The Canadian actor is cited as one of the greatest to have never received an Oscar nomination
Legendary actor Donald Sutherland, known for starring in some of the best remembered movies of the 20th century like Ordinary People and Klute, plus his appearances in the Hunger Games franchise, has died.
The star was 88 and passed away after a long battle with an illness. CAA confirmed his passing, and his son Kiefer Sutherland took to social media soon after to break the news.
The actor, 57, shared a photo of himself with his late dad, writing: “With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film.”
“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. A life well lived.”
The Canadian actor has received a slew of honors for his career spanning decades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globes, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Kiefer Sutherland shares a tribute to late father Donald
However, he never received an Oscar nomination, and has frequently been cited as one of the greatest to never do so. He received an Academy Honorary Award in 2017, and some of his films, like Ordinary People, have won Oscars.
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His career took off in the late ’60s and early ’70s thanks to films like Dirty Dozen (1967) and M*A*S*H (1970), and he then kicked off a run of well-remembered and iconic projects.
His career began in the ’60s and skyrocketed in the ’70s and ’80s
Some of those include Klute (1971, during which he famously had an affair with co-star Jane Fonda), Don’t Look Now (1973), Animal House (1978), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Ordinary People (1980), JFK (1991), Six Degrees of Separation (1993), The Italian Job (2003), and Pride & Prejudice (2005).
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The late Sutherland’s career experienced a resurgence in the early 2010s when he began appearing as antagonist President Snow in the Hunger Games franchise, appearing four films from 2012-2015.
One of his best remembered films was the Best Picture winning “Ordinary People”
His last film credit was 2023 period drama Miranda’s Victim, and on TV, he last appeared in 2020’s The Undoing opposite Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, following that up with the miniseries Lawmen: Bass Reeves in 2023.
His career resurged thanks to the “Hunger Games” franchise
Born in St. John, New Brunswick, on July 17, 1935, Donald was married three times, first tying the knot with Lois May Hardwick in 1959, with the couple getting divorced in 1966. From 1966-1970, he was married to Canadian actress and activist Shirley Douglas.
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He and Shirley welcomed twins Kiefer and Rachel Sutherland before their divorce. In 1972, he tied the knot with French-Canadian actress Francine Racette, welcoming sons Rossif, Angus Redford, and Roeg.
The actor is survived by his wife, five children, and four grandchildren
Kiefer and Rossif are both actors like their parents, while Angus has made a name for himself as an actor and, more recently, a producer. Donald is survived by his wife, five children, and four grandchildren. Deadline reports a private celebration of life will be held by the family at a later date.
