There are certain class actors who leave you astonished with their performances. You watch their movie for the first time and you can’t help but spend the night surfing their filmography. That’s what Gen Z movie lovers might have done after watching Donald Sutherland in The Hunger Games.
The way he portrayed the part of President Coriolanus Snow in those movies was impeccable. But then, you can’t expect anything ordinary from the legend whose versatile screen presence spans six decades. Here’s a look back on the life of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated character actors.
From Canada To London
Donald Sutherland was born to Frederick McLea and Dorothy Isobel Sutherland on July 17, 1935 in Canada. The middle-class family traveled a lot due to Mr. Frederick’s job. Eventually, they found a place in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, whose cultural heritage influenced young Donald’s outlook on life.
The actor contracted various illnesses as a child, from polio and hepatitis to spinal meningitis. Donald once told the Los Angeles Times that he “died for four or five seconds” because of meningitis. The health problems that he experienced in his childhood also left him bedridden for several months.
Donald spent his teenage years in Nova Scotia where he got his first part-time job as a radio announcer. After graduating from Victoria University, he moved to London to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. That was the inception of Donald’s career as an actor.
Early Days In The Industry
The early days of Donald Sutherland in the film industry revolved around British Films and TV where he’d be given small roles. However, his first credited film role came with the 1964 horror Castle of the Living Dead. Donald played two characters in that movie: one was a witch and the other was an old man. Many believe that he named his son Kiefer after Warren Kiefer, the director of the movie.
The first time when moviegoers recognized Donald Sutherland as an actor was in The Dirty Dozen (1967). Although he didn’t have many lines in the war movie, he did his part quite well. Nobody knew him at that time by his name. Once he recalled how Robert Aldrich, the director of the movie yelled at him to say another character’s lines. Robert said “You with the big ears — you do it”.
Making A Case For His Talent
Donald Sutherland first tasted success in his brilliant career in the 1970s. Mr. Sutherland appeared in 34 films from 1970 to 1981, many of which made him the star that he was. Most of the characters in these films were unpredictable in terms of sanity. Indeed, he played them with conviction.
Be it the mobile hospital surgeon of M*A*S*H (1970), the fascist Attila Mellanchini of 1900 (1976), or the spy of Eye of the Needle (1981), each of his characters were profoundly diverse. Not to forget his hauntingly fascinating depiction of John Baxter from the 1973 horror classic Don’t Look Now.
Donald’s arched eyebrows worked wonders for his character who was pursued by the ghost of his daughter. It was one of the veteran actor’s most amazing performances that showcased his potential as an actor.
Raining Awards
Though Donald Sutherland was a critically acclaimed talented actor, he never got any Academy Award nomination. However, Sutherland clinched some other notable honors, including an Emmy for his portrayal of a Soviet investigator in Citizen X. Also, he got a Golden Globe for that movie.
Donald took home his second Golden Globe in 2003 for his supporting role in Path to War. Moreover, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Donald’s star was positioned right next to that of his son, Kiefer Sutherland. That was a very special moment for the Donald Sutherland Family.
The Academy awarded him with an Honorary Oscar “for a lifetime of indelible characters, rendered with unwavering truthfulness.” in 2017. In his acceptance speech, he said “I wish I could say thank you to all of the characters that I’ve played, thank them for using their lives to inform my life”.
Final Words
Donald once asked his mother whether he was good-looking. She replied “No, but your face has a lot of character”. Donald Sutherland’s death has left an endless void in the movie industry which can never be filled. He brought honor to every character that he played. Most importantly, he made the world fall in love with his droopy eyes, wide rictus, and noble character that continues to inspire millions.
