Donald Sutherland, star of 'MASH' and 'The Hunger Games,' dies at 88; son Kiefer pays moving tribute

Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, known for films like ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Don't Look Now’, has died at 88 after a long illness. His son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, shared, ‘With a heavy heart, I announce the passing of my father, Donald Sutherland. I believe he was one of the most important actors in film history. He was never daunted by any role, whether good, bad, or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved—a life well lived.’

Sutherland's career spanned over half a century, with nearly 200 credits to his name. The news prompted an outpouring of support and tributes.

Actor Rob Lowe, who worked with Sutherland in the miniseries ‘Salem's Lot’, called him ‘one of our greatest actors’.

‘It was my honor to work with him many years ago, and I will never forget his charisma and ability,’ he wrote on X.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recalled feeling ‘deeply, deeply star-struck’ when he first met Sutherland.

‘My thoughts go out to Kiefer and the entire Sutherland family, as well as all Canadians who are no doubt saddened to learn, as I am right now. He was a man with a strong presence, a brilliance in his craft, and truly a great Canadian artist,’ he said.

Ron Howard, who directed Sutherland in the 1991 film ‘Backdraft’, described him as ‘one of the most intelligent, interesting, and engrossing film actors of all time.’

More about Donald Sutherland

Born in New Brunswick, Canada, Sutherland began his career as a radio news reporter before moving to London in 1957 to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He initially took on small roles in British film and television. His early notable roles were in war films, including 1967's The Dirty Dozen and 1970's Kelly's Heroes and MAS*H.

Jane Fonda, Sutherland's co-star in Alan J. Pakula's 1971 thriller Klute, which follows a detective assisted by a high-priced call girl in his search for a missing person, dated him for two years.

In the 1970s, Sutherland took on diverse roles, including an IRA member in The Eagle Has Landed, a pot-smoking college professor in National Lampoon's Animal House, and the lead in the 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In the 1980s, he played the father of a suicidal teenager in the Oscar-winning Ordinary People. By the 2000s, Sutherland transitioned to television, appearing in series like Dirty Sexy Money and Commander-in-Chief.

Despite his numerous roles, he never received an Oscar nomination, although he was awarded an honorary Academy Award in 2017. Known for his political activism, he protested the Vietnam War alongside Jane Fonda and infused his beliefs into roles like President Snow in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.

In 2015, he told the BBC he hoped the film's socio-political message would inspire young fans to become more aware of the world around them. Following his death, the official Hunger Games Twitter account praised his ability to create unforgettable characters, noting, "We asked the kindest man in the world to portray the most corrupt, ruthless dictator we’ve ever seen."

Reflecting on industry changes, Sutherland remarked to the BBC that actors today earn much more money, something that never motivated his generation. ‘I made £8 a week here [on stage in London]. When I starred in a play at the Royal Court, I made £17 a week, that was in 1964,’ he said. At the time, he had no plans to retire, stating, ‘It's a passionate endeavour. Retirement for actors is spelt 'DEATH.'’

His memoir, ‘Made Up, But Still True’, is set to be published in November.

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