TV & Movies

Celebs Pay Tribute To Donald Sutherland After His Death At 88

His son Kiefer announced the death of the award-winning actor.

by Jake Viswanath
Elderly man in a black suit, standing on stage with a surprised expression, lit against a dark backg...
JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Sutherland has died at 88. His son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, announced his death on social media, paying tribute to his father by calling him “one of the most important actors in the history of film.”

“Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly,” he wrote. “He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”

One of Donald’s other sons, CAA Media Finance executive Roeg Sutherland, also confirmed his death to Deadline, with CAA stating that he died in Miami following a “long illness.”

The beloved Canadian actor starred in many classic films across his illustrious six-decade career, starting with the 1967 World War II drama The Dirty Dozen. He went on to star in the seminal 1970 film MASH, which earned five Oscar nominations including Best Picture, and 1971’s Oscar-nominated Klute opposite Jane Fonda, who he famously dated in the early ’70s.

In the late 2000s, Donald became known to a new generation of fans as Keira Knightley’s onscreen father in the 2005 rom-com Pride and Prejudice, and the villainous President Snow in The Hunger Games franchise. He also paved his way in the TV world, winning an Emmy for HBO film Citizen X in 1995.

Donald Sutherland and Kiefer Sutherland attend the screening of 'Forsaken' on February 16, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Many celebs left their condolences in the comments of Kiefer’s Instagram tribute. Princess Bride star and Donald’s The Panic co-star Cary Elwes wrote, “Our hearts are breaking for you. So grateful to have known & worked with him.”

Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn wrote, “So sorry for your loss,” while Smallville alum Michael Rosenbaum said, “Love you buddy. so so sorry. here for ya.”

In addition to Kiefer and Roeg, Donald is survived by wife Francine Racette, whom he married in 1972, daughter Rachel, sons Rossif and Angus, and four grandchildren.