Donald Sutherland, the beloved actor who starred in movies like The Dirty Dozen, Kelly’s Heroes, Animal House, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Hunger Games, and more, has passed away at the age of 88. He passed away in Miami after a long illness. He’s an Emmy-award winner and an Oscar-winner. He’s also the father of actor Kiefer Sutherland and CAA executive Roeg Sutherland.
Sutherland has played plenty of different characters through his illustrious career from heroes to villains. He was born on July 17th, 1935 in Saint John, Canada. He amassed 200+ film and TV credits in his 60+ year career. His big break started with The Dirty Dozen in 1967 where he played Vernon Pinkley opposite Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, George Kennedy, Telly Savalas, and others. He parlayed that into a role in the movie MASH, which earned five Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. He played Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in that film, which turned into the highly successful TV series.
His successful string of war movies didn’t stop there, he played Sgt. Oddball in Kelly’s Heroes opposite Clint Eastwood, Don Rickles, Savalas, and others. 1971 saw him play what could be his greatest role ever in Klute. He starred with Jane Fonda as New York Detective John Klute. The movie saw Fonda win an Oscar, and screenwriters Andy Lewis and Dave Lewis get nominated.
Later in his career he starred as President Snow in The Hunger Games saga. Comedy fans will known him from Animal House, where he played a college professor that gets a little too familiar with the students.
Sutherland is survived by his wife Francine Racette; sons Roeg, Rossif, Angus, and Kiefer; daughter Rachel; and four grandchildren. HIs family has asked for privacy in this time.
Join us in celebrating the life and career of Donald Sutherland.
