Actor Donald Sutherland dies at the age of 88

The elder Sutherland had a distinctive look – and piercing eyes – that added depth and mystery to the numerous roles he played on screen over more than half a century.

As one of Canada’s most famous sons, he has played dashing leading men as well as anti-heroes and villains, and most recently made a name for himself among a new generation of fans as the evil President Snow in the Hunger Games series.

“Personally, I 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,” wrote Kiefer Sutherland.

The reaction to the death of the Emmy and Golden Globe winner was not long in coming. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute to his unique talent.

“I had the opportunity to meet Donald Sutherland when I was much younger, and even as a young man who had not yet been fully exposed to the brilliance of Donald Sutherland, I was deeply impressed by the all-star cast,” he said at a press conference.

“He was a man of powerful presence, brilliant craft and truly a great Canadian artist. We will miss him greatly.”

Ron Howard, who directed Sutherland alongside Robert De Niro and Kurt Russell in the action thriller “Backdraft,” called him “one of the most intelligent, interesting and compelling film actors of all time.”

“Incredible range, creative courage and dedication to serving history and audiences with the highest excellence,” he wrote on social media.

British actress Helen Mirren, who starred with Sutherland in 2017’s “The Leisure Seeker,” said he was “one of the smartest actors I’ve ever worked with,” Variety reported.

“He had a wonderfully inquiring mind and a great knowledge of a wide range of subjects. He combined this great intelligence with a deep sensitivity and with a seriousness about 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.”

After what he described as an “aimless” beginning to his acting career, Sutherland rose to fame through Robert Aldrich’s film “The Dirty Dozen,” in which 12 convicts are tasked with carrying out a seemingly suicidal mission in occupied France.

Sutherland played alongside greats such as Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin and Telly Savalas and caught the attention of the producers of “M*A*S*H” with his mischievous charm.

Although the 1970 film is set during the Korean War, it was widely viewed as a sophisticated satire of the Vietnam War.

His role alongside Elliott Gould made Sutherland a household name in 1970s America and opened the door to a lasting career that would see him work with some of the biggest names in show business.

Among them was Jane Fonda, with whom he starred in 1971’s “Klute,” in which he played a detective who falls in love with the call girl he is supposed to protect.

Fonda won an Oscar for her performance, which she attributed to her intense feelings for Sutherland, with whom she was in a relationship at the time.

Their off-screen chemistry brought Sutherland under her pacifist spell and he became active in anti-Vietnam War circles.

The couple put together a traveling revue that angered the U.S. government and led to them both coming under FBI surveillance.

hg/des