrayal was darker. He's subtly humorous, stoic in many ways, but with a sly approach that viewers are just waiting for him to burst out with some memorable lines or action. He earned his first Golden Globe Award nomination: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Donald earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for the Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, as the well-meaning, but over-protective father Calvin Jarrett in this acclaimed Robert Redford drama about a upper-middle class family trying to find some normalcy in the wake of a domestic tragedy. The range of theatrical emotion that Sutherland exuded to play this tortured character was nothing less than brilliant. And to do it opposite fellow legend Mary Tyler Moore made it even more impressive. 

As we've seen, Kiefer Sutherland has played some pretty memorable characters. But when it comes to iconic characters, especially in the action drama world of television, Jack Bauer is among the elite. Whether working for CTU or going rogue, nobody is more deadly and loyal to his country than Jack. Jack lived a hard television life and often lost those close to him. But he could be ruthless and relentless when taking down or terminating those trying to harm a colleague, friend, or family member. Does the term "bådass" come to mind?