Heavy/Getty Donald Sutherland died at the age of 88.
Iconic actor Donald Sutherland has died at the age of 88 after a long illness.
His son, fellow actor Kiefer Sutherland, revealed the news via social media.
Many fans knew Donald for his roles in “The Hunger Games” movies where IMDb noted he portrayed the character of President Snow. His acting resume, however, goes back decades.
Here’s what you need to know about Donald’s death:
Donald Sutherland ‘Loved What He Did’
On June 20, Kiefer shared an old photo showing him as a child with his father on Instagram. “With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away.”
Kiefer continued, “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.
Donald had a “life well lived,” Kiefer declared.
According to Deadline, Donald died after a long, undisclosed illness. The media outlet noted the actor died in Miami, Florida.
He was born in New Brunswick, Canada, in July 1935, shared Deadline. Over the course of his six-decade career, he had roles in about 200 television and movie projects. His role in the 1967 movie “The Dirty Dozen” was a break-out opportunity for him. He starred alongside Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, and George Kennedy in the project.
Donald also portrayed Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in the 1970 film “MASH.” The success of the movie led to a CBS television series that ran from 1972 to 1983. Alan Alda portrayed Hawkeye in the televised version.
The actor went on to have roles in a number of successful films, from “Kelly’s Heroes” to “Ordinary People” and “Backdraft.” His IMDb page indicated he was still actively working into 2023, with several projects listed.
Fans Reminisced Over the Actor’s Prior Performances
The legendary actor received an Honorary Oscar in 2017. Vanity Fair noted he won both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe for his work in the television movie, “Citizen X.” His role in “Path to War” earned him another Golden Globe.
Donald is survived by his wife, Francine Racette, sons Kiefer, Roeg, Rossif, and Angus, as well as a daughter, Rachel. He also had four grandchildren. According to Deadline, the family plans to have a private celebration of Donald’s life at some point in the future.
As soon as news of Donald’s death emerged, fans took to Kiefer’s post on X (formerly Twitter) to share their sadness and memories.
One post on X included a gif of the actor in “Animal House.” The poster wrote, “I loved him in Animal House, & so many roles… he was such a chameleon. An Actor’s Actor! My sincere condolences.”
“I loved your father in all his roles. We’ve lost a legend in losing Donald Sutherland. Peace and love to your family, Kiefer,” tweeted another fan.
“Thank you for sharing him with us, Kiefer. We all benefitted from the talent and love he put into his work,” read another X post.
“THE DIRTY DOZEN is an all-time classic in my household. Rest in peace Donald Sutherland. Many prayers for you and your family, Kiefer,” shared someone else.