Donald Sutherland, a multi-generational actor who starred in “M*A*S*H,” “Klute,” “Animal House,” “Hunger Games” and other films, has died. He was 88.
His death was confirmed on social media by his son Kiefer Sutherland, who is also a famous actor and who starred in “24”. and “Designated Survivor,” A talent agency representing Sutherland also confirmed his death to CBS News.
“It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” Kiefer Sutherland said on X. “I personally consider him to be one of the most important actors in the history of film. He was never afraid of any role, whether it was good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and he did what he loved, and no one can ask for more than that. A life well lived.”
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Donald Sutherland auditioned for her first role more than 50 years ago, They told Anderson Cooper during an interview on “60 Minutes” in 2017.
He went on to say Acted in more than 150 films and television shows, and has been called one of the greatest actors never to be nominated for an Oscar — despite acclaimed performances in films such as “Ordinary People,” which won Best Picture.
In 2017, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences presented Sutherland with an Honorary Oscar Award at its Governors Awards ceremony.
Sutherland, one of Canada's most famous actors, was born in New Brunswick in 1935. After receiving degrees in engineering and drama from the University of Toronto, he moved to London to begin his acting career.
His official Oscar biography states that he played small roles in Italian and British films before making his feature film debut in the 1964 film “Castle of the Living Dead.” His breakthrough role as Vernon Pinkley in the 1967 film “The Dirty Dozen” earned Sutherland his first lead role in the hit film “M*A*S*H.”
He played many other notable roles over the years, including memorable dramatic roles such as Oliver Stone's “JFK” and comedic films such as “The Con Artist.”
He won an Emmy for best supporting actor in 1995 for his role in HBO’s “Citizen X,” and was nominated for nine Golden Globes during his long career, winning two.
“Character roles have greater challenges,” Sutherland said in a 1970 interview with The Washington Post. “There's longevity. A good character actor can show a different face in every movie and not bore the audience.”
The Associated Press contributed reporting.