Hollywood legend Donald Sutherland dies at age 88
Legendary Hollywood actor Donald Sutherland has died at the age of 88 after a battle with an ongoing illness.
The actor, known for his roles in M*A*S*H, Klute and The Hunger Games, passed away on Thursday in Miami, his agency confirmed.
Donald's actor son Kiefer announced his father's death in an emotional post on Instagram, reflecting on his illustrious career.
“With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” he began.
“I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly."
“He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”
Tributes from past colleagues have flooded social media, as director Ron Howard reflected on working with the iconic actor.
"I was blessed to direct him in Backdraft. One of the most intelligent, interesting & engrossing film actors of all time," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
"Incredible range, creative courage & dedication to serving the story & the audience with supreme excellence."
Helen Mirren, who co-starred with Sutherland in 2017's The Leisure Seekers, also paid tribute to her late friend, saying in a statement, "Donald Sutherland was one of the smartest actors I ever worked with. He had a wonderful enquiring brain, and a great knowledge on a wide variety of subjects."
"He combined this great intelligence with a deep sensitivity, and with a seriousness about his profession as an actor. This all made him into the legend of film that he became."
Sutherland’s career spanned more than 50 years and 140 film credits and earned an Emmy for his role as a Soviet official in the fact-based HBO movie Citizen X, as well as a pair of Golden Globes.
Sutherland’s big break came when he was cast as one of The Dirty Dozen in the star-studded 1967 film, before landing a role in the movie version of M*A*S*H, and also playing alongside Jane Fonda in her Oscar-winning portrayal of a high-class “call girl” in the crime mystery Klute.
Image credits: Ace Pictures/Shutterstock Editorial