Freddie Prinze Jr had such a ‘terrible’ experience on action series 24, he took a hiatus from acting and considered quitting Hollywood altogether.
The source of the Scooby Doo actor’s contention was his co-star Kiefer Sutherland, who played the show’s lead character, maverick intelligence agent Jack Bauer.
‘Kiefer was the most unprofessional dude in the world,’ Prinze Jr, 49, candidly told ABC News in 2014. ‘That’s not me talking trash, I’d say it to his face. I think everyone that’s worked with him has said that.’
The She’s All That actor claimed he was forced to remove his shoes during scenes with Sutherland, implying that the 58-year-old was self-conscious about their height difference.
Prinze Jr continued: ‘I didn’t have to take my shoes off to do scenes with him, which they made me do [at 24]. Just put the guy on an apple box or don’t hire me next time. You know I’m 6 feet and he’s 5’4.’
The I Know What You Did Last Summer divulged no further details about his 24-episode tenure playing Cole Ortiz in the 2010 season of 24, but it made him rethink his entire career.
He said: ‘I hated every moment of it. I just wanted to quit the business after that. So, I just sort of stopped.’
According to IMDb, Prinze Jr took a two-year break from acting after his 2010 commitments, eventually returning to TV movie Happy Valley, which also starred Mena Suvari.
Sutherland’s spokesperson said he was completely unaware of Prinze Jr’s complaints.
They told Fox News in 2014: ‘Kiefer worked with Freddie Prinze, Jr. more than five years ago, and this is the first he has heard of Freddie’s grievances.
They concluded: ‘Kiefer enjoyed working with Freddie and wishes him the best.’
Prinze Jr’s 24 character Cole Ortiz was the director of field operations at the Counter Terrorist Unit Los Angeles Division, working alongside Bauer.
He starred in the show in the eighth season.
Sutherland, meanwhile, portrayed Jack Bauer from 24’s debut in 2002 for nine seasons until it ended in 2014.
Each season covers 24 consecutive hours as Bauer races against the clock to save the world from impending terror attacks and threats.
Sutherland previously spoke to Metro about the show, which he described as a blessing for an actor.
He said: ‘If you want to make it to the Olympics, you train every day. Right? And if you want to develop and really become a better actor you have to work every day. And 24 afforded me that opportunity.
‘I love the character. And I love the show. And I love the people that I got to make it with. So there wasn’t a downside.’
Sutherland also revealed there had been informal discussions about a 24 reboot.
He added cryptically: ‘One of two things is going to have to happen in the show that they didn’t let us do in the last one. So we’ll see what happens if we get to go again.’
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