Hollywood faced the loss of one of its seasoned actors Donald Sutherland, who passed away on the 20th of June, 2024 following a prolonged illness. The 88-year-old veteran has had a long and illustrious career in the industry which saw him working actively through many decades while also sharing screen space with his son and successful actor Kiefer Sutherland in many films.
Sutherland Jr. took to social media to pay an emotional tribute to his father once the news of his passing was made public. As fans look back on many memories involving The Hunger Games star, his son in a 2016 interview, revealed a piece of acting advice given to him by his father, the importance of which he understood only much later.
Veteran Actor Donald Sutherland Is No More
Hollywood woke up to the sad news on Thursday June 20th, 2024, when veteran actor Donald Sutherland breathed his last following a long fight with an illness. This news was reported by the Creative Artists Agency (via Today). The octogenarian has been extremely active since his debut in 1967 in The Dirty Dozen, and has had a career spanning a staggering seven decades.
Sutherland has also had the opportunity to act alongside his son, Kiefer Sutherland, who is an established Hollywood star himself. Together, this father-son duo have shared great chemistry together in films like Forsaken, A Time To Kill, and many more. The Stand By Me star took to Instagram to share the sad news and also give a heartfelt tribute to his father.
With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. 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 Sr. will always be remembered for his charismatic presence and many brilliant performances especially in films like M*A*S*H and Ordinary People which earned him Golden Globe nominations. Surprisingly, the actor has never received an Academy Award nomination despite many powerful portrayals.
Kiefer Sutherland Did Not Comprehend His Father’s Golden Advice Till Much Later
Following the death of Hollywood star Donald Sutherland, his son Kiefer Sutherland took to social media to pay his respects to his father who was seen an a seasoned veteran in the field. Together, they have shared wonderful memories on screen in many films that have gone on to become big hits.
It goes without saying that The Hunger Games star would have been a constant source of inspiration for his son. An old interview with Today in 2016 where both actors were present, saw Kiefer Sutherland revealing a piece of advice that his father gave him when they had signed on to work for the fist time together in Forsaken.
The actor confessed that these words of wisdom did not make sense to him at that time, which led him to not place much importance on them. Donald Sutherland advised the Mirrors actor to stay truthful to a scene, which was interpreted otherwise initially by his son, like most situations involving parents and offspring.
The way I took that was, ‘Don’t get caught forcing a moment, even if it means — even if in the script it says the man works himself to tears. If the script— or you’re not getting to those tears, figure out another way to play it. And, of course, like any son, I didn’t really listen that well.
Sutherland Jr. also revealed that he was only aware of his father’s towering achievements in the field after seeing his work in movies like Ordinary People, which showcased to the world that he was much more than just a charismatic personality on screen.
