(RepublicanNews.org) – Legendary screen actor Donald Sutherland, whose career spanned over half a century, has died at the age of 88.
On Thursday, June 20th, the actor’s son and fellow actor Kiefer Sutherland announced “with a heavy heart” on social media that his father died. The actor described his father as “one of the most important actors” in film history, and said that Sutherland was “never daunted by a role,” whether it was “good, bad, or ugly.”
Kiefer said Sutherland “loved what he did and did what he loved,” something the late actor was always upfront about in interviews throughout his long career. “A life well lived,” his son concluded. He posted a second message the following day thanking everyone for their outpouring of condolences and support.”
The Canadian actor was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, on July 17th, 1935, and said throughout the years that he knew from a very young age that he wanted to be an actor. He began as a student and went on to appear in almost 150 movies and more than 40 television shows.
Sutherland started his career in the early 1960s on television and appeared in some small roles throughout the decade until the 1967 war flick “The Dirty Dozen,” in which he played the character Vernon L. Pinkley. In 1970, he appeared in Robert Altman’s movie “M*A*S*H” as Hawkeye Pierce, which opened the door to other roles through the 70s.
In 1980, Sutherland starred in “Ordinary People” alongside Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton. Alongside roles on Broadway, he landed roles in bigger projects, including 1989’s “A Dry White Season” alongside Marlon Brando. Sutherland took a major role in 1991’s “JFK” directed by Oliver Stone, which also starred Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, and Kevin Bacon.
Perhaps his most iconic modern role was as President Snow in the box office smash hit series “The Hunger Games,” based on the best-seller young adult novel series. The widely popular franchise also starred Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harelson, and Liam Hemsworth. In 2017, Lawrence introduced Sutherland and presented him with an Honorary Academy Award for his life’s work.
Sutherland’s final role on-screen was in 2023’s “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” a Western miniseries, and he has a memoir set to be published in November.
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