In its latest issue on newsstands now, Kiefer Sutherland opens up to Closer Weekly in a candid interview and reveals that while he is most grateful for his role in 24, his children are overall his biggest accomplishment.

Kiefer’s new show, Designated Survivor, premiered on ABC on Wednesday, Sept. 21, but the actor says his most coveted role is that of Jack Bauer in the series 24.

24 was probably the most dynamic part of my career. I did that for 10 years, loved playing that character, loved the crews that I got to make it with,” the 49-year-old actor revealed. “Yeah, I was incredibly grateful to have had that opportunity.”

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Kiefer in 24.

“I had great respect for the kind of person that Jack Bauer was,” he continued. “He tried to do the best that he could, and he had a very strong moral compass in what he was forced to deal with.”

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And although he has a lot to be thankful for in his career, Kiefer still considers his relationship with his kids his greatest accomplishment. “I still share a beautiful relationship with my children, and that has been one of the greatest blessings in my life.”

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Kiefer and his daughter Sarah in 2003.

“I became a dad when I was 20-years-old,” Kiefer told Closer of the birth of his actress daughter Sarah, 28. “It made me deal with certain things at a very young age, and it made me grow up.”

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“You realize very quickly that you’re responsible for things that are outside of yourself and your responsibility to those things is more important than any other thing,” he added. “My children didn’t make the choice to be born — I did and their mom did.”

For more from Kiefer, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly, on newsstands now!

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