Donald Sutherland, the renowned actor known for his roles in films like Don’t Look Now, MASH*, and The Hunger Games, has passed away at 88. His representatives confirmed that he died in Miami after a long illness. His son, Kiefer Sutherland, announced the news on social media, calling his father “one of the most important actors in the history of film.”
Sutherland’s career spanned over 190 films and TV shows. Although he never won a major film award, he received two Golden Globes and an honorary Oscar in 2017. Born in Canada in 1935, he initially studied engineering and drama at the University of Toronto before moving to London in 1957 to attend the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
He rose to fame with the 1967 film The Dirty Dozen. His career flourished with roles in the Korean War comedy MASH* and Kelly’s Heroes. In the 1970s, he starred in Klute and the psychological horror Don’t Look Now, demonstrating his versatility as an actor.
Throughout his career, Sutherland took on a variety of roles, including a professor in National Lampoon’s Animal House, and roles in JFK, Space Cowboys, and Pride & Prejudice. His portrayal of President Snow in The Hunger Games series introduced him to a younger audience.
On television, Sutherland won an Emmy for his performance in Citizen X and appeared in series like Lawmen: Bass Reeves. He was also an outspoken anti-war advocate during the Vietnam War, which led to his surveillance by the National Security Agency in the early 1970s.
Sutherland was married three times and is survived by his wife Francine Racette, sons Roeg, Rossif, Angus, and Kiefer, daughter Rachel, and four grandchildren. Actors Helen Mirren and Ron Howard praised Sutherland’s intellect and talent, while director Edgar Wright called him a “fascinating screen presence.”
A private family celebration of his life will be held. His memoir, Made Up, But Still True, will be released posthumously in November, offering a candid look at his life and career.