Donald Sutherland has died at the age of 88

Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, star of films such as “The Hunger Games” and “The Hunger Games,” has died at the age of 88 after a long illness.

His son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, said: “It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally consider him to be one of the greatest actors in film history.”

“He was never discouraged by a role, whether it was good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and you can never ask for more than that. A fulfilling life.”

The news sparked a wave of support and applause.

Actor Rob Lowe, who starred alongside Sutherland in the miniseries Salem’s Lot, called his former co-star “one of our greatest actors.”

“It was an honor to work with him many years ago and I will never forget his charisma and skills,” he wrote on X/Twitter.

Cary Elwes, a co-star in the 2001 television movie “Uprising,” said he was “devastated” by Sutherland’s death.

“Our hearts break for you,” he wrote to Kiefer in an Instagram message. “We are so grateful to have known (and) worked with him. We send you our love.”

Born in New Brunswick, Canada, Sutherland began as a radio news reporter before moving to London in 1957 to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

He then took on smaller roles in British film and television.

His first spectacular roles were in war films, including “The Dirty Dozen” from 1967 and “Kelly’s Heroes” and “M*A*S*H” from 1970.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recalled being “deeply impressed” when he first met Sutherland.

“My thoughts are with Kiefer and the entire Sutherland family, as well as all Canadians who are no doubt as saddened to learn this as I am,” he said.

“He was a man of strong presence, brilliant craft and truly a great Canadian artist,” he added.

US President Joe Biden said Sutherland was a “unique actor who inspired and entertained the world for decades”.

Ron Howard, who directed Sutherland in the 1991 film Backdraft, called him “one of the most intelligent, interesting (and) compelling film actors of all time.”

Jane Fonda was Sutherland’s co-star in Alan J. Pakula’s 1971 thriller “Klute,” about a detective who is assisted by an expensive call girl in his hunt for a missing person.

They were together for two years.

In a tribute on Instagram, Fonda described Sutherland as a “brilliant actor” with whom she had “quite a few adventures,” including performing in front of active-duty soldiers during an anti-Vietnam War tour of Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines.

“I am heartbroken,” she added.

Helen Mirren, who starred alongside Sutherland in the 2017 film “The Leisure Seeker,” paid tribute to her “friend” and “one of the smartest actresses I’ve ever worked with” in a statement provided to the Hollywood Reporter.

“He had a wonderfully inquiring mind and a great deal of knowledge on a wide range of subjects,” she said.

“He combined this great intelligence with a deep sensitivity and seriousness towards his profession as an actor.

“All of this made him the film legend he became. He was my colleague and became my friend. I will miss his presence in this world.”

M*A*S*H co-star Elliott Gould shared a statement with the Associated Press calling Sutherland a “brother.”

“It is never easy to lose a person and an actor like Donald Sutherland, but this loss really hurts deeply because Donald was like my brother and a big part of my own career,” he said.

Will Smith, who starred with Sutherland in “Six Degrees of Separation,” paid tribute by posting two images from the 1993 film on Instagram with the caption, “Rest in peace, Donald.”

In the 1970s, Sutherland also played an IRA member in The Eagle Has Landed, a pot-smoking college professor in The Horse Is Kicking, and the lead role in the 1978 remake of The Body Snatchers.

In the 1980s, he played the father of a suicidal teenager in the Oscar-winning film “Ordinary Family.”

In the 2000s, he turned to television and appeared in series such as “Dirty Sexy Money” and “Commander-in-Chief”.

Despite his numerous roles, he was never nominated for an Oscar. However, in 2017 he received an honorary Oscar.

Sutherland was known for his political activism throughout his career and protested against the Vietnam War together with Fonda.

He also incorporated his faith into some of his roles, such as in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, in which he played the tyrannical President Snow.

Sutherland told the BBC in 2015 that he hoped the film’s sociopolitical message would help young fans develop a greater awareness of the world around them.

“We asked the nicest man in the world to portray the most corrupt and ruthless dictator we have ever seen,” the official Hunger Games X account posted after announcing his death.

“Such was the power and skill of Donald Sutherland’s acting that he created another indelible character, along with many others who shaped his legendary career. We are privileged to have known and worked with him, and our thoughts are with his family.”

He also told the BBC that the biggest change he had noticed in the industry was that actors were earning “a lot of money”.

“I don’t think anyone of my generation became an actor to make money. It never occurred to me. I was earning £8 a week here (on the stage in London). When I played the lead in a play at the Royal Court I was earning £17 a week, that was in 1964,” he said.

At the time, he said he had no plans to retire from acting.

“It’s a passionate endeavor. Retirement means ‘DEATH’ for actors,” he said.

His memoir, “Made Up, But Still True,” is scheduled to be published in November.