KIEFER SUTHERLAND - SUTHERLAND THANKS ROBERTS FOR DITCHING HIM

KIEFER SUTHERLAND is relieved one-time love JULIA ROBERTS dumped him before they wed - but didn't feel that way at the time.

The 24 actor was heartbroken when his PRETTY WOMAN fiance, his co-star in 1990's FLATLINERS, fled their impending Hollywood nuptials with actor JASON PATRIC in 1991.

And while the loss of love and the public humiliation were difficult, Kiefer now acknowledges that Roberts made a good choice.

He says, "Julia was right, you know. It's a terrible thing when people decide to get married when they should actually be breaking up.

"She was smart enough to know that, thank God, but it didn't make dealing with at that time any easier."