Donald Sutherland, the enigmatic Canadian actor celebrated for his roles in films such as “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Hunger Games,” passed away at the age of 88, his son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, announced on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
“With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” Kiefer Sutherland wrote on X.
Donald Sutherland’s distinctive look and piercing eyes brought a depth and mystery to a wide range of roles throughout his five-decade career on the big screen. Known for his ability to portray both dashing leading men and sinister villains, he recently captivated a new generation of fans as the malevolent President Snow in “The Hunger Games” series.
Reflecting on his father’s career, Kiefer Sutherland remarked, “I personally think [he was] 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.”
Donald Sutherland’s journey to stardom began with a “meandering” start to his acting career, as he himself described it. His breakthrough came with Robert Aldrich’s “The Dirty Dozen,” where his portrayal of a convict on a suicide mission in occupied France caught the industry’s attention.
This performance led to his iconic role in “MASH,” a sophisticated satire on the Vietnam War that cast him alongside Elliott Gould. The success of “MASH” turned Sutherland into a household name in 1970s America and paved the way for a durable career marked by collaborations with some of the biggest names in show business.
