The Actor Who Said Working With '24' Star Kiefer Sutherland Was So Bad He Almost Quit the Business

Freddie Prinze Jr. is noteworthy for a few things — including rising to movie stardom in the late '90s and being married to actress Sarah Michelle Gellar — but one of his best-known roles might have been on the small screen: playing Cole Ortiz in the television series "24."

It's a role he apparently didn't relish.

"I did '24,' it was terrible," Prinze told ABC News. "I hated every moment of it."

His beef was apparently with the show's star, Kiefer Sutherland.

"Kiefer was the most unprofessional dude in the world," Prinze said. "That's not me talking trash, I'd say it to his face, I think everyone that's worked with him has said that."

Actor Freddie Prinze Jr. at Comic-Con International 2014 at Hilton Bayfront, July 25, 2014 in San Diego. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Working with Sutherland was so bad it drove him from show business — for a little while, at least.

"I just wanted to quit the business after that," Prinze said. "So, I just sort of stopped."

One reason Prinze said Sutherland was a tough co-star: He was paranoid about his height.

"I went and worked for Vince McMahon at the WWE for Christ's sake and it was a crazier job than working with Kiefer," Prinze told ABC. "But, at least [McMahon] was cool and tall. I didn't have to take my shoes off to do scenes with him, which they made me do. 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 [feet] 4 [inches]."

Left to right, Yvonne Strahovski, Kiefer Sutherland and Kim Raver attend the U.K. premiere of "24: Live Another Day," May 6, 2014 in London, England. (David M. Benett/Getty Images)

Perhaps memory plays tricks, or perhaps Prinze was exaggerating Sutherland's shortness, as IMDb lists Sutherland's height as 5 feet 9 inches.

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