Jack Bauer: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 17:49, 10 June 2007 editDreamer84 (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users3,329 edits The current 24 Post-Day 6 mini-episodes online have Jack under questioning by CTU District, so in no way is he 'Missing' at the moment.← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 02:15, 18 December 2024 edit undoGreenC bot (talk \| contribs)Bots2,547,813 edits Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#people.com
Line 1:		Line 1:
			{{short description\|Protagonist of the American television series '24'}}
	{{TV-in-universe}}
			{{other people}}
	{{24 character
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=December 2017}}
	\|image=]
			{{Infobox character
	\|bgcolor=#001
			\| name = Jack Bauer
	\|fgcolor=#ee9
			\| series = ]
	\|name= '''Jack Bauer'''
			\| image = Jack Bauer.jpg
	\|portrayed= ]
			\| caption = ] as Jack Bauer
	\|gender=]
			\| first = ]
	\|DOB=]/]/]
			\| last = ]
	\|height=5 ] 11 ]
			\| creator = ]<br>]
	\|family=] (Father) (Unknown) <br/> ] (Daughter) <br/> ] (Brother) (Deceased) <br/> Carol (Sister-in-Law) <br/> Ethel (Sister-in-Law) <br/> ] (Sister-in-Law) <br/> ] (Nephew) <br/>
			\| portrayer = ]
	\|spouse= ] (Deceased)
	\|~~days~~=], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]		\| lbl1 = Days
			\| data1 = ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]
			\| lbl2 = Other appearances
	\|jobs=Acting Dir. of Field Ops., CTU LA<br/>Special Asst. to Sec. of Defense<br/>Dir. of Field Ops., CTU LA<br/>Special Agent in Charge, CTU LA<br/>LAPD SWAT Officer,<br/>US Army — Combat Applications Group, Delta Force Counter Terrorist Group<br/>CIA Case Officer, Clandestine Services
			\| data2 = '']''<br />'']''
	\|affiliation=]<br/>]
			\| spouse = ] (deceased)
	\|status=Active
			\| family = Phillip Bauer (father)<br />] (brother)<br />Josh Bauer (nephew)<br />Stephen Wesley (son-in-law)<br />Teri Wesley (granddaughter)<br />Unnamed grandson
	\|Catchphrases="We're running out of time!", "We are out of time!"
			\| children = ]
	\|linkArticle=Jack_Bauer
	}}		}}
	'''Jack Bauer''' is the fictional ] of the ] ] '']'', in which he has trained and worked in various capacities as a government agent, including ] ], ] ], and finally the ] (CTU) ]. He is a key member of the latter and has prevented major terrorist attacks on the ] throughout the series, saving both civilians and government leaders. On many occasions the character has done so at great personal expense, as those he has thwarted have targeted him and his loved ones many times. Actor ] portrays Jack Bauer in the television show and video game, and in 2006 signed on for at least three further seasons.<ref name ="phase">{{cite web \| author = Stephen M. Silverman\| title = Kiefer Sutherland: $40 Million Man \| work = \|date = ]\| url = http://people.aol.com/people/article/0,26334,1181709,00.html\| accessdate = 2006-08-23}}</ref>

			'''Jack Bauer''' is a fictional character and the ] of the ] television series '']''. Throughout the majority of the series' running, Bauer serves as a key member of the fictional ] and other institutions. Bauer's job usually involves helping prevent major terrorist attacks on the ], saving both civilian lives and ] administrations. On many occasions, Jack does so at great personal expense, as those he thwarts subsequently target him and his loved ones. Bauer is not a crooked agent; though his frequent use of ] to gather information has ].
	== Appearances ==
	As the principal character in 24, Jack plays a prominent role in the television series and the video game. Jack is the main protagonist of the 24 series and the books, and has appeared in every episode to date. He is the only character to have done so, although Glenn Morshower, as Secret Service Security Aaron Pierce, has appeared in every season. Spoiler:

			Actor ] portrays Jack Bauer in the television show<ref>Ken Tucker, "''24'': Mondays, 9 p.m., premiering Sunday, Jan. 11, at 8 pm," ''Entertainment Weekly'' 1o30 (January 16, 2009): 56.</ref> and video game. The television series was originally set to end on May 24, 2010, after eight successful seasons but was revived for a limited ninth season, which premiered on May 5, 2014.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://tvline.com/2014/01/13/24-live-another-day-premiere-date/\|title=Fox Announces Spring Premiere Dates for ''24: Live Another Day'', ''Surviving Jack'' and More\|publisher=TVLine\|first=Michael\|last=Ausiello\|date=January 13, 2014\|access-date=February 6, 2014\|archive-date=October 3, 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003171702/https://tvline.com/2014/01/13/24-live-another-day-premiere-date/\|url-status=dead}}</ref> A feature film was set to be released; however, discussions ended over a contract dispute with Fox.
	=== 24 television series ===
	Jack Bauer was born in ], on ], ], he is the son of ]. After ], he enrolled at ] where he graduated with a ] in ]. He went on to receive his ] in ] and ] from ].<ref>From the official book: ''The House Special Subcommittee's Findings at CTU''</ref> After completing his schooling, and after joining the U.S. Army and tuning his skills as a soldier, he was asked to join the ] elite special forces unit ], was offered a place in the covert team dubbed "Coral Snake", and worked as a ] ] team member. It is also known that Bauer did work for the ] before being seconded to the Counter Terrorist Unit. While at CTU, he was the Team Leader for an action known as Operation Proteus and the Section Captain during the incident of the Hotel Los Angeles attack.<ref></ref> He later uncovered evidence that three CTU agents were taking ]s. Jack gained a reputation as a ] and lost favor with the CTU hierarchy.<ref>''Season 1 '' '''Jack Bauer:''' I am the last guy you want to bring something like this to. I built a case against three of our own agents for taking bribes. If there's a conspiracy inside the agency to kill David Palmer, I'll never get anywhere near it.</ref>

			Bauer has received critical acclaim from audiences and critics. ] ranked him No. 49 on their list of "TV's Top 50 Heroes" and ] listed Jack as No. 1 on their list of
	Jack was married to ]; the couple had one daughter, ]. After Teri's death at the hands of ], a rift grew between Kim and Jack, not closing until eighteen months later. Jack also broke off contact with his father, ], shortly after the funeral.
			"TV's toughest men". '']'' named Jack Bauer one of ''The 20 All Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture''.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20268279_5,00.html \|title=''Entertainment Weekly's'' 20 All Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture \|publisher=Entertainment Weekly \|access-date=2010-05-21 \|archive-date=September 2, 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902162124/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20268279_5,00.html \|url-status=dead }}</ref> In June 2010, ''Entertainment Weekly'' also named him one of the ''100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years''.<ref>{{cite magazine\|title=The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years: Here's our full list!\|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/06/01/100-greatest-characters-of-last-20-years-full-list/\|magazine=Entertainment Weekly\|publisher=Time Inc.\|access-date=July 7, 2012\|author=Adam B. Vary\|date=June 1, 2010}}</ref> Jack is also the only character in the show to have appeared in all episodes.

			==Concept and creation==
	Throughout the course of 24, Jack has been the subject of "blowback" (when a past operation comes back to haunt him in some way) a total of four times. The first was in Day 1, with Jack being the target of the Drazen family (also targeted: Senator David Palmer and Robert Ellis). The second was in Day 3, when one of Jack's former collegues, ], a former ] and ] operative, tried to release a weaponized virus in the United States. The third occurred in Day 5, when Jack was abducted by Cheng Zhi after taking part in a covert operation on the ] ] in Day 4. The latest blowback occurs in Day 6, when terrorist Abu Fayed demands Jack's death after Jack tortured and killed his brother in ] during an operation in 1999.
			''24'' co-creator ] commented that they did not have any actors in mind for the part; "We didn't really know who it was. We were casting a lot of people and then we heard Kiefer Sutherland's name and thought, that's Jack Bauer."<ref name="phase">{{cite web \| author = Stephen M. Silverman \| author-link = Stephen M. Silverman \| title = Kiefer Sutherland: $40 Million Man \|date = 2004-10-06\| url = http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1181709,00.html\| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070108023737/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1181709,00.html\| url-status = dead\| archive-date = January 8, 2007\| access-date = 2008-04-28}}</ref> In 2000, Sutherland was contacted by his friend, director ], who was working on the pilot for the experimental real-time TV show and offered him the lead.<ref>{{cite web\| last = Hedegaard\| first = Erik\| title = Kiefer Sutherland: Heart of Darkness\| work = Rolling Stone Magazine\| date = 2006-04-20\| url = http://www.linter.org/stories/keifergood.html\| access-date = 2008-07-04\| url-status = dead\| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100906095032/http://www.linter.org/stories/keifergood.html\| archive-date = September 6, 2010\| df = mdy-all}}</ref> Initially Sutherland had reservations about playing Bauer, stating, "I thought, 'This is really clever and different, so there's no way they're going to pick it up. But I could use the money, and no one will ever see it'."<ref name="interview">{{cite web \| author =Joel Schumacher \| title = Kiefer Sutherland: he's been around Hollywood for more than 20 years, but these days, this bold talent has them counting the minutes \| work = Interview \|date = 2004-02-01\| url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_1_34/ai_112482982/pg_2\| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060409131534/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_1_34/ai_112482982/pg_2\| url-status = dead\| archive-date = 2006-04-09\| access-date = 2008-07-04}}</ref>

			Sutherland must produce around 24 hours of film each season, "which is like making 12 movies, so there are going to be mistakes along the way, but I am incredibly surprised by how many things work well as a result of working at that pace."<ref name="interview"/>
	=== 24: The Game ===
			In 2006, Sutherland signed a contract to play the role of Bauer for three seasons following ]. The contract was reported to be worth $40 million.<ref name="phase" /> Sutherland is also an ] of ''24''.<ref name="phase2">{{cite web\| author = Jenna Fryer\| title = 24 SEASON 3 Q&A with JOEL SURNOW, ROBERT COCHRAN and HOWARD GORDON\| work = Phase 9 Movies\| date = 2004-01-01\| url = http://www.phase9.tv/moviefeatures/24season3q&a-joelsurnow2.shtml\| access-date = 2008-07-04\| url-status = dead\| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090120152002/http://www.phase9.tv/moviefeatures/24season3q%26a-joelsurnow2.shtml\| archive-date = 2009-01-20}}</ref>
	] which takes place six months after Day 2.]]
	24: The Game takes place between Day 2 and 3. Jack begins waiting outside the ship where terrorists are going to realease a Ricin Bomb in the water supply. A CTU Team triggers an alarm causing Jack and his team to storm the ship. Jack and his team finds the whole ship's crew dead in a cargo hold. He runs into an enemy from his past, known as Peter Madsen. It is unclear what the story is between them, but it is stated that he framed Jack's family for a vile crime, this is hinted with Jack saying to him: "Eight years ago, my family wasn't involved". Most likely it's hinted that Madsen was under Jack's command either in the army or in an SWAT team, and Madsen betrayed Jack. Madsen kidnaps Jack's daughter Kim, and later Kate Warner. Jack finally kills Madsen in the end when he tries to escape.

			==Characterization==
	=== 24 (Film) ===
			Jack Bauer was born in ], ],<ref>{{cite book\|last=Cerasini\|first=Marc\|title=24: The House Special Subcommittee's Findings atCTU\|publisher=Harper Collins\|year=2003\|edition=First\|page=\|isbn=0-06-053550-4\|url-access=registration\|url=https://archive.org/details/24housespecialsu00cera/page/7}}</ref> on February 18, 1966,<ref name="debrief">{{cite episode\|title = Debrief #2: 09:42:22 \| series = 24 \| series-link = 24 (TV series) \| season = 6 Debrief \|airdate=2007-05-28\|credits = Writer: ], director: ]}}</ref> to ], who placed his livelihood in his company, BXJ Technologies. The name of Jack's mother is unknown. Jack had one brother, ]. Phillip originally planned to give the company to Jack,<ref name="s6e07">{{cite episode\|title = 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm \| series = 24 \| series-link = 24 (TV series) \| season = 6 \| number = 127\|airdate=2007-02-05\|credits = Writer: Howard Gordon, director: ]}}</ref> but as Jack said in Day 6, "I just had to go my own way."<ref name="s6e10">{{cite episode\|title = 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm \| series = 24 \| series-link = 24 (TV series) \| season = 6 \| number = 130\|airdate=2007-02-19\|credits = Writer: Howard Gordon, director: Brad Turner}}</ref>
	{{main\|24 (film)}}
	] will portray Jack Bauer in a 24 film in the future. The film is not yet being made, and it is not exactly known when it will be released. According to the official 24 magazine, ] (]) and ] (]) will join Kiefer in the future film.

			Jack has a ] degree in ] from the ] and a ] degree in ] and ] from the ].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://fox.com/24/profiles/jb.htm \|title=FOX Broadcasting Company: 24 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404011647/http://www.fox.com/24/profiles/jb.htm \|archive-date=2008-04-04}}</ref> He enlisted in the ] and later graduated from ]. His branch was ]. He first served in the ], and was later a member of the ], popularly known as Delta Force. Among his awards and decorations are the ], the ], and the ]. Apart from Special Forces and Delta training, he received ], ], and ] training. He left the Army with the rank of ] after twelve years of service.
	=== Other media ===
	Jack Bauer has been referenced in other television shows, both subtly and obviously. In an episode of '']'', also on ], ] responds to an emergency situation by saying sarcastically, "Oh, a level ''three''! Maybe we should call Jack Bauer."

			While in the Army, he married Teri Bauer and had one child, Kim Bauer. Following his military career, Jack worked for both the ]'s ] unit and for the ] (CIA) as a ] in the ]. He was recruited into the ] (CTU) by ], CTU's Director of Field Operations.<ref name="s5e10">{{cite episode\|title = 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm \| series = 24 \| series-link = 24 (TV series) \| season = 5 \| number = 106\|airdate=2006-02-27\|credits = Writer: Joel Surnow, director: Tim Iacofano}}</ref>
	Bauer appeared in the ] of ] with ] as part of Springfield Elementary's new Counter Truancy Unit. He gets embarrassed on a prank call made by ] (due to a crossover of calls). In the end, Bauer and the CTU breaks into Springfield Elementary. They were about to arrest Bart for the prank call until a nuclear bomb activates in the background. Bauer then promptly tells the people that it was in ], much to their relief.<ref>{{cite web \| author=\| title=Move over, Jack Bauer... Here is new CTU agent Homer Simpson!\| publisher=newsleader.com\| year=January 1, 2006\| url=http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060911/ENTERTAINMENT10/609110315/1094\| accessdate=2006-10-08}}</ref>

			Bauer has shown a high proficiency with firearms (typically using a ] as his weapon of choice for the first and second seasons, then switching to a ], until after Season 8 he switches again, this time to a ]). He also can handle explosives and electronic devices, and has a high resistance to torture (after being kidnapped by Chinese agents and tortured for almost two years, it is revealed he didn't speak a single word the whole time). He is fluent in German (Season 8) and has demonstrated some ability to either speak or understand ] (Seasons 1 and 3), ] (Season 1), ] (Season 6), and ] (Season 8). He is also shown to be capable of flying planes (Season 2) and helicopters (Seasons 3, 5, 8, and 9). Jack is a formidable hand-to-hand combatant from his years in the Army and as a ], and he has killed multiple enemies in hand-to-hand combat.
	Bauer was also referenced in the '']'' Season 6 episode "Working for the Weekend."

			Bauer generally wishes to live a humble life, but is willing to step forward and protect his country, even at the expense of his own health. His involvement throughout the show had caused him to lose many of his loved ones, despite his leadership and own calls. While the government acknowledges his service, Bauer and his superiors clash over his more rogue and extreme actions he takes without explicit authorization.
	A Season 11 episode of '']'', entitled "]", appeared in a 24 format, with the South Park character ] taking the role of Jack Bauer. Other characters were parodied, including Chloe O'Brian. Also, several previous 24 storylines were used in the episode.

			Jack has lost his wife Teri, murdered by a traitor who had infiltrated CTU. His relationship with his daughter Kim is at times tumultuous (Season 2, Season 5) while at other times accepting of who he is and what he must do (Season 7, Season 8). In his goal to find peace, he gets involved with Audrey Raines, the daughter of ] James Heller, whom Jack works for. The relationship with the Secretary's daughter is all but severed when Jack makes the decision to save a material witness over Audrey's ex-husband. He lost his best friend, Tony Almeida, and former boss, Michelle, to a car bomb. He lost his friend, former ] David Palmer, to the same assassin who killed his friends. His girlfriend \ Renee Walker was killed by an assassin's bullet. His own government that he has sworn to protect has turned on him (former President Logan, President Taylor), and at the beginning of Season 7 he is on trial for his interrogation tactics. Finally, the friend he thought was dead (Tony Almeida), betrays him when he turns to terrorism in order to seek revenge against the person who killed his wife, Michelle.
	Jack is namechecked in a 2007 episode of '']'' entitled "]". The episode is set in real-time which is the same format used in 24.<ref>{{cite web \| author=Ben Rawson-Jones\| title='42' Spoilers\| publisher=digitalspy.co.uk\| year=May 19, 2007\| url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a46244/s03e07-42-spoilers.html\| accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref>

			Jack's final dialogue with ] ] ] in Season 7<ref name="s7e24">{{cite episode\|title = 7:00 am – 8:00 am \| series = 24 \| series-link = 24 (TV series) \| season = 7 \| number = 168\|airdate=2009-05-18\|credits = Writer: ] & ], director: ]}}</ref> offers insight into his perspective on torture and its ramifications:
	Jack Bauer was referenced by Congressman ] in the ], 2007 Republican debate in South Carolina after a question about torture.
			{{cquote\|'''Jack:''' I've been wrestling with this one my whole life. I see 15 people held hostage on a bus, and everything else goes out the window. I will do whatever it takes to save them- and I mean whatever it takes. I guess maybe I thought if I save them I could save myself.

			'''Renee:''' Do you regret anything that you did today?
	Jack Bauer also made an appearance on ]'s opening sketch of the 2007 Emmys.

			'''Jack:''' No. But then again, I don't work for the FBI.
	Jack Bauer is referenced on the liner notes for the ] CD ], credited as the "former Special Agent in Charge, Counter Terrorist Unit, Los Angeles." He appears as having written the introduction to the album. The actual text was written by Matt Michnovetz and ] is thanked for permitting the usage of the character.

			'''Renee:''' I don't understand.
	In '']'' episode "The Job", Dwight Schrute says that once he is promoted to regional manager his ideal choice for his number two will be Jack Bauer. However, Dwight says Jack is unavailable, fictional, and overqualified.

			'''Jack:''' You took an oath. You made a promise to uphold the law. When you cross that line, it always starts off with a small step. Before you know it, you're running as fast as you can in the wrong direction just to justify what you started in the first place. These laws were written by much smarter men than me. And in the end, I know that these laws have to be more important than the 15 people on the bus. I know that's right. In my mind I know that's right. I-I just don't think my heart could ever have lived with that. I guess the only advice I can give you is try to make choices that you can live with.}}
	== Characteristics ==
	Bauer's behavior and actions are consistent with doing that which has to be done to protect the United States and its citizens to the point of giving his own life. He appears to be entirely ] and ] in his moral thinking: when innocent lives are in danger he behaves as though obtaining a desired result is more important than how he obtains it, and he frequently performs controversial actions if he thinks they will achieve an important goal. His philosophy was perhaps best expressed after he shot a witness in front of George Mason, then-CTU Special Agent in Charge. George expressed dismay at Jack's extreme action, and Jack replied: "That's the problem with people like you, George. You want results, but you never want to get your hands dirty." Lying, torture, theft, and even killing people he cares about are all viable options to Jack, a stark contrast to the vast majority of fictional heroes. Comparisons with the very people he battles are inevitable. As stated by ] in Day 1, "Rules don't apply to Jack Bauer. He does what he wants, when he wants, and he doesn't care whose life it affects."

			==In other media==
	Jack's work brings with it dangers that occasionally put his and his family's life on the line, as well as the lives of those close to him, in order to serve the greater good. In one instance, he was forced to choose between defying a terrorist with a biological weapon or killing one of his superiors, Regional Director ]. Despite efforts to locate the terrorist before the deadline, Bauer was forced to execute Chappelle to prevent the release of the weapon. In the fourth season, Bauer drew the ire of the Chinese government when he infiltrated and extracted a Chinese scientist named Lee Jong from the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles, which resulted in the death of the Chinese Consul. Lee was shot during the raid and needed immediate medical attention. At CTU, Bauer learned that the sole doctor was already working on ], estranged husband of Audrey Raines (Jack's girlfriend) who earlier in the series had saved Jack's life. Much to Audrey's horror, Bauer drew his weapon and ordered the doctor to abandon Paul Raines and begin surgery on Lee. Raines went into cardiac arrest and died shortly afterward. Information from Lee though led to Bauer preventing a nuclear explosion in Los Angeles.
			As the principal character in 24, Jack plays a prominent role in the television series as well as the video game. Jack is the lead protagonist of the 24 series and the books, and has appeared in every episode to date. Kiefer Sutherland has portrayed Jack Bauer in these episodes, including the ''prequels'' and the ''webisodes''. Additionally, he voiced the same character in ''24: The Game'', ''24: Day Zero'' and ''24: DVD Board Game''.

			===24 Prequels===
	Jack is rarely seen showing remorse for such actions until after the crisis has passed. This is largely due to his emotional suppression necessary to complete the task at hand. He has on occasion revealed his more vulnerable side, including notable scenes like at the end of ] when he starts crying while holding his wife's dead body, the end of ] when he breaks down crying after the traumatic events of the day and while holding ]'s lifeless body in the middle of Day 5. However his ability to suppress has been brought into question in Day Six when, after Jack is forced to kill ], he vomits and breaks down in tears, telling Buchanan that he believes he is no longer able to perform his duties.
			Jack Bauer is also featured in all four prequels, that can be found on the 24 DVD releases and various websites. These prequels are designed to bridge the gap between seasons. They provide backstory into story arcs for upcoming seasons, namely insight into what Jack's actions have been leading up to the next season. Prequels have been made for Seasons 4, 5, 6, and 7.

			===24 Webisodes===
	However, there are limits to the sacrifices Jack is willing to make in the line of duty. When it was discovered terrorists were preparing to release a canister of ] in a crowded shopping mall, Jack was ordered by his superior ] to let the terrorists carry out the attack, which would have led to hundreds of deaths, and then follow them in the hopes of recovering the other nerve gas containers they had stolen. Jack refused and stopped the attack, even against the rationalization that a few hundred deaths were nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands of deaths the rest of the nerve gas could inflict.
			'''24: Day 6 Debrief''' takes place 35 hours after the nuclear device exploded in ]. The series consists of 5 segments, no longer than three minutes in length each. Two agents, Agent Ramirez and Agent Moss, track Jack down to a hotel room and ask him to come to District for debriefing about the recovery of the tactical nukes. The Debrief consists of Agent Ramirez and other agents attempting to discover more about the supposed-death of an undercover agent, Marcus Holt, who disappeared shortly after Jack's imprisonment in China at the hands of ]. Since Holt was involved with the Chinese government, it is believed that Jack leaked information that led to his identity being discovered and execution. At the end of the series, the agents announce that they have no conclusive evidence about his involvement, but Ramirez promises to keep a close eye on him until he is certain. Jack tells Ramirez that if he ever sees him again, he better say "]", because it will mean he's come to kill him.

			With that, Bauer is released from custody and the interrogation ends.
	Jack exhibits no fear of death, specifying in Day 6 that he would willingly die for something worthwhile. He has volunteered for suicide missions in the past, ranging from crashing a plane with a nuclear bomb in the desert on Day 2, to asking his Chinese captors on Day 5 to kill him instead of interrogating him for years, knowing that he would never speak. On Day 6, Bauer offered no resistance when he was released from Chinese custody only to learn he was a bargaining chip for a known terrorist. Only when he learned that CTU was fooled by terrorists and that his death would amount to nothing did he begin to resist and escape his captors.

			===24: The Game===
	Following the death of his wife at the end of Season 1, he seemed to live a life that had little personal purpose. To Jack Bauer, there is no separation of his personal life and his duty. As he said to ], his partner during Season 3: "You cannot do this job and have a normal life at the same time."<ref>''Season 3'' '''Jack:''' You don't think so? What the hell do you know? My wife died because of this job, and I almost lost Kim too, I'm not gonna let that happen again. I will do everything I have to to protect her do you understand me? Everything. (sighs) Damn it Chase, you cannot have a normal life and do this job at the same time.</ref>
			]'', which takes place six months after Day 2.]]
			''24: The Game'' takes place between Day 2 and 3. Jack begins waiting outside a ship where terrorists are going to release a ricin bomb in the water supply. A CTU Team triggers an alarm causing Jack and his team to storm the ship. Jack and his team find the whole ship's crew dead in a cargo hold. He runs into Peter Madsen, an enemy from his past. It is unclear what the story is between them, but it is stated that he framed Jack's family for a vile crime, this is hinted with Jack saying to him: "Eight years ago, my family was not involved". Madsen also states that he no longer takes orders from Jack. It's hinted that Madsen was under Jack's command either in the army or in a SWAT team, and Madsen betrayed Jack. Madsen kidnaps Jack's daughter Kim, and later Kate Warner. Jack finally kills Madsen near the end of the game when he tries to escape by shooting up his speedboat with a ] assault rifle, causing it to explode. He also kills Max, who was holding Kate hostage, saving her life. However Max managed to shoot Jack once before dying, the second of two times he was shot in the final hour of the game, the first time by Madsen. As a result, Chase Edmunds takes Jack to the hospital via helicopter.

			===24 Toys===
	Finally, Jack is cognizant of the threat of passing time. He is able to think on his feet, and reacts quickly and decisively to unexpected and rapidly-developing situations. This emphasizes the real-time nature of the show. Perhaps the best example takes place in Season 1, when Jack must steal a piece of evidence from a fellow technician, who is studying it at that very moment, and replace it with a fake. Jack does so by spilling Milo's ubiquitous cup of snacks—and then performing the switch in less than one second.
			Diamond Select Toys released 1/6 scale figures based on Jack Bauer:
			*2008– Jack Bauer 8:00 AM
			*2009– Jack Bauer 3:00 PM Season 1
			*2009– Jack Bauer 9:00 PM Season 1

			Diamond Select Toys released 1/24 scale Minimates based on 24:
	===Bauer Family Tree===
			*2007– Season 1 Box Set (Jack Bauer, Nina Myers, David Palmer, Kim Bauer)
	{{familytree/start}}
			*2007– End of Day 1 Two-Pack, PX Exclusive (Jack Bauer, Andre Drazen)
	{{familytree \| \| \| \| \| \| PB \|-\|v\|-\| MRS \| \| PB=]\|MRS=Mrs. Bauer†}}
			*2007– Season 2 Box Set (Season 2 Jack Bauer, Tony Almeda, Michelle Dessler, George Mason)
	{{familytree \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \|,\|-\|^\|-\|.\| \| \| \| \| \|,\|-\|-\|-\|.\|}}
			*2007– End of Day 2 Two-Pack, Suncoast/FYE Exclusive (Stretcher Jack Bauer, Prisoner Nina Myers)
	{{familytree \| MB \|-\|v\|-\| GB \| \| JB \|-\|v\|-\| TB \| \| C \|\|MB=]\|GB=]\|JB=]\|TB=]\|C=Carol\|}}
			*Canceled– Season 3 Box Set (Undercover Jack Bauer, Sherry Palmer, Chloe O'Brien, Chase Edmunds)
	{{familytree \| \| \| \| \|!\| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \|!\| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \|}}
			*Canceled– End of Day 3 Two-Pack (Jack Bauer, Stephen Saunders)
	{{familytree \| \| \| \| JB \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| KB \| \| \| JB=]\|KB=]}}
	{{familytree/end}}
	†The name of Jack's mother has not yet been revealed in the series.

			Enterbay released 1/6 scale figures based on 24:
	=== Weapons and Equipment ===
			*2009– Jack Bauer
	Jack has carried two pistols throughout the entire run of the series. In Days 1 and 2, he carried a ]. Later, in Days 3–6, he had a ], chambered in 9 mm. He has also used several different weapons occasionally, usually taken from terrorists or borrowed from SWAT team. These include (in approximate order of appearance) the regular ], the ]2FS, the ], the ]A1, the ], the ], the ], the ]T, the Smith & Wesson Model 66, the ], the ], the ], the ], the ] and its Mariner variant, the ], the ], the ], the ]R, the ], the ], the ] and the ].
			*2009– President David Palmer

			] released 1/12 scale figures based on Jack Bauer:
	An interesting note, however, is that although his weapon of choice in the later seasons has been the ], he has used the same model firearm - a ]2FS - in several of the most monumental scenes of the entire series, including the interrogation of computer programmer Alex Hewitt towards the end of Day 2, the killing of ], and the threatening of ] at the end of Day 6.{{Fact\|date=June 2007}}
			*2007– Jack Bauer Boxed Set 1
			*2007– Jack Bauer Boxed Set 2

			Medicom Toy (Japan) released 1/6 scale figures based on Jack Bauer in their Real Action Heroes line:
	He also uses several knives, including the and improvised knives such as a pair of surgical scissors.<ref name="count">{{cite web \| author = Wesley VanLandschoot \| title = Jack Bauer 24 Kill Count \| url = http://www.bauercount.com/v3/index.php/season/show/6}}</ref>
			*2005– Jack Bauer (Suit) Season 4 7:00 am – 8:00 am
			*2005– Jack Bauer (Tac) Season 4 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
			*2007– Jack Bauer Season 5

	=== ~~Skills~~ ===		===24 comic books===
			IDW has released a series of comic books based on the adventures of Jack Bauer and other members of the 24 Cast. 24's Comic License is published by ]
	Jack's service at CTU and in various prior jobs has given him many relevant survival skills. He is an expert ] and is competent in ]. He is also a capable pilot (of both ]s and ]s). (On Day 3, there are several scenes where Jack appears to be flying a CTU helicopter - but he is sitting in the left seat, whereas in helicopters the pilot usually sits on the right.) On many occasions, he has demonstrated that he is a ruthless and efficient interrogator of suspected terrorists, relying on his knowledge and experience of human psychology (and anatomy), and has also shown remarkable ability at resisting torture when subjected to it himself. However, he also utilizes such information to help those who are wounded or victimized by the days' events.
			*24: One Shot (takes place on Jack's first day on the job at the Los Angeles Unit of the Counter Terrorist Unit)
			*24: Midnight Sun (Jack has to stop a naughty environmentalist group from using explosives to get their point across)
			*24: Stories (takes place in the 3-year gap between Seasons 2&3. In Stories, Jack is newly undercover with ].
			*24: Nightfall – A tale shedding more light on the background and characters of Day 1, including Victor Drazen. Written by J. C. Vaughn and Mark L. Haynes
			*24: Cold Warriors – An original tale of intrigue featuring Jack Bauer and Chloe O'Brian, set in Alaska. Written by ] and Steve Bryant

			===''The Simpsons''===
	Jack has some knowledge of foreign languages. He is seen speaking ] briefly in Season 1 and ] in Season 6. He also understands some ], which he presumably learned for a mission he undertook in ].
			Jack Bauer appeared in the ] episode ] of '']''. In the episode, he receives a call from ] in the middle of a shooting and falls victim to a prank call (as Moe Szyslak did in the early seasons of "The Simpsons"). Enraged, Bauer reappears at the end of the episode, having called all agents of his organization and abandoning his prior mission so that he could hunt Bart down and arrest him. A nuclear bomb then goes off in the distance, but everyone sighs with relief after Bauer reassures them that the nuclear bomb went off in ].

	==~~Concept~~ ~~and~~ ~~creation~~==		===''Tripping the Rift''===
			In the TV show '']'' episode 23 1/2, a character named "Jack Hour of the Alien Terrorist Unit" offers to help rescue Six.
	===Character creation===
	The writers of 24 collaborated with Sutherland to create the part of Jack Bauer. Sutherland is also an executive producer of 24.<ref name ="phase">{{cite web \| author = Jenna Fryer\| title = 24 SEASON 3 Q&A with JOEL SURNOW, ROBERT COCHRAN and HOWARD GORDON \| work = Phase 9 Movies \|date = ]\| url = http://www.phase9.tv/moviefeatures/24season3q&a-joelsurnow2.shtml\| accessdate = 2006-08-21}}</ref>

	"]", a common German surname often translated as "peasant" or "farmer", is also the German word used to refer to a certain chess piece: the ].

			===''It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia''===
	=== Kiefer Sutherland ===
			In episode 14, season 3 of the TV show '']'', Dennis Reynolds names his junkyard cat “Agent Jack Bauer”.
	] commented that they did not have any actors in mind for the part; "We didn’t really know who it was. We were casting a lot of people and then we heard ]’s name and thought, that’s Jack Bauer."<ref name ="phase"> In 2000, Sutherland was contacted by his British director friend working on a pilot for an experimental real-time TV show and offered the lead.<ref>{{cite web \| author =ERIK HEDEGAARD \| title = Kiefer Sutherland: Heart of Darkness\| work = Rolling Stone Magazine \|date = ]\| url = http://www.rollingstone.com/news/profile/story/9596933/alone_in_the_dark_with_kiefer_sutherland\| accessdate = 2006-08-20}}</ref> Initially Kiefer Sutherland had reservations about playing Jack Bauer, stating, "I thought, 'This is really clever and different, so there's no way they're going to pick it up. But I could use the money, and no one will ever see it'."<ref name="interview">{{cite web \| author =Joel Schumacher \| title = Kiefer Sutherland: he's been around Hollywood for more than 20 years, but these days, this bold talent has them counting the minutes \| work = Interview \|date = ]\| url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_1_34/ai_112482982/pg_2\| accessdate = 2006-08-20}}</ref>

			<big>'''''Kingsman'''''</big>
	In '']'', Sutherland must produce around 18 hours of film each season, "which is like making 12 movies, so there are going to be mistakes along the way, but I am incredibly surprised by how many things work well as a result of working at that pace."<ref name="interview">{{cite web \| author =Joel Schumacher \| title = Kiefer Sutherland: he's been around Hollywood for more than 20 years, but these days, this bold talent has them counting the minutes \| work = Interview \|date = ]\| url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_1_34/ai_112482982/pg_2\| accessdate = 2006-08-20}}</ref>

			In the spy film series '']'', main character Gary "Eggsy" Unwin named his dog JB after Jack Bauer.
	Sutherland signed a contract to play the role of Bauer for three more seasons for 40 million USD.
	Reactions by critics to his performance have been very positive with five ] nominations and a win in 2006 for his work in Season 5. He also won a ] for the role in 2002.<ref>{{cite web \| author = \| title = Sutherland 'signs up for more 24' \| work = BBC \|date = ]\| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4894962.stm\| accessdate = 2006-08-21}}</ref>

			===The Trail to Oregon!===
	== References ==
			In the version of the musical "]" that was uploaded to YouTube by the official ] YouTube channel, the Father is named "'Jack Bauer", a name suggested by an audience member.
	<div class="references-small">
	<references />
	</div>

			===''The Office''===
	== External links ==
			In ], the third-season finale of the ] of '']'', ] wishes to name Jack Bauer his second-in-command, but laments that he is "unavailable, fictional, and overqualified".
	*

			==Critical reception==
	{{start box}}
			{{See also\|Critical reaction to 24}}
	{{succession box
	\| title=]
	\| before=]
	\| after=]
	\| years= Day 1}}
	{{succession box
	\| title=]
	\| before=]
	\| after=]
	\| years= Day 1}}
	{{succession box
	\| title=]
	\| before=]
	\| after=]
	\| years= Day 2}}
	{{succession box
	\| title=]
	\| before=]
	\| after=]
	\| years= Day 3}}
	{{succession box
	\| title=]
	\| before=]
	\| after=]
	\| years= Day 6}}

			Having won an ] (with 5 other nominations), a ] (with 4 other nominations), two ] (with 3 other nominations) and two ], Kiefer Sutherland's performance as Jack Bauer became (award-wise) the third most acclaimed Male Lead Dramatic TV performance of the 2000s behind ] (with 3 Emmys, 1 Golden Globe and 3 SAG Awards) and ] (with 4 Emmys, 1 Golden Globe, 2 SAG Awards, and 4 Satellite Awards). He is also one of only two Male Lead Drama TV Actors ever to have won all 4 awards, the other being ] for his role as ] on '']''.
	{{end box}}

			'']'' put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "When Kiefer Sutherland's 24 superagent barks "Dammit, Chloe—we're running out of time!" America's ass is about to be saved in some new, heart-stopping way."<ref>Geier, Thom; Jensen, Jeff; Jordan, Tina; Lyons, Margaret; Markovitz, Adam; Nashawaty, Chris; Pastorek, Whitney; Rice, Lynette; Rottenberg, Josh; Schwartz, Missy; Slezak, Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup, Kate; Tucker, Ken; Vary, Adam B.; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Ward, Kate (December 11, 2009), "THE 100 Greatest MOVIES, TV SHOWS, ALBUMS, BOOKS, CHARACTERS, SCENES, EPISODES, SONGS, DRESSES, MUSIC VIDEOS, AND TRENDS THAT ENTERTAINED US OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS".
	{{24CTU}}

			Also, in the web series Key of Awesome, the main character has a man crush on Jack Bauer, but is not gay.
			Entertainment Weekly. (1079/1080):74-84</ref>

			Some American politicians and lawyers have used Jack Bauer and his actions to frame the debate on American ] (in this case, "torture"), which have become an object of intense controversy.<ref name="torture 1">{{cite news\|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/04/21/BL2008042101378_pf.html\|title=Duped About Torture\|last=Froomkin\|first=Dan\|date=2008-04-21\|newspaper=The Washington Post\|access-date=2009-01-24}}</ref><ref name="torture 2">{{cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/apr/19/humanrights.interrogationtechniques\|title=Stress, hooding, noise, nudity, dogs \| last = Sands \| first = Phillip \| date = 2008-04-19 \| publisher=Guardian \|access-date=2009-01-24}}</ref> As well, at a 2007 legal conference in ], Canada, Jack Bauer's tactics were raised during a panel discussion about "terrorism, torture and the law". Panel members, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice ], discussed the use of torture "in times of great crisis".<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2007/06/20/justice-scalia-hearts-jack-bauer/\|title=Justice Scalia Hearts Jack Bauer\|last=Lattman\|first=Peter\|date=June 20, 2007\|publisher=Wall Street Journal\|access-date=2009-12-09}}</ref> Scalia was quoted as saying: "Jack Bauer saved Los Angeles. He saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Is any jury going to convict Jack Bauer? I don't think so."<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/what-would-jack-bauer-do/article687726/\|title=What would Jack Bauer do?\|last=Freeze\|first=Colin\|date=June 16, 2007\|publisher=The Globe and Mail\|access-date=2017-01-26}}</ref>

			Several philosophers have used Jack Bauer's character to settle challenging moral questions. Twenty philosophers contributed to a 2007 book, ''24 and Philosophy: The World According to Jack'', which assesses Bauer through the eyes of famous philosophers.<ref>, accessed July 20, 2014.</ref> For the '']'' series, in which anti-hero Jack Bauer and anti-villain Margot Al-Harazi have similar ethical viewpoints, some philosophers have resorted to ] to determine that Bauer is morally superior.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://andphilosophy.com/2014/07/16/24-and-philosophy/ \|title=24 and philosophy \|date=July 16, 2014 \|publisher=The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series \|access-date=July 20, 2014}}</ref>

			==References==
			{{Reflist}}

			==External links==
			*{{cite web \|url=http://www.fox.com/24/characters/#bio:jack-bauer \|title=Jack Bauer's Official Character Profile \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404011647/http://www.fox.com/24/profiles/jb.htm \|archive-date=2008-04-04}}

			{{24 (TV series)}}
			{{Kiefer Sutherland}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Bauer, Jack}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Bauer, Jack}}
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
	]		]
			]

			]
	]
			]
	]
			]
	]
			]
	]
			]
	]
			]
	]
			]
	]
			]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]

Latest revision as of 02:15, 18 December 2024

Protagonist of the American television series '24' For other people named Jack Bauer, see Jack Bauer (disambiguation).

Fictional character

Jack Bauer
24 character
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer
First appearance	Day 1 – Episode 1
Last appearance	Live Another Day – Episode 12
Created by	Joel Surnow Robert Cochran
Portrayed by	Kiefer Sutherland
Days	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Other appearances	24: The Game 24: Redemption
In-universe information
Family	Phillip Bauer (father) Graem Bauer (brother) Josh Bauer (nephew) Stephen Wesley (son-in-law) Teri Wesley (granddaughter) Unnamed grandson
Spouse	Teri Bauer (deceased)
Children	Kim Bauer

Jack Bauer is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Fox television series 24. Throughout the majority of the series' running, Bauer serves as a key member of the fictional CTU and other institutions. Bauer's job usually involves helping prevent major terrorist attacks on the United States, saving both civilian lives and government administrations. On many occasions, Jack does so at great personal expense, as those he thwarts subsequently target him and his loved ones. Bauer is not a crooked agent; though his frequent use of torture to gather information has generated much controversy and discussion.

Actor Kiefer Sutherland portrays Jack Bauer in the television show and video game. The television series was originally set to end on May 24, 2010, after eight successful seasons but was revived for a limited ninth season, which premiered on May 5, 2014. A feature film was set to be released; however, discussions ended over a contract dispute with Fox.

Bauer has received critical acclaim from audiences and critics. TV Guide ranked him No. 49 on their list of "TV's Top 50 Heroes" and Sky 1 listed Jack as No. 1 on their list of "TV's toughest men". Entertainment Weekly named Jack Bauer one of The 20 All Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture. In June 2010, Entertainment Weekly also named him one of the 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years. Jack is also the only character in the show to have appeared in all episodes.

Concept and creation

24 co-creator Joel Surnow commented that they did not have any actors in mind for the part; "We didn't really know who it was. We were casting a lot of people and then we heard Kiefer Sutherland's name and thought, that's Jack Bauer." In 2000, Sutherland was contacted by his friend, director Stephen Hopkins, who was working on the pilot for the experimental real-time TV show and offered him the lead. Initially Sutherland had reservations about playing Bauer, stating, "I thought, 'This is really clever and different, so there's no way they're going to pick it up. But I could use the money, and no one will ever see it'."

Sutherland must produce around 24 hours of film each season, "which is like making 12 movies, so there are going to be mistakes along the way, but I am incredibly surprised by how many things work well as a result of working at that pace." In 2006, Sutherland signed a contract to play the role of Bauer for three seasons following season five. The contract was reported to be worth $40 million. Sutherland is also an executive producer of 24.

Characterization

Jack Bauer was born in Santa Monica, California, on February 18, 1966, to Phillip Bauer, who placed his livelihood in his company, BXJ Technologies. The name of Jack's mother is unknown. Jack had one brother, Graem Bauer. Phillip originally planned to give the company to Jack, but as Jack said in Day 6, "I just had to go my own way."

Jack has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master of Science degree in Criminology and Law from the University of California, Berkeley. He enlisted in the United States Army and later graduated from Officer Candidate School. His branch was infantry. He first served in the Special Forces, and was later a member of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), popularly known as Delta Force. Among his awards and decorations are the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, and the Legion of Merit. Apart from Special Forces and Delta training, he received Airborne, Air Assault, and Ranger training. He left the Army with the rank of Captain after twelve years of service.

While in the Army, he married Teri Bauer and had one child, Kim Bauer. Following his military career, Jack worked for both the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics unit and for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a Case Officer in the National Clandestine Service. He was recruited into the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) by Christopher Henderson, CTU's Director of Field Operations.

Bauer has shown a high proficiency with firearms (typically using a SIG P228 as his weapon of choice for the first and second seasons, then switching to a USP Compact, until after Season 8 he switches again, this time to a P30). He also can handle explosives and electronic devices, and has a high resistance to torture (after being kidnapped by Chinese agents and tortured for almost two years, it is revealed he didn't speak a single word the whole time). He is fluent in German (Season 8) and has demonstrated some ability to either speak or understand Spanish (Seasons 1 and 3), Serbian (Season 1), Russian (Season 6), and Arabic (Season 8). He is also shown to be capable of flying planes (Season 2) and helicopters (Seasons 3, 5, 8, and 9). Jack is a formidable hand-to-hand combatant from his years in the Army and as a federal agent, and he has killed multiple enemies in hand-to-hand combat.

Bauer generally wishes to live a humble life, but is willing to step forward and protect his country, even at the expense of his own health. His involvement throughout the show had caused him to lose many of his loved ones, despite his leadership and own calls. While the government acknowledges his service, Bauer and his superiors clash over his more rogue and extreme actions he takes without explicit authorization.

Jack has lost his wife Teri, murdered by a traitor who had infiltrated CTU. His relationship with his daughter Kim is at times tumultuous (Season 2, Season 5) while at other times accepting of who he is and what he must do (Season 7, Season 8). In his goal to find peace, he gets involved with Audrey Raines, the daughter of United States Secretary of Defense James Heller, whom Jack works for. The relationship with the Secretary's daughter is all but severed when Jack makes the decision to save a material witness over Audrey's ex-husband. He lost his best friend, Tony Almeida, and former boss, Michelle, to a car bomb. He lost his friend, former President David Palmer, to the same assassin who killed his friends. His girlfriend \ Renee Walker was killed by an assassin's bullet. His own government that he has sworn to protect has turned on him (former President Logan, President Taylor), and at the beginning of Season 7 he is on trial for his interrogation tactics. Finally, the friend he thought was dead (Tony Almeida), betrays him when he turns to terrorism in order to seek revenge against the person who killed his wife, Michelle.

Jack's final dialogue with FBI Special Agent Renee Walker in Season 7 offers insight into his perspective on torture and its ramifications:

Jack: I've been wrestling with this one my whole life. I see 15 people held hostage on a bus, and everything else goes out the window. I will do whatever it takes to save them- and I mean whatever it takes. I guess maybe I thought if I save them I could save myself.
Renee: Do you regret anything that you did today?
Jack: No. But then again, I don't work for the FBI.
Renee: I don't understand.

Jack: You took an oath. You made a promise to uphold the law. When you cross that line, it always starts off with a small step. Before you know it, you're running as fast as you can in the wrong direction just to justify what you started in the first place. These laws were written by much smarter men than me. And in the end, I know that these laws have to be more important than the 15 people on the bus. I know that's right. In my mind I know that's right. I-I just don't think my heart could ever have lived with that. I guess the only advice I can give you is try to make choices that you can live with.

In other media

As the principal character in 24, Jack plays a prominent role in the television series as well as the video game. Jack is the lead protagonist of the 24 series and the books, and has appeared in every episode to date. Kiefer Sutherland has portrayed Jack Bauer in these episodes, including the prequels and the webisodes. Additionally, he voiced the same character in 24: The Game, 24: Day Zero and 24: DVD Board Game.

24 Prequels

Jack Bauer is also featured in all four prequels, that can be found on the 24 DVD releases and various websites. These prequels are designed to bridge the gap between seasons. They provide backstory into story arcs for upcoming seasons, namely insight into what Jack's actions have been leading up to the next season. Prequels have been made for Seasons 4, 5, 6, and 7.

24 Webisodes

24: Day 6 Debrief takes place 35 hours after the nuclear device exploded in Valencia, California. The series consists of 5 segments, no longer than three minutes in length each. Two agents, Agent Ramirez and Agent Moss, track Jack down to a hotel room and ask him to come to District for debriefing about the recovery of the tactical nukes. The Debrief consists of Agent Ramirez and other agents attempting to discover more about the supposed-death of an undercover agent, Marcus Holt, who disappeared shortly after Jack's imprisonment in China at the hands of Cheng Zhi. Since Holt was involved with the Chinese government, it is believed that Jack leaked information that led to his identity being discovered and execution. At the end of the series, the agents announce that they have no conclusive evidence about his involvement, but Ramirez promises to keep a close eye on him until he is certain. Jack tells Ramirez that if he ever sees him again, he better say "The Lord's Prayer", because it will mean he's come to kill him.

With that, Bauer is released from custody and the interrogation ends.

24: The Game

24: The Game takes place between Day 2 and 3. Jack begins waiting outside a ship where terrorists are going to release a ricin bomb in the water supply. A CTU Team triggers an alarm causing Jack and his team to storm the ship. Jack and his team find the whole ship's crew dead in a cargo hold. He runs into Peter Madsen, an enemy from his past. It is unclear what the story is between them, but it is stated that he framed Jack's family for a vile crime, this is hinted with Jack saying to him: "Eight years ago, my family was not involved". Madsen also states that he no longer takes orders from Jack. It's hinted that Madsen was under Jack's command either in the army or in a SWAT team, and Madsen betrayed Jack. Madsen kidnaps Jack's daughter Kim, and later Kate Warner. Jack finally kills Madsen near the end of the game when he tries to escape by shooting up his speedboat with a Zastava M80 assault rifle, causing it to explode. He also kills Max, who was holding Kate hostage, saving her life. However Max managed to shoot Jack once before dying, the second of two times he was shot in the final hour of the game, the first time by Madsen. As a result, Chase Edmunds takes Jack to the hospital via helicopter.

24 Toys

Diamond Select Toys released 1/6 scale figures based on Jack Bauer:

2008– Jack Bauer 8:00 AM
2009– Jack Bauer 3:00 PM Season 1
2009– Jack Bauer 9:00 PM Season 1

Diamond Select Toys released 1/24 scale Minimates based on 24:

2007– Season 1 Box Set (Jack Bauer, Nina Myers, David Palmer, Kim Bauer)
2007– End of Day 1 Two-Pack, PX Exclusive (Jack Bauer, Andre Drazen)
2007– Season 2 Box Set (Season 2 Jack Bauer, Tony Almeda, Michelle Dessler, George Mason)
2007– End of Day 2 Two-Pack, Suncoast/FYE Exclusive (Stretcher Jack Bauer, Prisoner Nina Myers)
Canceled– Season 3 Box Set (Undercover Jack Bauer, Sherry Palmer, Chloe O'Brien, Chase Edmunds)
Canceled– End of Day 3 Two-Pack (Jack Bauer, Stephen Saunders)

Enterbay released 1/6 scale figures based on 24:

2009– Jack Bauer
2009– President David Palmer

McFarlane Toys released 1/12 scale figures based on Jack Bauer:

2007– Jack Bauer Boxed Set 1
2007– Jack Bauer Boxed Set 2

Medicom Toy (Japan) released 1/6 scale figures based on Jack Bauer in their Real Action Heroes line:

2005– Jack Bauer (Suit) Season 4 7:00 am – 8:00 am
2005– Jack Bauer (Tac) Season 4 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
2007– Jack Bauer Season 5

24 comic books

IDW has released a series of comic books based on the adventures of Jack Bauer and other members of the 24 Cast. 24's Comic License is published by IDW Publishing

24: One Shot (takes place on Jack's first day on the job at the Los Angeles Unit of the Counter Terrorist Unit)
24: Midnight Sun (Jack has to stop a naughty environmentalist group from using explosives to get their point across)
24: Stories (takes place in the 3-year gap between Seasons 2&3. In Stories, Jack is newly undercover with Ramon Salazar.
24: Nightfall – A tale shedding more light on the background and characters of Day 1, including Victor Drazen. Written by J. C. Vaughn and Mark L. Haynes
24: Cold Warriors – An original tale of intrigue featuring Jack Bauer and Chloe O'Brian, set in Alaska. Written by Beau Smith and Steve Bryant

The Simpsons

Jack Bauer appeared in the season 18 episode 24 Minutes of The Simpsons. In the episode, he receives a call from Bart Simpson in the middle of a shooting and falls victim to a prank call (as Moe Szyslak did in the early seasons of "The Simpsons"). Enraged, Bauer reappears at the end of the episode, having called all agents of his organization and abandoning his prior mission so that he could hunt Bart down and arrest him. A nuclear bomb then goes off in the distance, but everyone sighs with relief after Bauer reassures them that the nuclear bomb went off in Shelbyville.

Tripping the Rift

In the TV show Tripping the Rift episode 23 1/2, a character named "Jack Hour of the Alien Terrorist Unit" offers to help rescue Six.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

In episode 14, season 3 of the TV show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dennis Reynolds names his junkyard cat “Agent Jack Bauer”.

Kingsman

In the spy film series Kingsman, main character Gary "Eggsy" Unwin named his dog JB after Jack Bauer.

The Trail to Oregon!

In the version of the musical "The Trail to Oregon!" that was uploaded to YouTube by the official StarKid Productions YouTube channel, the Father is named "'Jack Bauer", a name suggested by an audience member.

The Office

In "The Job", the third-season finale of the American adaptation of The Office, Dwight Schrute wishes to name Jack Bauer his second-in-command, but laments that he is "unavailable, fictional, and overqualified".

Critical reception

References

Ken Tucker, "24: Mondays, 9 p.m., premiering Sunday, Jan. 11, at 8 pm," Entertainment Weekly 1o30 (January 16, 2009): 56.
Ausiello, Michael (January 13, 2014). "Fox Announces Spring Premiere Dates for 24: Live Another Day, Surviving Jack and More". TVLine. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
"Entertainment Weekly's 20 All Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 2, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
Adam B. Vary (June 1, 2010). "The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years: Here's our full list!". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
^ Stephen M. Silverman (October 6, 2004). "Kiefer Sutherland: $40 Million Man". Archived from the original on January 8, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
Hedegaard, Erik (April 20, 2006). "Kiefer Sutherland: Heart of Darkness". Rolling Stone Magazine. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
^ Joel Schumacher (February 1, 2004). "Kiefer Sutherland: he's been around Hollywood for more than 20 years, but these days, this bold talent has them counting the minutes". Interview. Archived from the original on April 9, 2006. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
Jenna Fryer (January 1, 2004). "24 SEASON 3 Q&A with JOEL SURNOW, ROBERT COCHRAN and HOWARD GORDON". Phase 9 Movies. Archived from the original on January 20, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
Cerasini, Marc (2003). 24: The House Special Subcommittee's Findings atCTU (First ed.). Harper Collins. p. 7. ISBN 0-06-053550-4.
Writer: Howard Gordon, director: Brad Turner (May 28, 2007). "Debrief #2: 09:42:22". 24. Season 6 Debrief.
Writer: Howard Gordon, director: Jon Cassar (February 5, 2007). "12:00 pm – 1:00 pm". 24. Season 6. Episode 127.
Writer: Howard Gordon, director: Brad Turner (February 19, 2007). "3:00 pm – 4:00 pm". 24. Season 6. Episode 130.
"FOX Broadcasting Company: 24". Archived from the original on April 4, 2008.
Writer: Joel Surnow, director: Tim Iacofano (February 27, 2006). "4:00 pm – 5:00 pm". 24. Season 5. Episode 106.
Writer: Manny Coto & Brannon Braga, director: Jon Cassar (May 18, 2009). "7:00 am – 8:00 am". 24. Season 7. Episode 168.
Geier, Thom; Jensen, Jeff; Jordan, Tina; Lyons, Margaret; Markovitz, Adam; Nashawaty, Chris; Pastorek, Whitney; Rice, Lynette; Rottenberg, Josh; Schwartz, Missy; Slezak, Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup, Kate; Tucker, Ken; Vary, Adam B.; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Ward, Kate (December 11, 2009), "THE 100 Greatest MOVIES, TV SHOWS, ALBUMS, BOOKS, CHARACTERS, SCENES, EPISODES, SONGS, DRESSES, MUSIC VIDEOS, AND TRENDS THAT ENTERTAINED US OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS". Also, in the web series Key of Awesome, the main character has a man crush on Jack Bauer, but is not gay. Entertainment Weekly. (1079/1080):74-84
Froomkin, Dan (April 21, 2008). "Duped About Torture". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
Sands, Phillip (April 19, 2008). "Stress, hooding, noise, nudity, dogs". Guardian. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
Lattman, Peter (June 20, 2007). "Justice Scalia Hearts Jack Bauer". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
Freeze, Colin (June 16, 2007). "What would Jack Bauer do?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
Link to Amazon page on '24 and Philosophy: the World According to Jack' (book), accessed July 20, 2014.
"24 and philosophy". The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series. July 16, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.

External links

"Jack Bauer's Official Character Profile". Archived from the original on April 4, 2008.

v t e 24
Episodes	Season 1 "12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m." Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 "Day 5: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m." Season 6 Redemption Season 7 Season 8 Live Another Day Legacy
Merchandise	Conspiracy The Game The Soundtrack
Characters	Tony Almeida Jack Bauer Kim Bauer Charles Logan Martha Logan Curtis Manning Chloe O'Brian David Palmer Allison Taylor Renee Walker
Other	Critical reaction Awards and nominations Media Indian remake Japanese remake Operation Hell Gate "The Snuke" "24 Minutes"
Category

v t e Kiefer Sutherland
Filmography Awards and nominations
Films directed	Last Light (1993) Truth or Consequences, N.M. (1997) Woman Wanted (2000)
Television directed	Fallen Angels: "Love and Blood" (1995)
Television produced	24 (2001-2010) The Confession (2011) Touch (2012-2013) 24: Live Another Day (2014) Designated Survivor (2016-2019) Rabbit Hole (2023)
Characters	Jack Bauer David Powers Big Boss Athos Raistlin Majere
Albums	Down in a Hole Reckless & Me

Categories: