Hollywood says ‘goodbye, farewell and amen’ to Donald Sutherland: ‘What a legacy you leave behind’
Revered actor Donald Sutherland, whose storied career spanned six decades, died Thursday at age 88. His Hollywood collaborators, friends, family and admirers paid tribute to the legendary star.
His son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, announced the death of “one of the most important actors in the history of film” on social media.
“He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived,” the “24” star wrote.
Donald Sutherland, a mainstay of Hollywood for more than 60 years, had nearly 200 credits, including the ‘MASH’ movie, ‘Ordinary People’ and ‘Hunger Games.’
The news brought condolences from fellow actors, producers, fans — and President Joe Biden.
“Donald Sutherland was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and one-of-a-kind actor who inspired and entertained the world for decades,” Biden wrote on X — formerly Twitter — from the official POTUS account.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also shared his admiration for the late Canadian on X.
“We’ve lost one of the greats,” Trudeau wrote. “Donald Sutherland brought a level of brilliance to his craft few could match. A remarkable, legendary actor — and a great Canadian. My thoughts are with his loved ones. Rest in peace, Donald.”
Actors and filmmakers sent love to Sutherland’s son.
“Devastated. Our hearts are breaking for you. So grateful to have known & worked with him. Sending our love 💔🥲,” actor Cary Elwes wrote in the Instagram comments.
Henry Winkler, who co-starred with Kiefer Sutherland in the 1998 thriller “Ground Control,” shared his sympathies on X.
“@RealKiefer Stacey and I send you our deepest sympathies. Your dad was indeed singular,” the “Barry” actor wrote.
Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda met on the set of the 1971 gritty mystery “Klute.” The pair dated for two years and Sutherland became an outspoken anti-Vietnam War activist.
Following the announcement of his death, Fonda shared a photo of Sutherland on the set of the movie on her Instagram.
“I am stunned to hear that Donald Sutherland has died,” Fonda wrote. “Donald was a brilliant actor and a complex man who shared quite a few adventures with me, such as the FTA Show, an anti-Vietnam war tour that performed for 60,000 active duty soldiers, sailors, and marines in Hawaii, Okinawa, the Philippines, and Japan in 1971. I am heartbroken.”
Sutherland was known, especially to younger generations, for his role as President Coriolanus Snow in the popular “Hunger Games” franchise. “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” last year’s prequel to the four-movie series, followed a young Snow played by Tom Blyth. Blyth voiced his admiration for the original Snow on Instagram.
“Donald Sutherland came about as close to mastering the craft of acting as anyone gets,” Blyth wrote. “So many genius performances. I never had the honor of knowing him personally, but it was the honor of a lifetime to follow in his footsteps. Thank you sir for birthing one of the great movie characters of all time.”
His “Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” co-star Rachel Zegler commented with a red heart.
The official “The Hunger Games” account also posted a farewell message to Sutherland on X.
“We asked the kindest man in the world to portray the most corrupt, ruthless dictator we’ve ever seen,” the account tweeted. “Such was the power and skill of Donald Sutherland’s acting that he created one more indelible character among many others that defined his legendary career. We are privileged to have known and worked with him, and our thoughts are with his family.”
“The Hunger Games” producer Nina Jacobson shared a photo of Sutherland as Snow.
“Snow has fallen and we couldn’t be more heartbroken,” she wrote on X. “Donald Sutherland was a gentleman, a thinker and a master of his craft. We have lost one of the true reigning greats of our industry. Our hearts go out to his family and his legion of fans around the world.”
Times columnist Glenn Whipp remembers Donald Sutherland, talks with Ewan McGregor and offers a set of early Emmy predictions in his weekly newsletter.
Sutherland played Ronald Bartel in Ron Howard’s 1991 movie “Backdraft.” Howard honored the actor on X.
“One of the most intelligent, interesting & engrossing film actors of all time,” Howard wrote. “Incredible range, creative courage & dedication to serving the story & the audience with supreme excellence.”
In 2004, Sutherland starred alongside Rob Lowe in the TV miniseries “Salem’s Lot.”
“Today we lost one of our greatest actors, Donald Sutherland,” Lowe wrote on X. “It was my honor to work with him many years ago, and I will never forget his charisma and ability. If you want a master class in acting, watch him in ‘Ordinary People.’ My condolences to Kiefer.”
Donald Sutherland’s “Disclosure” co-star Michael Douglas posted a still of the pair on Instagram.
“What a lovely, talented, and curious man,” Douglas wrote in the accompanying caption. “RIP Donald Sutherland.”
Kim Coates, who worked with Donald Sutherland on “Crossing Lines,” also shared his condolences on X.
“Today we lost a Legend. A LEGEND. Being a young [Canadian] actor for what seems like decades ago Donald Sutherland was on top of my list,” Coates wrote. “My heart goes out to Kiefer and sis. Donald and I had many a glass of red wine over the years. Working with him on Crossing Lines was bliss.”
Another one of Donald Sutherland’s co-stars, Ever Carradine, posted an Instagram photo from their short-lived TV series “Commander in Chief.”
“I had the absolute pleasure of spending a season working with the incredible Donald Sutherland,” Carradine wrote in the caption. “He was truly one of the all time greats. May he Rest in Peace.”
Director Roland Emmerich took to Instagram to share his thoughts about Sutherland. The two worked together on “Moonfall.”
“I had the honor and great privilege to work with the incredibly gifted and legendary Donald Sutherland,” the “Independence Day” filmmaker wrote. “A true screen icon of modern cinema has left us. Sending my heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Gale Anne Hurd, who produced the 1999 movie “Virus,” in which Donald Sutherland appeared, quote tweeted Kiefer Sutherland’s X announcement with her apologies.
“I had the privilege of working with your father. His dedication to the craft of acting was unrivaled. I’ll treasure the memories of him reciting great poems, monologues/soliloquies when he wasn’t needed on set. A great actor, and a generous one.”
“Baby Driver” director Edgar Wright took to X to express his admiration for the star, asking fans to share their favorite roles by Donald Sutherland.
“RIP the great Donald Sutherland, a favourite actor and always fascinating screen presence. He starred in two of my very favourite and most influential films — ‘Don’t Look Now’ and the 1978 ‘Invasion Of The Bodysnatchers,’” Wright wrote. “So sorry to see you go Donald, but what a legacy you leave behind.”
Adam Nimoy, son of actor Leonard Nimoy, shared a photo of his dad, Donald Sutherland and Jeff Goldblum from the set of Phil Kaufman’s sci-fi classic “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”
“What an incredible talent,” he wrote on X.
Nancy Sinatra retweeted posts from both Nimoy and Howard. She also shared her own pain on X.
“Godspeed, Donald Sutherland,” the singer wrote.
The “MASH Matters Podcast” also announced the death on X, wishing him “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” — the title of the dramedy series’ 1983 finale.
“Sad news, M*A*S*H Fans. The O.G. Hawkeye, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. Sutherland originated the role of Hawkeye Pierce in the 1970 Robert Altman film that inspired the TV series,” the account wrote.
In 1973, Sutherland was nominated for an acting BAFTA Award for his work in “Steelyard Blues.” BAFTA’s X account wrote that the organization was “saddened” by the news.
Although the actor was never nominated for an Academy Award, he received an honorary Oscar in 2017. The motion picture academy’s X account posted Sutherland’s 2017 acceptance speech.
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