"Donald McNichol Sutherland was a celebrated Canadian actor whose career spanned over seven decades. He garnered significant recognition for his work, including a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Despite never receiving an Academy Award nomination, he was honored with an Academy Honorary Award in 2017, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest actors of his time."
July 1935: Birth and Early Life
Donald Sutherland was born in July 1935 and spent his early childhood in Lakeside, Kings County, New Brunswick, before moving to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia at age 12.
July 1935: Birth of Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland was born in July 1935.
1956: Death of Mother
Donald Sutherland's mother, Dorothy Isobel Sutherland, passed away in 1956.
1957: Move to Britain and LAMDA
Donald Sutherland moved to Britain and began studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1957.
1959: Marriage to Lois May Hardwick
Donald Sutherland's first marriage was to Lois May Hardwick in 1959.
1963: Role in "The Sentimental Agent"
Donald Sutherland appeared in an episode of the television series "The Sentimental Agent" in 1963.
1964: Appearance in "Castle of the Living Dead"
Donald Sutherland appeared alongside Christopher Lee in the horror film "Castle of the Living Dead", released in 1964.
1965: Roles in Horror Films and "The Saint"
Donald Sutherland appeared in the horror film "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors" and the Hammer Films production "Die! Die! My Darling!" in 1965. He also appeared in an episode of the television series "The Saint" that same year.
1966: Second Appearance in "The Saint" and Casting in "The Dirty Dozen"
Donald Sutherland made a second appearance in the television series "The Saint" in 1966. His performance in this episode helped him secure a role in the film "The Dirty Dozen".
1966: Divorce and marriage to Shirley Douglas
Donald Sutherland divorced his first wife, Lois May Hardwick, and married Shirley Douglas, daughter of Canadian politician Tommy Douglas, in 1966.
1966: Roles in "The Bedford Incident", "Gideon's Way", and "Lee Oswald - Assassin"
Donald Sutherland appeared in the films "The Bedford Incident" and "Lee Oswald - Assassin", as well as an episode of the television series "Gideon's Way", in 1966.
1967: Appearance in "The Avengers"
Donald Sutherland appeared in an episode of the television series "The Avengers" in 1967.
1967: The Dirty Dozen Release
Donald Sutherland's film "The Dirty Dozen" was released in 1967.
1968: Move to Hollywood
After the success of "The Dirty Dozen", Donald Sutherland moved from London to Hollywood in 1968.
1970: Divorce from Shirley Douglas
Donald Sutherland and his second wife, Shirley Douglas, divorced in 1970. They had twins, Kiefer and Rachel Sutherland.
1970: M*A*S*H and Kelly's Heroes
Donald Sutherland starred in both "M*A*S*H" and "Kelly's Heroes" in 1970.
1970: "MASH", "Kelly's Heroes", and "Start the Revolution Without Me"
In 1970, Donald Sutherland starred in the war films "MASH" and "Kelly's Heroes", as well as the comedy "Start the Revolution Without Me" with Gene Wilder. He contracted spinal meningitis during the filming of "Kelly's Heroes".
1971: "Klute" and Relationship with Jane Fonda
Donald Sutherland began a romantic relationship with Jane Fonda while filming the thriller "Klute" in 1971.
1971: Klute and Relationship with Jane Fonda
Donald Sutherland starred in "Klute" in 1971, during which he began a relationship with co-star Jane Fonda.
1971: Anti-war Activities and Surveillance
Donald Sutherland's anti-war activities in 1971 led to him being placed on the National Security Agency's watchlist at the Central Intelligence Agency's behest. This surveillance continued until 1973.
1972: Marriage to Francine Racette
In 1972, Donald Sutherland married Francine Racette, a French Canadian actress he met on the set of "Alien Thunder." The couple went on to have three sons together: Rossif, Angus Redford, and Roeg, each named after directors Sutherland had collaborated with.
1972: End of relationship with Jane Fonda
Donald Sutherland's affair with actress Jane Fonda, which began in 1970, ended in 1972.
1972: Anti-Vietnam War Documentary "F.T.A."
Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda co-produced and starred in the anti-Vietnam War documentary "F.T.A." in 1972.
1973: "Steelyard Blues" with Jane Fonda
Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda starred together in the film "Steelyard Blues" in 1973.
1973: Don't Look Now
In 1973, Donald Sutherland starred in the Venice-based psychological horror film "Don't Look Now", alongside Julie Christie. This role earned him a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor.
1973: Steelyard Blues
Sutherland and Fonda starred together in "Steelyard Blues" in 1973.
1973: End of NSA Surveillance
Sutherland's surveillance by the National Security Agency, which began in 1971, came to an end in 1973. The surveillance was prompted by his anti-war activism.
1975: Release of "The Day of the Locust"
Donald Sutherland starred in "The Day of the Locust", released in 1975.
1976: Three Major Film Releases
1976 saw Donald Sutherland star in "Fellini's Casanova", "The Eagle Has Landed", and "1900".
1976: The Eagle Has Landed, Casanova, and 1900
1976 was a busy year for Donald Sutherland, starring in the war film "The Eagle Has Landed", Federico Fellini's "Casanova", and Bernardo Bertolucci's epic film "1900".
1977: Bethune
Donald Sutherland took on the role of physician-hero Norman Bethune in the 1977 film "Bethune".
December 18, 1978: Officer of the Order of Canada
On December 18, 1978, Donald Sutherland was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
1978: Officer of the Order of Canada
Donald Sutherland was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1978.
1978: "Animal House" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"
Donald Sutherland appeared in both "Animal House" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" in 1978.
1978: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, National Lampoon's Animal House, The First Great Train Robbery
1978 saw Donald Sutherland star in the science fiction/horror film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", the comedy "National Lampoon's Animal House" as Professor Dave Jennings, and the heist comedy "The First Great Train Robbery" alongside Sean Connery.
1980: Release of "Ordinary People"
Donald Sutherland starred in "Ordinary People", which came out in 1980.
1980: Ordinary People
In 1980, Donald Sutherland starred in the Academy Award-winning family drama "Ordinary People" as the conflicted father, alongside Mary Tyler Moore and Timothy Hutton.
1981: A War Story
Donald Sutherland narrated the Anne Wheeler film "A War Story" in 1981.
1981: Release of "Eye of the Needle"
Donald Sutherland starred in "Eye of the Needle", released in 1981.
1983: Death of Father
Donald Sutherland's father, Frederick McLea Sutherland, passed away in 1983.
1983: The Winter of Our Discontent
In 1983, Donald Sutherland co-starred with Teri Garr and Tuesday Weld in the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's "The Winter of Our Discontent".
1985: "Cloudbusting" music video
Donald Sutherland appeared as psychiatrist and visionary Wilhelm Reich in Kate Bush's 1985 music video for her single "Cloudbusting".
1989: Release of "A Dry White Season"
Donald Sutherland starred in "A Dry White Season", which was released in 1989.
1989: A Dry White Season and Lock Up
Donald Sutherland starred in two films in 1989: the apartheid drama "A Dry White Season" with Marlon Brando and Susan Sarandon, and as a sadistic warden in "Lock Up" with Sylvester Stallone.
1990: Bethune: The Making of a Hero
Donald Sutherland reprised his role as Norman Bethune in the 1990 film "Bethune: The Making of a Hero".
1991: JFK
In Oliver Stone's 1991 film "JFK", Donald Sutherland portrayed a mysterious Washington intelligence officer, believed to be L. Fletcher Prouty, who spoke of military–industrial complex connections to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
1991: Backdraft
In 1991, Donald Sutherland starred in the firefighter thriller "Backdraft" as an incarcerated pyromaniac, alongside Kurt Russell and Robert De Niro.
1991: "Backdraft" and "JFK"
Donald Sutherland had roles in the films "Backdraft" and "JFK" in 1991.
1992: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Donald Sutherland played Merrick in the 1992 film "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", starring Kristy Swanson.
1993: Release of "Six Degrees of Separation"
Donald Sutherland appeared in "Six Degrees of Separation", released in 1993.
1993: Six Degrees of Separation
Donald Sutherland played a snobbish New York City art dealer in the 1993 film "Six Degrees of Separation", co-starring with Stockard Channing and Will Smith.
1994: The Puppet Masters, Disclosure, and Conspiracy
In 1994, Donald Sutherland starred in three separate projects. He played the head of a government agency hunting aliens in the film adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters", a scheming CEO in Barry Levinson's drama "Disclosure" opposite Michael Douglas and Demi Moore, and voiced a KGB officer in the video game "Conspiracy".
1995: Outbreak
Donald Sutherland was cast as Maj. Gen. Donald McClintock in Wolfgang Petersen's 1995 film "Outbreak".
1995: Emmy Award for "Citizen X"
Donald Sutherland won a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in "Citizen X" in 1995.
1996: A Time to Kill
In 1996, Donald Sutherland appeared alongside his son, Kiefer Sutherland, in Joel Schumacher's legal drama "A Time to Kill".
1998: Release of "Without Limits"
Donald Sutherland starred in "Without Limits", which came out in 1998.
1999: The Hunley
Donald Sutherland portrayed famous American Civil War General P.G.T. Beauregard in the 1999 film "The Hunley".
March 2000: Canada's Walk of Fame
Donald Sutherland was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in March 2000.
2000: Induction into Canadian Walk of Fame
Donald Sutherland was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2000.
2000: Space Cowboys
Donald Sutherland played an astronaut in the 2000 film "Space Cowboys", starring alongside Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, and James Garner.
2001: Role in "Uprising"
Donald Sutherland played Adam Czerniaków in the film "Uprising", released in 2001.
2002: Golden Globe Award for "Path to War"
Donald Sutherland won a Golden Globe Award for his performance in "Path to War" in 2002.
2003: Cold Mountain, Baltic Storm, and The Italian Job
Donald Sutherland appeared in three films in 2003: the Civil War drama "Cold Mountain" as Reverend Monroe, the drama thriller "Baltic Storm", and the remake of "The Italian Job".
2003: Release of "The Italian Job"
Donald Sutherland starred in "The Italian Job", released in 2003.
2005: Commander in Chief, Fierce People, and Pride & Prejudice
2005 was a busy year for Donald Sutherland. He starred in the TV series "Commander in Chief", the movie "Fierce People" with Diane Lane and Anton Yelchin, and as Mr. Bennet in "Pride & Prejudice" alongside Keira Knightley.
2005: Release of "Pride & Prejudice"
Donald Sutherland starred in "Pride & Prejudice", which was released in 2005.
2006: Commander in Chief
Donald Sutherland continued his role in the TV series "Commander in Chief" in 2006.
2007: Reign Over Me
Donald Sutherland had a minor role in Mike Binder's film "Reign Over Me" in 2007.
2008: Dirty Sexy Money and Fool's Gold
Donald Sutherland starred as Tripp Darling in the ABC prime time drama series "Dirty Sexy Money" and played multi-millionaire Nigel Honeycut in the film "Fool's Gold" in 2008.
2008: Supporting Barack Obama
During the 2008 US presidential election campaign, Sutherland publicly expressed his support for Barack Obama through blog posts on The Huffington Post.
2009: Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Donald Sutherland provided voice-overs and narration during the introduction of the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.
2010: 2010 Winter Olympics and The Pillars of the Earth
Donald Sutherland provided narration for the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and was one of the Olympic flag bearers. He also starred in a TV adaptation of Ken Follett's novel "The Pillars of the Earth".
2011: Induction into Hollywood Walk of Fame
Donald Sutherland was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011.
March 26, 2012: The Opie and Anthony Show
On March 26, 2012, Donald Sutherland appeared as a guest on "The Opie and Anthony Show", where he shared that he had been offered, but declined, the lead roles in the films "Deliverance" and "Straw Dogs".
2012: The Hunger Games
Donald Sutherland began his role as the main antagonist, President Coriolanus Snow, in "The Hunger Games" film franchise in 2012.
2012: Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Donald Sutherland was made a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2012.
June 23, 2013: Crossing Lines
The television program "Crossing Lines" premiered on June 23, 2013, on NBC. Donald Sutherland played Chief Prosecutor Michel Dorn for the International Criminal Court and was one of two actors to appear in all episodes across the show's three seasons.
2013: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Donald Sutherland reprised his role as President Coriolanus Snow in the 2013 film "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire".
2014: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
Donald Sutherland continued his role as President Coriolanus Snow in the 2014 film "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1".
2015: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
Donald Sutherland made his final appearance as President Coriolanus Snow in the 2015 film "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2".
2016: 2016 Cannes Film Festival
Donald Sutherland served as a member of the main competition jury of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
September 6, 2017: Honorary Oscar
On September 6, 2017, Donald Sutherland received an Honorary Oscar at the Academy Awards for "a lifetime of indelible characters, rendered with unwavering truthfulness".
2017: National Security Agency Watchlist Revelation
In 2017, declassified documents revealed that Sutherland was placed on the National Security Agency's watchlist from 1971 to 1973. This surveillance was initiated at the request of the Central Intelligence Agency due to Sutherland's anti-war activism.
2017: Letter to Saint John Free Public Library
In 2017, Donald Sutherland sent a letter to a representative of the Saint John Free Public Library, detailing his early life.
2017: Academy Honorary Award
Donald Sutherland received an Academy Honorary Award in 2017.
2018: Trust
Donald Sutherland portrayed oil tycoon J. Paul Getty in the FX historical drama series "Trust" in 2018.
2019: Companion of the Order of Canada
Donald Sutherland received the Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019.
2019: Companion of the Order of Canada
Donald Sutherland was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019.
2020: The Undoing
Donald Sutherland appeared in the HBO limited series "The Undoing" alongside Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman in 2020.
2022: Mr. Harrigan's Phone
Donald Sutherland played Mr. Harrigan in the 2022 Netflix film "Mr. Harrigan's Phone", written and directed by John Lee Hancock, and based on Stephen King's novella of the same name.
October 2023: Canada Post Stamp
In October 2023, Canada Post issued a stamp in Donald Sutherland's honor.
2023: Reflections on Career and Upcoming Memoir
In 2023, Sutherland shared with The Canadian Press that he hadn't spent much time dwelling on his career's legacy. He acknowledged that with his career nearing its end, it was time for reflection. This introspection coincides with the upcoming publication of his memoir, "Made Up, But Still True," slated for release in November 2024.
June 2024: Death of Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland passed away in June 2024.
June 2024: Death of Donald Sutherland
On June 20, 2024, Donald Sutherland passed away in Miami at the age of 88 after a prolonged illness.
November 2024: Publication of Memoir: "Made Up, But Still True"
Donald Sutherland's memoir, titled "Made Up, But Still True," is scheduled for publication by Viking Canada in November 2024.