Donald Sutherland for ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ from Lionsgate.
Advance:
- Donald Sutherland is dead.
- He was 88 years old.
- The actor will be remembered as a fearsome performer and for his both comedic and dramatic roles.
Donald Sutherland, a man who established himself in the firmament of stalwart and accomplished actors, has died. He was 88 years old.
Sutherland was known for his distinctive voice and commanding screen presence. He worked with some of the most respected directors in the industry and left a lasting impact on the world of film and television.
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Donald Sutherland: early life and career
Donald Sutherland in ‘M*A*S*H’. Photo: 20th Century-Fox.
Sutherland was born in St. John, Canada in 1935.
As a child, he battled several illnesses, including polio, hepatitis, and rheumatic fever. Despite his health problems, Sutherland continued his education at the University of Toronto, where he earned a double degree in engineering and theatre. But once he caught the acting bug, he studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts before landing roles in British television shows and films such as ‘the Avengers‘ and ‘The Saint.’
‘holy’ star Roger Moore recommended it to the producers of ‘The dirty dozen‘, taking his film career to the next level.
“M*A*S*H gives AD*A*M*N.”
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1 hour 56 minutesJanuary 25, 1970
Donald Sutherland: film work
(From left to right) Kevin Costner and Donald Sutherland in ‘JFK’. Photo: Warner Bros.
The success of ‘The Dirty Dozen’ led to his iconic role as Hawkeye Pierce in the critically acclaimed ‘MIX‘ in 1970, which cemented his status as a leading man. Throughout her career, Sutherland has demonstrated her versatility by taking on various roles in films such as ‘klute‘, where his work and relationship with Jane Fonda unleashed his activism, horror’do not look now‘ (famous –– or perhaps infamous –– for speculation about the reality of her sex scene with her co-star julia christian),’Ordinary people‘,’J.F.K.‘ ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘ and ‘Italian work‘ (2003) and the 1978 version of ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers‘.
“The story that will not disappear.”
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3 hours 9 minutesDecember 19, 1991
More recently, he attracted attention and a new generation of fans for his portrayal of the villainous President Snow in ‘The Hunger Games‘ films.
Sutherland won Golden Globes and Emmys for his television work and, although he was never nominated for a Oscarreceived an honorary Oscar in 2017.
Donald Sutherland dies: statement from his son Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland in season 1 of ’24’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
Sutherland had five children: sons KieferRoeg, Rossif and Angus, a daughter, Rachel.
Kiefer is the best known of them, as he followed in his father’s artistic footsteps. The duo starred in projects together several times over the years, including the films ‘The return of Max Dugans’, ‘Abandoned‘ and ‘Time to kill‘.
This is what the young Sutherland had to say about his father’s passing:
“It is with great sadness that I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. Personally, he seems to me to be one of the most important actors in the history of cinema. He never put me off a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and you can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”
Sutherland was married three times, the first to Luisa Hardwickfrom 1959 to 1966. Her second, to actress. Shirley Douglas, ran from 1966 to 1971 and produced Kiefer and Rachel. He is survived by his third wife, the Canadian actress. francine racettewith whom she had Roeg, Rossif and Angus.
Donald Sutherland as Coriolanus Snow in Lionsgate’s ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2’. Photo: Lionsgate.