Kiefer Sutherland, Edgar Wright, Helen Mirren Remember Donald Sutherland: “One of the Most Important Actors in the History of Film” (2024)

Hollywood stars took to social media on Thursday after it was announced that Donald Sutherland died at the age of 88.

Sutherland died Thursday in Miami after a long illness, CAA’s Missy Davy toldThe Hollywood Reporter.

The renowned actor had an illustrious six-decade career, starring in varied roles with his breakthrough performances including the 1967 film The Dirty Dozen and Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H. Throughout his career, the actor starred in such films as Klute, Kelly’s Heroes, Don’t Look Now, Ordinary People, 1900, The Hunger Games series and Ad Astra.

In 2017, he received an Honorary Award from the Academy.

Sutherland is survived by his wife, Francine Racette; sons Roeg, Rossif, Angus and Kiefer; daughter, Rachel; and four grandchildren.

Kiefer paid tribute to his late father online, writing, “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. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”

Sutherland portrayed President Snow in the Hunger Games franchise films, with the official account paying tribute to the late actor: “We asked the kindest man in the world to portray the most corrupt, ruthless dictator we’ve ever seen. 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.”

Gary Ross, who directed the first Hunger Games film, told THR in a statement of Sutherland: “Donald. He was just so wonderful. Kind, gracious, and thoughtful — and so well read. He had [T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred] Prufrockmemorized, andhe’d give me sections of it, outloud, like a book on tape. More than anything there was this loving enthusiasm for the work. It wasn’t enough to do just do the job — he had tofeelthe job and he wanted you to feel it all with himinevery second.

He continued, “I’ve told the story before, but there wasonemoment when we were shooting Hunger Gameswhere hesent me a letter about his part as President Snow. It was the creation of awholecharacter — much more than I’d put on the page:his motivations … his backstory … what he meant to the narrative … how a fascist is born, and what that means. I was so floored by the depth and sophistication of it that I stopped shooting,grabbed a folding chair,went down by the side of the lake and wrote two new scenes. Those are the scenes that remain in the final movie,and,for me,they capture all the beautiful ways I remember him.”

Hunger Games producer Nina Jacobson said, “Snow has fallen and we couldn’t be more heartbroken. 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.”

Tom Blyth, who portrayed a younger Coriolanus Snow in the Hunger Games prequel Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes, thanked the actor for “birthing one of the great movie characters of all time.”

Helen Mirren paid tribute to Sutherland in a statement to THR, “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 seriousnessabout his profession as an actor. Thisall made him into the legend of film that he became. He was my colleagueand became my friend. I will miss his presencein this world.”

Ron Howard remembered directing Sutherland in Backdraft: “I was blessed to direct him in #Backdraft. One of the most intelligent, interesting & engrossing film actors of all time. Incredible range, creative courage & dedication to serving the story & the audience with supreme excellence.”

Edgar Wright praised Sutherland’s filmography, describing him as “a favourite actor and always fascinating screen presence.”

Roland Emmerich, who worked with Sutherland on Moonfall, wrote on social media: “I had the honor and great privilege to work with the incredibly gifted and legendary Donald Sutherland on MOONFALL. A true screen icon of modern cinema has left us. Sending my heartfelt condolences to his family.”

Sutherland’s Klute co-star Jane Fonda remembered the actor on Instagram, writing, “I am stunned to hear that Donald Sutherland has died. He was my fascinating co-star in Klute and we loved working together. In this photo we are on the Klute set with director Alan Pakula.”

She continued, “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.”

Below are more tributes.