In Memoriam: Donald Sutherland
July 17, 1935 – June 20, 2024
Donald McNichol Sutherland, the celebrated Canadian actor whose illustrious career spanned six decades, passed away on June 20, 2024, at the age of 88. Revered for his versatility and powerful performances, Sutherland left an indelible mark on both film and television. Throughout his career, he garnered numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a BAFTA Award nomination. Despite being considered one of the best actors never nominated for an Academy Award, he was honored with an Academy Honorary Award in 2017.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Donald Sutherland was born on July 17, 1935 at the Saint John General Hospital in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. He was the youngest son of Dorothy Isobel (née McNichol; 1892–1956) and Frederick McLea Sutherland (1894–1983), who worked worked in sales while also running a local gas, electricity and bus company. Sutherland’s ancestry was Scottish, German, and English. His grandfather was a Scots church minister. As a child, he had rheumatic fever, hepatitis, and polio. For the first six years of Sutherland’s life, he and his family lived on present-day Kennebecasis River Road in Hampton, a town in Kings County, having moved there from Saint John while he was an infant. He first received education at a one-room schoolhouse in Hampton; Sutherland’s family moved back to Saint John when he was six, his father having secured a position in the New Brunswick Power Company as its vice president and general manager. Sutherland attended the Victoria School in Saint John, and later played hockey for the school. During this time, Sutherland also practiced puppetry.
In 2017, Sutherland sent a letter to a Saint John Free Public Library, he detailed how he and his family had lived in a farmhouse in Lakeside, located in present-day Hampton, before moving to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, at the age of 12, where he spent his teenage years. His first part-time job, at the age of 14, was as a news correspondent for local radio station CKBW. At the age of 19, Sutherland was an exchange student in Finland where he spent four months, and lived near an iron mine located in Otanmäki, Kainuu.
Sutherland graduated from Bridgewater High School. He then began studying at the University of Toronto, where he initially studied engineering and drama, before transferring to its affiliate college, Victoria University, where he met his first wife Lois May Hardwick. He graduated in 1958, with a dual degree in engineering and drama. Sutherland had at one point been a member of the “UC Follies” comedy troupe in Toronto. Sutherland changed his mind about becoming an engineer, and left Canada for Britain in 1957, where his passion for acting led him to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). His early career was marked by roles in British television series and theater productions, where he honed his craft and developed the distinctive screen presence that would become his hallmark.
Rise to Fame
Sutherland’s breakthrough came with his role in the war film The Dirty Dozen (1967), which showcased his ability to blend intensity with a charismatic screen presence. This was followed by memorable performances in Robert Altman‘s satirical war comedy M*A*S*H (1970) playing the leading role as Hawkeye Pierce and the World War II action-comedy Kelly’s Heroes (1970) as hippie tank commander “Oddball”. These roles catapulted him to international stardom and established him as a versatile actor capable of tackling both dramatic and comedic roles.
Iconic Roles and Acclaimed Performances
Sutherland’s filmography is a testament to his range and talent. In Klute (1971), he delivered a nuanced performance opposite Jane Fonda, earning critical acclaim. During the filming of the Academy Award-winning detective thriller, Sutherland had an intimate relationship with co-star Jane Fonda. Sutherland and Fonda went on to work together and co-produce and star together in the anti-Vietnam War docuemtary F.T.A. (1972). As a follow-up to their film Klute, Sutherland and Fonda performed together in Steelyard Blues (1973). His portrayal of a grieving father in Don’t Look Now (1973) remains one of his most haunting and unforgettable roles, which saw him nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor. Sutherland’s collaboration with esteemed directors continued with Bernardo Bertolucci‘s 1900 (1976) and Federico Fellini‘s Casanova (1976) where he played Giacomo Casanova, further cementing his status as a leading actor of his generation.
In the late 1970s, Sutherland appeared in the cult classic National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) as pot-smoking Professor Dave Jennings, and expanding his reach among younger fans due to the film’s popularity, and the sci-fi horror Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) where Sutherland played health inspector Matthew Bennell. His portrayal of a conflicted and grieving father Calvin Jarrett in Robert Redford‘s Ordinary People (1980) alongside Mary Tyler Moore and Timothy Hutton earned him widespread praise and showcased his ability to convey deep emotional complexity. Sutherland was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.
Continued Success and Later Career
Sutherland’s career continued to flourish in the following decades with standout roles in films such as A Dry White Season (1989), alongside Marlon Brando and Susan Sarandon. Sutherland then played incarcerated pyromaniac Ronald Bartel in the Kurt Russell and Robert DeNiro Firefighter thriller Backdraft (1991). In Oliver Stone‘s JFK (1991) Sutherland played mysterious Washington intelligence office Mr. X, reputed to have been L. Fletcher Prouty, who spoke of links to the military–industrial complex in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Then he took a comedic turn as Merrick Jamison-Smythe the vampire hunter in the teen film Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), with Kristy Swanson. He also co-starred with Will Smith and Stockard Channing as the snobbish New York City art dealer Flanders “Flan” Kittredge in Six Degrees of Seperation (1993), and Without Limits (1998) as Bill Bowerman in the sports drama for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.
In addition to his film work, Sutherland made significant contributions to television. His portrayal of the serial killer-obsessed investigator Colonel (later General) Mikhail Fetisov in the HBO movie Citizen X (1995) earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. Sutherland also played Major General Donald McClintock alongside Dustin Hoffman and Morgan Freeman in Wolfgang Petersen‘s Outbreak (1995) in film. He was later cast in 1996 (for only the second time) with his son Kiefer in Joel Schumacher‘s film A Time to Kill. Sutherland played the famous American Civil War General P.G.T. Beauregard in the 1999 film The Hunley. He received the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miiseries or Film for his role as Clark Clifford in the HBO film Path to War (2002).
In more recent years, Sutherland was known for his role as Reverend Monroe in the Civil War drama Cold Mountain (2003), Lou Aldryn in the drama thriller Baltic Storm (2003), John Bridger in the remake of The Italian Job (2003), Nathan Templeton in the TV series Commander in Chief (2005–2006), Ogden C. Osbourne in the film Fierce People (2005) with Diane Lane and Anton Yelchin. Sutherland’s performance as the domineering Mr. Bennet in Joe Wright‘s adaptation of Pride & Prejudice (2005) demonstrated his enduring appeal and versatility. Sutherland also appeared in notable television projects such as Uprising (2001), Human Trafficking (2005). His distinctive voice was also used in many radio and television commercials, including those for Delta Air Lines, Volvo automobiles, and Simply Orange orange juice.
The Hunger Games and Later Recognition
A new generation of fans discovered Sutherland through his portrayal of the ruthless President Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games franchise (2012–2015). His chilling performance brought depth and gravitas to the role, contributing to the series’ massive success. His role was well recieved by fans and critics. In 2018, Sutherland portrayed oil tycoon J. Paul Getty in the FX a historical drama series Trust as Getty delt with the kidnapping of his grandson as John Paul Getty III. In 2020, he appeared in the HBO limited series The Undoing (2020) alongside Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman. For his performance he received the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries. In 2023, he took the role of Isaac C. Parker in the series Lawmen: Bass Reeves on Paramount+.
In recognition of his remarkable contributions to the arts, Sutherland was made an Officer of the Order of Canada (OC) in 1978, and was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019. He was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2000 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. In 2016, he was a member of the main competition jury of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
On September 6, 2017, it was announced that Sutherland, along with three other recipients, would receive an Honorary Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences “for a lifetime of indelible characters, rendered with unwavering truthfulness”. At the ceremony, he was honored by Jennifer Lawrence, Colin Farrell, and Whoopi Goldberg. This was Sutherland’s only Academy Award in his then six decade long film career.
Personal Life and Legacy
Donald Sutherland was a devoted father to five children, including actors Kiefer, Rossif, and Angus Sutherland. Sutherland married three times. His first marriage, to Lois May Hardwick, a head school teacher, lasted from 1959 to 1966. His second marriage, which lasted from 1966 to 1970, was to Shirley Douglas, daughter of Tommy Douglas, the social democratic former premier of Saskatchewan. Sutherland and Douglas had two children, twins Kiefer and Rachel. Sutherland married French Canadian actress Francine Racette in 1972. They had three sons – Rossif, Angus, and Roeg.
Donald Sutherland died in Miami on June 20, 2024, after a long illness. Sutherland’s passing marks the end of an era for Hollywood, but his performances will continue to inspire and entertain audiences for generations to come. Sutherland leaves behind a rich legacy of diverse roles that highlight his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft. Donald Sutherland will be remembered as a true titan of cinema, whose contributions have forever enriched the landscape of film and television.
Rest in Peace Donald Sutherland and may your memory be a blessing to your family and children.