Donald Sutherland, the acclaimed Canadian actor known for his captivating performances in films such as “MASH,” “Klute,” and “The Hunger Games,” has passed away at the age of 88. His son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, announced the news on social media, stating, “Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that.”
Sutherland’s illustrious career spanned from the 1960s to the 2020s, showcasing his versatility and charisma. Standing tall with a deep voice, piercing blue eyes, and a mischievous smile, he seamlessly transitioned from character roles to romantic leads, starring opposite renowned actresses like Jane Fonda and Julie Christie.
One of his most iconic roles was Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman’s “MASH,” set in a military field hospital during the Korean War. He also portrayed a despairing father in Robert Redford’s Oscar-winning directorial debut, “Ordinary People.” Sutherland gained a new generation of fans with his portrayal of the tyrannical President Coriolanus Snow in “The Hunger Games” series, a role he actively sought.
In his acceptance speech for an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement in 2017, Sutherland expressed gratitude to the characters he portrayed, saying, “I wish I could say thank you to all of the characters that I’ve played, thank them for using their lives to inform my life.”
Born Donald McNichol Sutherland on July 17, 1935, in St. John, New Brunswick, he was the son of a salesman and a math teacher. Raised in Nova Scotia, he developed a passion for acting in school productions and later honed his craft at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Sutherland made his Hollywood breakthrough in 1967 with the role of Vernon Pinkley in “The Dirty Dozen.”
Sutherland’s outspoken criticism of the Vietnam War led him to team up with Jane Fonda to found the Free Theater Associates in 1971. They performed near military bases in Southeast Asia in 1973, despite being banned by the army due to their political views. Declassified documents in 2017 revealed that Sutherland was on the National Security Agency’s Watch List from 1971 to 1973.
Among Sutherland’s finest performances were his roles as a detective in Alan Pakula’s “Klute,” where he met Fonda, and as a grieving husband in Nicolas Roeg’s psychological horror film “Don’t Look Now.”
Tributes poured in following the announcement of his death. Director Ron Howard, who worked with Sutherland on “Backdraft,” called him “one of the most intelligent, interesting and engrossing film actors of all time.” British actress Helen Mirren, who starred with him in 2017’s “The Leisure Seeker,” described him as a “legend of film” and a dear friend.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also paid tribute, saying Sutherland “was a man with a strong presence, a brilliance in his craft and truly, truly a great Canadian artist.”
Sutherland’s accolades include an Emmy, two Golden Globes, and a BAFTA. He was married three times and had five children, including Kiefer Sutherland. His memoir, “Made Up, But Still True,” is set to be released in November.
