Donald Sutherland's most iconic roles, as ranked by BFI
Actor Donald Sutherland dies at 88
Donald Sutherland, the actor known for his roles in M*A*S*H, The Hunger Games & Pride & Prejudice passed away at 88-years-old. Donald's son Kiefer shared the news on a statement posted on X, '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.'
Donald Sutherland "passionately" loved to work.
The revered actor, whose decades-long career spanned from "M.A.S.H" to "The Hunger Games," died Thursday, his son Kiefer Sutherland confirmed. He was 88 years old.
"I love to work. I passionately love to work," Sutherland told Charlie Rose in 1998. "I love to feel my hand fit into the glove of some other character. I feel a huge freedom — time stops for me. I’m not as crazy as I used to be, but I’m still a little crazy."
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As Hollywood and the world mourn the loss of "one of the finest actors of his generation," here’s a look back at his top 10 most iconic roles, as ranked by the British Film Institute:
Top 10 Donald Sutherland roles (from BFI)
"The Dirty Dozen" (1967)
"The Dirty Dozen" was Sutherland’s Hollywood breakout role in Robert Aldrich’s movie about a group of men on a mission during World War II. Sutherland played Pinkley, "the most sweetly eccentric of the no-hoper prisoners recruited on a death or glory mission during World War Two," BFI notes.
"M.A.S.H." (1970)
Donald Sutherland making point while sitting in a scene from the film MASH, 1970. (Photo by 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images)
Sutherland played a leading role in "M.A.S.H," Robert Altman’s satirical comedy about surgeons in the Korean war. Sutherland played Hawkeye Pierce, "who, along with ‘Trapper’ John, respects nothing except surgical excellence and rebels against everything else."
"Kelly’s Heroes" (1970)
"Kelly’s Heroes" was a popular heist comedy that takes place during WWII. Sutherland landed the role of Oddball, "an anachronistic hippie sergeant who is permanently spaced-out and gets the best lines."
"Unfortunately, the shoot in Yugoslavia was no joke and Sutherland nearly died of meningitis," BFI said.
"Klute" (1971)
American actress, political activist, environmentalist Jane Fonda as 'Bree Daniels' and Canadian actor Donald Sutherland as 'John Klute' in neo-noir crime thriller film 'Klute', 1971. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
Sutherland starred alongside Jane Fonda in this 1971 detective thriller, for which Fonda won an Oscar. Sutherland played the role of introverted detective John Klute, who eventually has a love affair with Fonda’s character Bree after tapping her phone and following her.
"It’s a very subtle and self-effacing performance in which Sutherland finds a way to portray basic decency without becoming sentimental," BFI says.
"Don’t Look Now" (1973)
In this horror film, Sutherland played the leading role of the father of a young girl who has drowned in a terrible accident. He goes to Venice with his wife, played by Julie Christie, who’s convinced their daughter is trying to contact them.
"It all ends in one of the most famous climaxes in horror film history," according to BFI.
"Casanova" (1976)
Sutherland played the "legendary lover" in this very visual and stylized version of "Casanova." BFI describes Sutherland role as a "ludicrous figure who only becomes sympathetic at the end when he attains a measure of self-realization and is allowed to go off into the mists of history with a mechanical doll."
"It was a trying experience for Sutherland, who had to wear extensive makeup and shave his head," the British Film Institute said.
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1978)
Donald Sutherland starred in this adaptation of Jack Finney’s novel. He played a food safety inspector who eventually realizes that people around him are no longer themselves – they’ve been invaded by aliens.
"His strong performance demonstrates that he was able to carry a Hollywood movie as the leading man," BFI says.
"Ordinary People" (1980)
(Original Caption) Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore are shown in a scene from their movie, Ordinary People directed by Robert Redford and released by Paramount Pictures. They are shown conversing closely to each other. Sutherland and Moore atte
Sutherland starred alongside Mary Tyler Moore in "Ordinary People," Robert Redford’s directorial debut. It won an Oscar for Best Picture in 1980. Sutherland plays the father in a family trying to keep it together after the death of their favorite son.
"Once again, Sutherland’s understated playing makes the character very moving," BFI says.
"JFK" (1991)
Sutherland starred with Kevin Costner in Oliver Stone’s "JFK," a film about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy Jr. Sutherland plays "X," a mystery man.
"In the space of 15 minutes, Sutherland … walks away with the film," BFI says.
"Pride and Prejudice" (2005)
Actor Donald Sutherland poses at the American Cinematheque Tribute To Donald Sutherland and screening of "Pride & Prejudice" at the Aero Cinema on October 28, 2005 in Santa Monica area of Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Get
Sutherland played Mr. Bennett in the 2005 Joe Wright adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice."
"It’s a perfect role for Sutherland, allowing him to play to his strengths and dominate his scenes, often through nothing more than a slight change of expression," BFI says.