Renowned Actor Donald Sutherland, Star of MASH and Hunger Games, Dies at 88

Legendary Hollywood actor Donald Sutherland, whose career stretched from the 1970s to the 2020s, has died at the age of 88. Sutherland passed away after a long illness in Miami on June 20, 2024.

The Academy Honorary Award recipient is the father of Emmy-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland, who broke the sad news on social media.

Alongside a black-and-white image of Donald posing next to him as a child, the 57-year-old wrote: “With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad, or ugly.”

Kiefer added in the emotional tribute: “He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”

Donald studied at the University of Toronto and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and became known for his incredible versatility as an actor.

Widely considered one of Canada’s best-known film actors, one of Donald’s first roles came in the 1963 British romantic drama “The World Ten Times Over.”

The actor’s big break came when he landed the role of Vernon Pinkley in the war film “The Dirty Dozen,” released in 1967. He catapulted to global stardom when he appeared as Hawkeye Pierce in the Robert Altman war comedy, “M*A*S*H.”

Over the next few decades, Donald appeared in films such as “Klute” (1971), “Don’t Look Now” (1973), “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978), “Ordinary People” (1980), and “JFK” (1991).

He is survived by his wife Francine Racette, sons Roeg, Rossif, Angus, and Kiefer, and daughter Rachel. The star had four grandchildren.

A private celebration of life will be held by the family, his agent confirmed to the PA news agency.