Donald Sutherland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Donald Sutherland CC
Sutherland in 2013
Born	Donald McNichol Sutherland (1935-07-17)17 July 1935 Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Died	20 June 2024(2024-06-20) (aged 88) Miami, Florida, United States
Alma mater	Victoria University, Toronto London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1957–2024
Spouse(s)	Lois Hardwick ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1966)​ Shirley Douglas ​ ​ (m. 1966; div. 1970)​ Francine Racette ​ (m. 1972)​
Children	5, including Kiefer, Rossif and Angus
Relatives	Sarah Sutherland (granddaughter)
Awards	Full list

Donald McNichol Sutherland (born July 17, 1935 – died June 20, 2024) was a famous Canadian actor. He had a very long career in movies and TV, lasting over 60 years! He won many important awards, like a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Even though he was one of the best actors, he never got an Oscar nomination for a specific role. However, he did receive a special Academy Honorary Award in 2017 to celebrate his amazing career.

Sutherland became well-known after starring in popular films such as The Dirty Dozen (1967), M*A*S*H (1970), and Kelly's Heroes (1970). Later, he acted in many other movies, playing both main characters and supporting roles. Some of these include Klute (1971), Don't Look Now (1973), Animal House (1978), and Ordinary People (1980). More recently, many young people know him as President Snow from The Hunger Games franchise.

He also won awards for his work on television. He received a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in Citizen X (1995). He also won a Golden Globe Award for his parts in Uprising (2001) and Path to War (2002).

Donald Sutherland received many special honours throughout his life. He was added to the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2000 and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. He was also made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019, which is one of Canada's highest honours. Three of his sons, Kiefer Sutherland, Rossif Sutherland, and Angus Sutherland, also became actors. In 2023, Canada Post even made a special stamp to celebrate his incredible career.

Early Life and Education

Donald Sutherland was born on July 17, 1935, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. His parents were Dorothy and Frederick Sutherland. As a child, he faced some health challenges, including rheumatic fever and poliomyelitis.

His family lived in a farmhouse in Lakeside, New Brunswick, before moving to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia when he was 12. He spent his teenage years there. At 14, he got his first job as a news reporter for a local radio station called CKBW.

After finishing high school, Sutherland went to Victoria University in Toronto. He studied both engineering and drama. While there, he was part of a comedy group called "UC Follies." Even though he studied engineering, he decided he wanted to be an actor instead. In 1957, he moved to Britain to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Career Highlights

Early Acting Roles (1960s)

After finishing drama school, Donald Sutherland spent some time acting in theatre in Scotland. In the early 1960s, he started getting small roles in British movies and TV shows. He appeared in horror films like Castle of the Living Dead (1964) and Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965).

His big break came in 1967 with the war film The Dirty Dozen. He starred alongside famous actors like Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson. This movie was a huge success and helped him become known in Hollywood. After this film, Sutherland moved to Hollywood in 1968.

Becoming a Star (1970s)

In the 1970s, Donald Sutherland became a leading actor. He starred in two important war films in 1970: MASH, where he played "Hawkeye" Pierce, and Kelly's Heroes, where he played "Oddball." He also worked with Jane Fonda in the detective thriller Klute (1971). They also made a documentary together called F.T.A. (1972), which was about the anti-Vietnam War movement.

The 1973 thriller Don't Look Now was filmed in Venice. Both Sutherland and co-star Julie Christie were praised for their performances.

Sutherland continued to star in many different types of movies. These included the scary film Don't Look Now (1973) and the science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978). He also played a funny professor in the popular comedy National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), which made him known to even more people. In 1980, he received praise for his role as a father in the drama Ordinary People.

Famous Roles (1980s-2000s)

Donald Sutherland continued to take on many memorable roles in the 1980s and 1990s. He appeared in the drama A Dry White Season (1989) about apartheid, and the firefighter thriller Backdraft (1991) with Kurt Russell and Robert De Niro.

Sutherland in 1981

In 1991, he played a mysterious intelligence officer in the film JFK, which was about the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. He also acted with his son Kiefer in the movie A Time to Kill (1996). In 2000, he played an astronaut in Space Cowboys alongside Clint Eastwood.

Some of his other notable roles from this period include Reverend Monroe in the Civil War drama Cold Mountain (2003) and Mr. Bennet in Pride & Prejudice (2005), where he starred with Keira Knightley. He also lent his distinctive voice to many commercials.

The Hunger Games and Later Years (2010s-2020s)

Donald Sutherland was one of the Olympic flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He also provided voice-overs for the event.

Sutherland in 2011

From 2012 onwards, Sutherland became very popular with younger audiences for his role as President Snow, the main villain in The Hunger Games movie series. He appeared in all four films: The Hunger Games (2012), The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014), and Part 2 (2015). His performance was highly praised by fans and critics.

In 2017, he received a special Academy Honorary Award for his amazing career, which was his first Oscar. In 2018, he played oil tycoon J. Paul Getty in the TV series Trust. He also appeared in the HBO series The Undoing (2020) with Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman. His final film role was as Mr. Harrigan in the 2022 Netflix movie Mr. Harrigan's Phone, based on a story by Stephen King.

Personal Life and Family

Sutherland in 2013

Donald Sutherland was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1978 and later a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019. He also has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. He had a home in Georgeville, Quebec, Canada.

Sutherland was married three times. His first marriage was to Lois May Hardwick from 1959 to 1966. His second marriage was to Shirley Douglas, from 1966 to 1970. Shirley was the daughter of Tommy Douglas, who is known as the "father" of Canada's healthcare system. Donald and Shirley had twin children, Kiefer and Rachel.

In 1972, Sutherland married French Canadian actress Francine Racette. They had three sons: Rossif Sutherland, Angus Redford Sutherland, and Roeg Sutherland. It's interesting to know that all his sons were named after directors Donald Sutherland had worked with! For example, Kiefer is named after director Warren Kiefer, and Roeg is named after director Nicolas Roeg.

Donald Sutherland was also a blogger for The Huffington Post during the 2008 US presidential election, where he supported Barack Obama. He was known for his anti-war activities.

Donald Sutherland passed away on June 20, 2024, in Miami, Florida, at the age of 88 after a long illness.

Awards and Honours

Donald Sutherland received many awards and honours throughout his career.

Other Honours

Sutherland's star on Canada's Walk of Fame

• 1978: Officer of the Order of Canada (OC)
• 1983: 4th Genie Awards, winner, Best Actor, Threshold
• 2000: Canada's Walk of Fame
• 2000: Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement
• 2011: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (7024 Hollywood Boulevard)
• 2019: Companion of the Order of Canada (CC)
• 2023 (October 19): Canada Post commemorative postage stamp issued in his honour.

Images for kids

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  Blanche Baker and Sutherland during Lolita rehearsal in 1980

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  Several notable Canadians, including Sutherland (right front), carrying the Olympic flag at the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Vancouver

See also

In Spanish: Donald Sutherland para niños