Hollywood veteran Donald Sutherland passed away on Thursday (June 20) at the age of 88, as announced by his son, actor Kiefer Sutherland (’24’), via social media. ‘Deadline’ reported that he died in Miami, Florida, after a “long illness.”
Kiefer Sutherland Mourns His Father
The career of the legendary Donald Sutherland began in the early 1960s; his later roles in the ‘Hunger Games’ films and the cult film ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ made him known to a younger audience. His 57-year-old son wrote on X/Twitter: “With a heavy heart, I share with you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. For me personally, one of the most important actors in the history of film. He was never intimidated by a role, good, bad, or ugly. He loved what he did, and did what he loved, and one can wish for nothing more. A life well lived.” Kiefer posted a black-and-white photo showing him as a child with his father alongside the message.
Donald Sutherland’s Films Remain Memorable
Donald Sutherland was honored for his roles with Emmy, Golden Globe, and Critics’ Choice awards – though he never won an Oscar despite multiple nominations. In 2017, he was awarded an honorary Oscar for “a lifetime of indelible characters, rendered with unwavering truthfulness.” In the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, he played the cunning President Coriolanus Snow, and in the cult film ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ he portrayed the watcher Merrick. His role as Captain Benjamin Franklin ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce in the film ‘MAS*H’ is iconic, and his performances as Detective John Klute in ‘Klute’ and grieving father John Baxter in ‘Don’t Look Now’ are unforgettable. Donald Sutherland leaves behind his wife, actress Francine Racette, and five children: his sons Roeg, Rossif, Angus, and Kiefer, as well as his daughter Rachel and four grandchildren.
