Keifer Sutherland has directed three films

The 24 star was held by police after making an illegal U-turn and was found to be over the legal alcohol limit after a breath test.

The 40-year-old was released on bail of $25,000 (£12,400) in the early hours of Tuesday morning and is scheduled to appear in court on 16 October.

Sutherland won an Emmy award last year for his role in real-time drama 24.

The show was also named best drama at the awards ceremony in 2006.

The actor plays anti-terrorist officer Jack Bauer in the series, which is due to return to US screens in January for its seventh season.

There are also plans to shoot a big screen version of the high-octane drama.