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Iconic actor Donald Sutherland, renowned for his extensive career in film and television, passes away at the age of 88.
Donald Sutherland, the Canadian actor known for his distinctive and unconventional screen presence across more than five decades of films from "M.A.S.H." to "The Hunger Games," has passed away at the age of 88. His death occurred on Thursday in Miami following an extended illness, as confirmed by a statement from Creative Artists Agency, his longtime representatives.
Reflecting on his father's legacy, Kiefer Sutherland expressed his belief that Donald was among the most significant actors in film history, noting his fearlessness in tackling diverse roles with passion and dedication. Donald Sutherland's tall, lean frame and enigmatic smile characterized his portrayal of memorable characters such as Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman’s "M.A.S.H.," the unconventional tank commander in "Kelly's Heroes," and the eccentric professor in "Animal House."
Elliott Gould, Donald Sutherland's co-star from "M.A.S.H.," praised him as both a towering figure in stature and talent, as many paid tribute following his passing, according to a statement to The Associated Press. "He was also enormously kind and generous."
Transitioning into a celebrated character actor, Sutherland initially epitomized the unpredictable, anti-establishment cinema of the 1970s. His prolific career spanned nearly 200 films and series, showcasing his versatility in more restrained yet still idiosyncratic roles in Robert Redford’s "Ordinary People" and Oliver Stone’s "JFK." More recently, he gained acclaim for his role in the "Hunger Games" franchise.
His upcoming memoir, titled "Made Up, But Still True," is set to be released in November.
"I have a deep passion for my work," Donald Sutherland shared with Charlie Rose in 1998. "I love slipping into the skin of different characters. It's a liberating feeling—time stands still for me. I may not be as wild as I once was, but there's still a bit of madness in me."
Donald McNichol Sutherland was born in St. John, New Brunswick, to a salesman and a mathematics teacher. Growing up in Nova Scotia, he started his journey as a disc jockey, running his own radio station by the age of 14.
Reflecting on his youth, Sutherland told The New York Times in 1981, "At 13 or 14, I felt everything I thought was wrong and dangerous, like God might strike me down." His father's advice was to "keep your mouth shut, Donnie, and maybe people will think you have character."
Initially an engineering student at the University of Toronto, Sutherland pivoted to studying English and began acting in school plays. It was during this time that he met Lois Hardwick, an aspiring actress whom he married in 1959; however, their marriage ended in divorce seven years later.
After graduating in 1956, Donald Sutherland pursued his passion for acting by enrolling at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He honed his craft in West End plays and appeared on British television before relocating to Los Angeles, where he transitioned into film.
His breakthrough came with "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), where he portrayed Vernon Pinkley, a memorable officer-impersonating character. The early 1970s marked pivotal moments in his career with the releases of "Kelly’s Heroes," set during World War II, and "M.A.S.H.," a film that propelled Sutherland to stardom.
In a 1970 interview with The Washington Post, Sutherland emphasized the appeal of character roles: "There is more challenge in character roles. There’s longevity. A good character actor can show a different face in every film and not bore the public."
Despite initial reservations about Robert Altman’s unconventional directorial style on "M.A.S.H.," Sutherland’s performance resonated deeply with audiences, contributing to the film’s unexpected success.
Sutherland resonated deeply with its anti-war message. A vocal critic of the Vietnam War, he co-founded the Free Theater Associates in 1971 alongside actress Jane Fonda and others. Their outspoken political views led to being banned by the Army, yet they persisted, performing near military bases in Southeast Asia by 1973.
“I thought I was going to be part of a revolution that was going to change movies and its influence on people,” Sutherland reflected to the Los Angeles Times.
His career peaked as a leading man in the 1970s, collaborating with renowned directors of the era. Despite occasional mismatches, Sutherland embraced serving a director’s vision, working notably with Federico Fellini (1976’s “Fellini’s Casanova”), Bernardo Bertolucci (1976’s “1900”), Claude Chabrol (1978’s “Blood Relatives”), and John Schlesinger (1975’s “The Day of the Locust”).
Among his standout roles was as a detective in Alan Pakula’s “Klute” (1971), where he met Fonda, sparking a three-year relationship following the end of his second marriage to actor Shirley Douglas. The marriage dissolved in 1971 after the birth of twins: Rachel and Kiefer, the latter named after Warren Kiefer, writer of Sutherland’s debut film, “Castle of the Living Dead.”
Nicolas Roeg’s psychological horror film “Don’t Look Now” (1973) marked another pinnacle in Sutherland's career. He starred alongside Julie Christie as a grieving couple who relocate to Venice after their daughter's tragic death. The film notably featured a famous, meticulously edited explicit sex scene.
“Nic and I were so committed to the film that we thought I might actually die during the process,” Sutherland once remarked. His profound respect for the film and Roeg was evident when he and his subsequent wife, actress Francine Racette, named their first child Roeg.
Sutherland married Racette in 1972, and she survives him. Together, they had two more children: Rossif, named in homage to director Frederic Rossif, and Angus Redford, named after Robert Redford.
Robert Redford’s “Ordinary People” (1980) also tackled themes of familial grief. Sutherland's portrayal as the father of a family devastated by tragedy earned critical acclaim and contributed to the film winning four Oscars, including Best Picture.
Sutherland never received an Academy Award nomination but was honored with an honorary Oscar in 2017. His achievements also include an Emmy win in 1995 for the TV film “Citizen X” and two Golden Globes for “Citizen X” and the 2003 TV film “Path to War.”
His New York stage debut in 1981, however, was disappointing. Portraying Humbert Humbert in Edward Albee’s adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita,” Sutherland faced scathing reviews, leading to its closure after just a dozen performances. The 1980s brought further challenges, including failures like the 1981 satire “Gas” and the 1984 comedy “Crackers.”
Nonetheless, Sutherland maintained a steady presence in television, notably starring in HBO’s “Path to War” as President Lyndon Johnson’s defense secretary, Clark Clifford.
As his son Kiefer rose to stardom, Sutherland appeared alongside him in several films, such as the 1996 thriller “A Time to Kill” and 2015’s “Forsaken.” However, he declined an opportunity to portray the father character on the popular series “24.”
To a younger audience, Donald Sutherland became most recognizable as President Snow in “The Hunger Games” series, starting with the original film in 2012. Sutherland actively pursued the role, despite its minimal dialogue in the script.
“The role of the president had maybe a line in the script. Maybe two. Didn’t make any difference,” Sutherland explained to GQ. “I thought it was an incredibly important film, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
In his later years, the prolific actor contemplated the idea of dying onscreen in a genuine manner.
“I’m really hoping that in some movie I’m doing, I die — but I die, me, Donald — and they’re able to use my funeral and the coffin,” Sutherland shared with the AP. “That would be absolutely ideal. I would love that.”
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