Actor Donald Sutherland, who worked in movies like The Italian Job and Pride & Prejudice, has died after a prolonged illness. He was 88.
His son and actor Kiefer Sutherland announced the news and posted on X: “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,” he said.
The actor had worked in movies across a career spanning more than half a century.
Mourning the death, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau described Donald as one of the ‘greats’.
“We’ve lost one of the greats. Donald Sutherland brought a level of brilliance to his craft few could match. A remarkable, legendary actor — and a great Canadian. My thoughts are with his loved ones. Rest in peace, Donald,” the PM posted on X.
Stating Donald Sutherland’s charisma will not be forgotten, actor Rob Lowe said, “Today we lost one of our greatest actors, Donald Sutherland. It was my honor to work with him many years ago, and I will never forget his charisma and ability. If you want a master class in acting, watch him in “Ordinary People”. My condolences to Kiefer.”
Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, and later moving to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Sutherland rose to fame after starring in films such as The Dirty Dozen (1967), M*A*S*H (1970), and Kelly’s Heroes (1970). He subsequently starred in many films both in leading and supporting roles, including Start the Revolution Without Me (1970), Klute (1971), Don’t Look Now (1973), The Day of the Locust (1975), Fellini’s Casanova (1976), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), 1900 (1976), Animal House (1978), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Ordinary People (1980), Eye of the Needle (1981), A Dry White Season (1989), Backdraft (1991), JFK (1991), Six Degrees of Separation (1993), Without Limits and Fallen with Denzel Washington (1998), The Italian Job (2003), and Pride & Prejudice (2005). More recently, Sutherland had portrayed President Snow in The Hunger Games franchise.