Until his demise on Thursday aged 88, Donald Sutherland remained the paramount contender who, despite never receiving an Oscar nomination, was lauded as the preeminent living actor. Despite his non-acknowledgement by the Oscars, film fanatics valued the chance it provided to celebrate his notable performances that merited acknowledgement.
Consider his role as the rebellious Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H, from 1970. His portrayal of a frigid law enforcer in Alan Pakula’s 1971 film Klute went unnoticed. Remarkably, he was overlooked while the rest of the cast received nominations for Robert Redford’s best-picture winner ‘Ordinary People’ in 1980. Arguably his best performance was his haunting portrayal of a grieving father amidst Venetian darkness in Nicolas Roeg’s 1973 film, ‘Don’t Look Now’. It is here that Sutherland’s diverse acting range was on full display; from profound gravity to an undercurrent of subtle humour, Sutherland constantly seemed privy to a secret.
His son, Kiefer Sutherland, himself an established actor, spoke on behalf of many who never knew Donald personally. “With a heavy heart, I inform you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has died,” he shared on Instagram. “In my view, he was among the most significant actors in cinema history, unfazed by any role, whether good, bad or atrocious.”
Born into a middle-class family, Donald Sutherland, who was honoured with the Order of Canada as early as 1978, spent his early years in New Brunswick. After experiencing health issues as a young boy, he moved with his family to Nova Scotia when he was 12. Sutherland then proceeded to earn degrees in drama and engineering from Victoria University in Toronto, before attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
In a 2015 interview with the BBC, he reflected on his early acting career, stating that his generation didn’t choose acting for monetary gains. “It never crossed my mind. I earned £8 a week here. When I played a lead role at the Royal Court, I earned £17 a week, that was in 1964.”
The early career of this particular actor encompassed roles in both British cinema and television, with notable appearances including Dr Terror’s House of Horror in 1965 and alongside Christopher Lee in the 1964 historical horror, Castle of the Living Dead. His big break, however, came with his role in The Dirty Dozen, a film by Robert Aldrich that saw him as one of the 12 criminals dispatched on a commando raid.
Following this, he was cast in M*A*S*H by Altman, a film noteworthy for its colourful dialogue and multiple character conversations; it was one of several films that helped introduce a new cinematic age for Hollywood. Portraying an army doctor disillusioned by the seemingly aimless Korean War, a clear proxy for the Vietnam conflict, his performance was highly praised.
His career in the evolving American cinema scene continued to grow, although Sutherland’s performances were markedly different from such acclaimed actors like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. His tendency for restraint and calmness could easily lead some to mistake him for a product of English upbringing if not for his own distinctive accent.
Playing a grounded and reserved character, contrasting with Jane Fonda’s independent escort role in Klute, he seemed entirely in command. However, he later admitted in an interview that he didn’t entirely agree with or understand director Pakula’s approach to the film.
Perhaps his most impactful role was in Don’t Look Now, a film shrouded in richness and mystery, which sparked false rumours suggesting the authenticity of a high-profile intimate scene between Sutherland and Julie Christie.
Thereafter, Sutherland was never without acting opportunities, in spite of not possessing the traditional charisma of a leading man. Yet his warm and at times menacing energy ensured a reliable casting for diverse supporting roles over the next five decades. Standout performances include his role as a conspiracy theorist in the 1991 Oliver Stone film JFK, as well as Keira Knightley’s father in Joe Wright’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and the flamboyant President Coriolanus Snow in the Hunger Games franchise.
The renowned Donald Sutherland, despite having had three marriages, is now survived by his current spouse, Francine Racette, a notable Canadian actress, and five offsprings, including Kiefer, widely recognised for his role in the widely acclaimed series, 24. His granddaughter, Sarah Sutherland, gained fame for her portrayal of the disgruntled daughter of a vice-president in the comedy series Veep. Reflecting on his career in a 2011 interview with Esquire, he claimed the only challenge he has faced in acting was handling rejection, although he also admitted this wasn’t terribly difficult for him.