Kiefer Sutherland: Proud Dad of Two Daughters, Sarah and Michelle

Kiefer Sutherland has enjoyed a remarkable career, marked by ups and downs in his personal life, yet he regards fatherhood as the most transformative experience he has ever encountered.

The 24 star, son of the late actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas, became a stepfather at 20 when he married Camelia Kath, Michelle Sinclair’s mother. Michelle was born to Camelia during a previous marriage to the late Chicago singer-songwriter Terry Kath, who passed away in 1978.

Kiefer’s only biological daughter is Sarah Sutherland. Although Kiefer and Camelia divorced in 1990, he consistently remained a vital presence in the lives of both daughters.

“I still share a beautiful relationship with my children, and that has been one of the greatest blessings in my life,” Kiefer stated in an interview with Closer Magazine in 2016.

Continue reading for more information about Kiefer’s two children.

Kiefer Sutherland Became a Stepfather at Age 20

Kiefer Sutherland became a stepfather at 20 when he wed 34-year-old Camelia Kath in 1987 and inherited her daughter Michelle.

“I became a dad when I was 20 years old,” he recalled in a 2016 interview with Closer. “It compelled me to confront certain responsibilities at a very young age, leading to rapid maturity.”

He reflected on the duty of supporting a family while still being fresh out of adolescence.

“You quickly understand that you’re accountable for things outside of yourself, and your obligation towards these things takes precedence over everything else,” he remarked. “My children had no say in being born — that was a decision I and their mom made.”

Kiefer and Camelia ended their marriage in 1990, but he maintained a close bond with Michelle, even assisting with her 2016 documentary on her biological father, The Terry Kath Experience.

“I fell completely in love with Michelle,” Kiefer shared on stage at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016. “I’ve been fortunate to have her as a significant part of my life since then.”

Kiefer was present at Michelle’s wedding to Scottish actor Adam Sinclair in Edinburgh, Scotland, in May 2004.

Sarah Sutherland Was Born During Kiefer Sutherland’s First Marriage

Kiefer and Camelia welcomed their daughter, Sarah Sutherland, on February 19, 1988, in Los Angeles.

“I was 20 when my daughter arrived, making all sorts of plans during my wife’s pregnancy,” he recounted to Redbook in March 2012. “I was set to be the perfect father. However, once she was born, I thought, ‘Oh, my God! I’m a parent!’”

Kiefer believes he’s always communicated well with Sarah, attributing this to his youth when he became a father.

“Perhaps because I was so young when I had her, I never spoke down to her as a child,” he said. “As a result, we have maintained a very balanced relationship.”

After Kiefer and Camelia’s split in 1990, he was briefly engaged to Flatliners co-star Julia Roberts and was married to his second wife, Elizabeth Kelly Winn, from 1996 to 2004. He has been with his current fiancée, actress Cindy Vela, since 2017.

Kiefer Sutherland and His Daughter Sarah Come From One of Canada’s Most Notable Families

Kiefer is part of the third generation of one of Canada’s distinguished families, being the son of actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas. The couple was married from 1966 to 1970 and has a daughter, Rachel Sutherland. Shirley also had a son, Thomas Emil Sicks, from her first marriage, while Donald has a total of five children: twins Kiefer and Rachel, and three sons — Roeg, Rossif, and Angus — with his third wife, Francine Racette.

Shirley’s father, Tommy Douglas, served as the premier of Saskatchewan and led Canada’s New Democratic Party for a decade from the 1960s through the early 1970s, cementing his legacy as a key figure in 20th-century Canadian politics.

Both Shirley and Donald enjoyed successful acting careers. Shirley was awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 and honored with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2004. Notable roles include her performances in the CBC family drama Wind at My Back and Stanley Kubrick’s controversial 1962 film adaptation of Lolita.

Donald secured two Golden Globes throughout his career and was presented with the Academy Honorary Award in 2017 for his extensive body of work. He is known for iconic roles in M*A*S*H, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and JFK, and introduced himself to a new generation of filmgoers as President Coriolanus Snow in the Hunger Games series.

Kiefer announced in April 2020 that his mother, Shirley, had passed away at the age of 86 due to “complications related to pneumonia.”

“My mother was an exceptional woman who led an extraordinary life. Unfortunately, she had been struggling with her health for quite some time, and we, as a family, were prepared for this day,” Kiefer expressed. “To families grieving unexpected losses due to the coronavirus, my heart aches for you. Please stay safe.”

In June 2024, Kiefer shared the news that his father, Donald, passed away at 88 after battles with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for the last years of his life.

“With a heavy heart, I announce that my father, Donald Sutherland, has left us. I genuinely believe he is one of the most significant actors in film history,” Kiefer stated via X at that time. “Unfazed by any role, he loved his craft, and one cannot ask for more than that. A life lived well.”

Sarah Sutherland Made Her Screen Acting Debut on ‘Veep’

Sarah Sutherland is an alumnus of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she penned a one-woman play titled The Skin of a Grape during her final semester.

Her acting debut came in 2012 on the acclaimed series Veep, which has won 17 Emmys, where she portrayed Vice President Selina Meyer’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) sullen daughter, Catherine.

The onscreen relationship between Selina and Catherine was often contentious, yet Sarah revealed in a 2019 interview with W Magazine that she quickly formed a bond with Louis-Dreyfus in real life.

“Julia and I couldn’t be more different [from Selina and Catherine],” she clarified.

Sarah later starred alongside two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank in the 2018 drama What They Had and took the lead in the 2021 Canadian film Like a House on Fire.

Despite her father’s global recognition, Sarah conveyed in a February 2017 interview with Interview Magazine that she has generally been able to sidestep the pitfalls of fame.

“I’m not dodging people on the street,” she jested. “I’m often met with, ‘Did we go to high school together?’”

Kiefer Sutherland Has Publicly Supported His Daughter Sarah’s Acting Career

Kiefer Sutherland has revealed that he offered his daughter Sarah acting roles in several of his films, yet she declined each time.

“For me, it was vital that [acting] be pursued on my own terms and my own way,” she told ABC News in March 2021.

Kiefer mentioned on The View in 2016 that, owing to his own upbringing as a second-generation actor, he felt no “anxiety” about Sarah following in his footsteps.

“My daughter is incredibly intelligent,” he expressed. “She was an outstanding student, fluent in four languages. She even spoke Latin and Greek — a truly exceptional scholar. I had high hopes for her.”

The A Few Good Men actor believed allowing Sarah to follow her own interests was essential, just as his parents had for him in the previous generation.

“When I decided to pursue this career, my parents allowed me to find my own way,” he reflected. “Consequently, I had to give Sarah the same freedom. Whether I liked it or not, she was going to follow her path. … She achieved this all on her own. I think she’s incredibly gifted, and I’m very proud of her.”