Iconic Actor Donald Sutherland Dies at 88

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The entertainment world lost a giant Thursday with the death of legendary actor Donald Sutherland, who parlayed guest spots on television programs throughout the 1960s into appearances in iconic films including "The Dirty Dozen," "M*A*S*H," "Kelly's Heroes" and "Animal House."

"With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away," Sutherland's son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, wrote on social media Thursday morning. "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 was 88. According to various reports, Sutherland died in Miami following a long illness.

Sutherland, who received an honorary Oscar in 2017, was known to younger moviegoers for his more recent work as President Snow in "The Hunger Games." But his resume includes many of the most notable films Hollywood has produced, including "Klute," "Ordinary People," "Pride & Prejudice," "The Day of the Locust" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers."

He won an Emmy Award in 1995 for his supporting work in HBO's "Citizen X."

Born in Canada, Sutherland's big film break came when he was cast as a condemned Army prisoner in 1967's war classic "The Dirty Dozen," joining a star-studded cast that included Lee Marvin, Telly Savalas and Charles Bronson, among others.

The success of that film helped him land top billing in another Army film, playing the original Hawkeye Pierce in the big-screen version of "M*A*S*H." Yet another war epic followed with his appearance as the appropriately named Sgt. Oddball, a flighty tank squadron commander in "Kelly's Heroes." The behind-the-lines quest for wartime gold also had an all- star cast, led by Clint Eastwood and including Savalas and Don Rickles.

The following year he appeared opposite Jane Fonda in "Klute."

Sutherland was a nine-time Golden Globe Award nominee, winning in 2003 for his supporting role in "Path to War," chronicling the events leading to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

His other film roles included "Space Cowboys" -- re-teaming with Eastwood, "The Italian Job," "Cold Mountain," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Disclosure" and Oliver Stone's "JFK."

He most recently portrayed a judge on the series "Lawman: Bass Reeves."

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

Funeral services are expected to be private.

"I was blessed to direct (Sutherland) in `Backdraft,"' director Ron Howard wrote on X Thursday. "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."

Helen Mirren wrote, "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. He was my colleague and became my friend. I will miss his presence in this world."

Actor/director Edgar Wright called Sutherland "a favorite 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. "But that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his legendary filmography; a funny, laconic, but also intense and dramatic presence in so many memorable movies, starting with his break-through in `The Dirty Dozen,' and then on an incredible run in the 70s, 80s and beyond with `M*A*S*H,' `Kelly's Heroes,' `Little Murders,' `Klute,' `Don't Look Now,' `The Day Of The Locust,' `Ordinary People' and `JFK,' among many others. I even adore his very early appearances in `Dr Terror's House Of Horrors' and `The World Ten Times Over,' as well as his very silly cameo in `Kentucky Fried Movie."'