LOS ANGELES - In his first series role in 40 years, Jon Voight has signed on as a recurring character on the upcoming seventh season of 24.
On the Emmy-winning Fox drama, Voight will play the uber-nemesis of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), who is pulling the strings behind next season's terrorist threat.
The character will be introduced during 24's two-hour Season 7 prequel and will be featured heavily in the latter half of the season.
The prequel, now shooting on location in South Africa, is slated to air November 23, with Season 7 of the series kicking off in January.
Voight's role marks the first high-profile villain casting on 24 since Season 1, when Dennis Hopper appeared in the final episodes as Serbian nationalist Victor Drazen.
Voight did several TV guest spots early in his career--including a three-episode stint on Gunsmoke in the late '60s--until his movie career exploded with Midnight Cowboy in 1969.
A four-time Academy Award nominee, Voight won the best actor Oscar for 1978's Coming Home. He recently reprised his role as Nicolas Cage's father in National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
http://www.hollywood.com/news/Jon_Voight_Signs_On_for_Villainous_Role_on_24/5255862
