Freddie Prinze Jr.: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Freddie Prinze Jr. didn’t appreciate his time on the 24 set with co-star Kiefer Sutherland. His experience with the lead actor almost led Prinze to quit acting entirely.

The actor hasn’t done much on-screen acting since appearing in the Fox series’ eighth season. He currently voices Kanan Jarrus in the animated series Star Wars Rebel, which he promoted at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. He also takes care of his two children with wife Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Learn more about Prinze’s experience with Sutherland and what other career opportunities he’s taken advantage of in the last few years.

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1. Prinze Jr. Hated His Time on ’24’ Due to Sutherland’s Unprofessionalism

Prinze didn’t take to kindly to Sutherland’s poor decorum on set of 24 when he guest-starred as new CTU agent Cole Ortiz in season eight. The experience almost led him to quit acting, he told ABC News:

I did ’24,’ it was terrible. I hated every moment of it. Kiefer was the most unprofessional dude in the world. That’s not me talking trash, I’d say it to his face, I think everyone that’s worked with him has said that. I just wanted to quit the business after that. So, I just sort of stopped.

Prinze complained that differing heights between the two actors caused problems in shooting, with the 6 foot 4 actor having to work without shoes to shrink down to Sutherland’s 5 foot 4 frame. Sutherland said through his rep on July 29 that he “enjoyed working with Freddie and wishes him the best.”

A Fox official also told TMZ that Sutherland was “nothing but a professional” on the show:

It’s so out of left field, 5 years later… We wouldn’t have done another ’24’ if Kiefer were anything like Freddie described.

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2. He Went to Work for World Wrestling Entertainment After ’24’

On Oct. 1, 2010, Prinze took a position as a producer and director for the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It’s his second stint with Vince McMahon’s company after briefly working with the creative team between 2008 and 2009. He has appeared twice on WWE’s Raw.

Prinze told ABC News his job at WWE was even “crazier” than 24, but he’s had a much better experience:

I went and worked for Vince McMahon at the WWE for Christ’s sake and it was a crazier job than working with Kiefer. But, at least he was cool and tall.

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3. He Met Gellar on the Set of ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’

Prinze married Gellar on September 1, 2002, in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, but the couple first met on the set of the 1997 teen horror flick I Know What You Did Last Summer (watch the trailer above). They have two children: four-year-old daughter Charlotte Grace Prinze and one-year-old son Rocky James Prinze.

Gellar helped get her hubby’s guest role on season nine of Bones through her former Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star David Boreanaz, she told TVLine last year:

This actually all came about from David, Freddie and I hanging out two weeks ago. David sort of [floated the idea to us]. And I was like, ‘Sure!’ And Freddie was like, ‘Yes!’ It was literally a poolside conversation.

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4. At 10 Months Old, He Lost His Father to Suicide

Prinze Jr. never got to know his famous father Freddie Prinze, the star of TV show Chico and the Man. The elder actor committed suicide at the age of 22 when his son was 10 months old. Prinze Sr. had struggled with drugs and separated from his son’s mother Katherine Cochran, according to his IMDb bio.

Katherine raised Prinze Jr. in New Mexico and he would spend his summers in Puerto Rico with his paternal grandmother. He is fluent in Spanish.

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5. Prinze Had to Shave His Head After Starring in ‘Scooby-Doo’

Prinze constantly bleached his hair to match the color of Fred’s in the 2002 live-action movie of Scooby-Doo. After filming wrapped, he had to shave his head due to damage caused by the bleach.

Prinze experienced his greatest prolonged success in the late 90s, early 2000s. His first major film was I Know What You Did Last Summer followed by the immediate sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. He then went on to star in She’s All That, Head Over Heels, Boys and Girls and Summer Catch.

He had the memorable role as the “manny” on Friends and starred in his own series Freddie, but it last only one season.

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