Donald Sutherland, the enigmatic Canadian actor whose long career included films such as ‘The Dirty Dozen’ and ‘The Hunger Games,’ has died, his son announced Thursday. He was 88 years old.
“With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” actor Kiefer Sutherland wrote on X.
The elder Sutherland had a distinct look — and piercing eyes — that added depth and mystery to the wide range of roles he played on film over the course of a half century.
He played dashing leading men, antiheroes, and villains, most recently becoming known to a new generation of fans as the evil President Snow in the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise.
“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,” wrote Kiefer Sutherland.
After a ‘meandering’ start to his acting career, Donald Sutherland rose to prominence in Robert Aldrich’s ‘The Dirty Dozen,’ in which 12 convicts are assigned to what appears to be a suicide mission in occupied France.
Sutherland’s impish charms piqued the interest of ‘MASH’ producers, who cast him alongside stars like Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin, and Telly Savalas.
Sutherland’s sophisticated satire on the Vietnam War, in which he was cast opposite Elliott Gould, established him as a household name in 1970s America and paved the way for a long career in show business, working with some of the biggest names in the industry.
Article written by Murray Swart for Cape Town Etc.
ALSO SEE:
Gandalf actor Ian McKellen recovering after fall during live performance
Feature Image: Getty
