Donald Sutherland, the beloved actor known for his performances in a wide range of films including The Dirty Dozen, MASH, Klute, Animal House, Ordinary People, Pride & Prejudice, and The Hunger Games franchise, passed away on Thursday in Miami after a long illness. He was 88.
Sutherland, a 2017 Honorary Oscar recipient, was also the father of Emmy-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland and veteran CAA Media Finance executive Roeg Sutherland. CAA confirmed the news to Deadline.
Sutherland was renowned for his ability to deliver laconic, wry, and dead-serious performances. Some of his most memorable roles include John Klute, the cool-headed amateur murder investigator in Klute alongside Jane Fonda; Hawkeye Pierce in the film MASH, opposite Elliott Gould; and John Baxter in Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now, where he played a skeptical husband opposite Julie Christie.
In Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1976 epic 1900, Sutherland showcased his range by portraying a sadistic fascist, a role that starkly contrasted with his earlier characters.
Born on July 17, 1935, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Sutherland’s career spanned over 60 years with around 200 film and TV credits. He started with guest appearances on 1960s TV series such as Suspense, The Avengers, Court Martial, and The Odd Man. His film career took off with Robert Aldrich’s 1967 World War II drama The Dirty Dozen, where he played Vernon Pinkley alongside stars like Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, and Charles Bronson.
His next significant role was as Capt. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in Robert Altman’s 1970 Korean War dramedy MASH. The film earned five Oscar nominations, winning Best Screenplay, and inspired the long-running CBS series.
Sutherland continued to build his career with roles in star-studded films like Kelly’s Heroes and Alan J. Pakula’s Klute, where he starred opposite Jane Fonda. His performance in Klute remains one of his most acclaimed roles, contributing to Fonda’s first Oscar win.
Sutherland’s filmography includes notable performances in Don’t Look Now, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Ordinary People, for which he received critical acclaim. He also had a significant television career, winning a Golden Globe for Path to War, and an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Citizen X. His TV credits also include The Undoing, Trust, Dirty Sexy Money, and The Pillars of the Earth.
Donald Sutherland is survived by his wife Francine Racette, sons Roeg, Rossif, Angus, and Kiefer, daughter Rachel, and four grandchildren. The family will hold a private celebration of his life.
Tags: Donald Sutherland, Kiefer Sutherland, The Hunger Games, Klute, Ordinary People
