The film industry lost another legendary actor as Hunger Games actor Donald Sutherland passed away on Thursday. Sutherland rose to prominence in the ’70s with the roles in The Dirty Dozen and M*A*S*H. However, he had a less prominent role in the former until one actor’s refusal to do a scene landed him a bigger part and the main role in the latter.
Sutherland had nearly 200 films to his name in his career and the role of Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H always had a special place in the audience’s hearts. Unfortunately, the actor never received an Academy Award in his lifetime, but received an Academy Honorary Award in 2017.
Donald Sutherland Should Thank One Unexpected Scene In The Dirty Dozen For His M*A*S*H Role
Donald Sutherland was cast as one of the 12 American soldiers in Robert Aldrich’s ambitious World War II film, The Dirty Dozen. Aldrich’s film had an ensemble cast of leading Hollywood names of that time, including Lee Marvin, Telly Savalas, Clint Walker, John Cassavetes, Robert Ryan, Charles Bronson, and Ernest Borgnine. Sutherland played the role of Vernon L. Pinkley in the film.
During an interview with The Guardian in 2005, Sutherland revealed that he initially only had a single line throughout the movie. However, one of his interesting scenes in the film came after another actor refused to perform that scene. In a scene, Marvin’s character Reisman asks Pinkley to pose as a visiting General. Pinkley had to behave in a General-like fashion, with Reisman instructing him to “walk slow, look dumb, and act stupid.”
Sutherland executed the scene very well in the film, adding some laughing moments to the movie. However, Aldrich initially wanted Clint Walker to do the scene. As Sutherland recalled, Walker refused to do the scene because it was inappropriate for a big star like him to play the “stupid” scene. Aldrich immediately turned to Sutherland, who recalled that the director didn’t even know his name. The JFK actor shared with The Guardian:
Then one day we were all around this big table. […] And Clint Walker got up and said, ‘I don’t think it’s appropriate for me, as a star in Hollywood, and a representative of the Native American people, to play this stupid scene where I pretend to be a general.’ And the director Robert Aldrich, who had a huge authoritarian streak, turned to me — we’d all had our heads shaved — and said, ‘You! With the big ears! You do it!’ He didn’t even know my name!
Luckily for Sutherland, producer Ingo Preminger was present on set that day and was impressed with his performance as the general. A couple of years later, he would cast him in the breakout role of Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H, notably against the wish of director Robert Altman.
The 1970 film went on to spawn a franchise, including the 1972 series of the same name. The film is considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. Interestingly, The Dirty Dozen was also critically acclaimed and was nominated for four Academy Awards. The film won the Oscar for Best Sound Effects Editing for John Poyner.
Donald Sutherland Has Died at 88 After Prolonged Illness
With a film career spanning more than half a century, Donald Sutherland leaves behind a legacy with his passing. The actor died at the age of 88 after suffering from a long illness. His son, actor Kiefer Sutherland, released a statement announcing the death of his father. He called him “one of the most important actors in the history of film”. He added in his statement (via BBC):
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.
Several celebrities shared their tribute to the legendary actor. U.S. President Joe Biden said in his statement that Sutherland was a “one-of-a-kind actor” who entertained the viewers for decades. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called him a “great Canadian artist” with “a strong presence” and “a brilliance in his craft”.
Actress Jane Fonda, who dated Sutherland for two years, wrote on her Instagram that she was “heartbroken” by the news. Rob Lowe wrote on X that he would “never forget [Sutherland’s] charisma and ability”.
The Dirty Dozen and M*A*S*H are both available for rent on AppleTV+.
