Born on July 17, 1935, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Donald Sutherland was a beloved and iconic actor who has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. After making his Hollywood breakthrough in 1967 with his memorable performance in the film The Dirty Dozen, Sutherland went on to star in a wide range of acclaimed movies and TV shows that cemented his status as a talented and versatile thespian. His impressive body of work has earned him numerous award nominations, including a Primetime Emmy Award.
Sadly, Sutherland passed away on June 20, 2024. He was 88 years of age. So, in honor of his name, here’s our pick of his 6 best roles in TV and film.
6. Lock Up as Warden Droomgoole (1989)
Released in 1989, Lock Up is a prison drama film starring Sylvester Stallone as Frank Leone, a wrongly convicted man who finds himself behind bars and must navigate the harsh realities of life in prison. The film follows Leone’s journey as he tries to clear his name and survive the brutal conditions of the maximum-security facility. While the overall reception of the film was lukewarm, one standout performance came from Donald Sutherland as Warden Drumgoole, the cunning and ruthless leader of the prison, who has a personal vendetta against Frank.
Sutherland brought his signature intensity to the role, playing the villainous warden as a master manipulator who will stop at nothing to maintain control. In a standout sequence, Stallone’s Leone engages in a intense psychological battle with Sutherland’s Drumgoole, with the two actors delivering a gripping and intense confrontation that has become one of the most memorable moments in the film. Despite the film’s mixed reviews, Sutherland’s performance as Warden Drumgoole remains one of the highlights of Lock Up, and his chemistry with Stallone adds an extra layer of tension to their on-screen rivalry.
5. The Undoing as Franklin Reinhardt (2020)
The HBO miniseries The Undoing, which premiered in 2020, was a critical and commercial success, with many praising its gripping storyline, atmospheric direction, and standout performances. The series follows Grace Fraser (Nicole Kidman), a successful therapist living a seemingly perfect life with her husband Jonathan (Hugh Grant) and young son in New York City. However, their life is turned upside down when Jonathan goes missing, revealing a tangled web of secrets and lies that threaten to destroy everything Grace thought she knew about her marriage and herself. Donald Sutherland shines in a supporting role as Franklin Reinhardt, the enigmatic and wealthy father of one of Grace Fraser’s patients. Despite being a supporting character, Sutherland feels like the star of the show, and his performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
4. M*A*S*H as Hawkeye Pierce (1970)
Directed by Robert Altman, M*A*S*H is a classic anti-war comedy-drama film that tells the story of a team of medical personnel stationed at a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War. The film follows the misadventures of Captain “Hawkeye” Pierce (Donald Sutherland), a brilliant and irreverent surgeon, and his colleagues as they navigate the absurdities and horrors of war. Released in 1970, M*A*S*H was a groundbreaking film that pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling, blending humor and pathos in a way that was both irreverent and poignant.
For Donald Sutherland, M*A*S*H was a game-changer, marking his first leading role in a major motion picture. Following his breakthrough performance in Sam Peckinpah‘s The Wild Bunch, Sutherland’s portrayal of Hawkeye Pierce cemented his status as a major Hollywood leading star, and M*A*S*H went on to become a cultural phenomenon, earning five Academy Award nominations and winning in the category of Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
3. The Hunger Games Franchise as President Snow (2012-2015)
Donald Sutherland brought to life one of the most iconic villains in modern cinema as President Snow, the ruthless and cunning leader of Panem, in The Hunger Games franchise. Appearing in all four movies of the series, Sutherland’s Snow is a master manipulator who will stop at nothing to maintain his power and crush the rebellion led by Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence). With his piercing gaze and menacing presence, Sutherland’s Snow is a formidable force to be reckoned with, using his wit, charm, and cunning to outmaneuver his enemies and eliminate any threats to his authority. Throughout the series, Sutherland’s Snow becomes increasingly unhinged and brutal, making him a chilling and memorable adversary for Katniss and the rebels. Despite being a relatively small but pivotal role, Sutherland’s performance as President Snow has had a lasting impact on the franchise, cementing his place as one of the most iconic movie villains of all time.
Watch The Hunger Games on Apple TV+
2. Don’t Look Now as John Baxter (1973)
Don’t Look Now, a 1973 psychological horror film directed by Nicolas Roeg, marked a significant turning point in Donald Sutherland’s career as he departed from his typically lighthearted roles to take on a more complex and dark character. The film tells the story of John Baxter (Sutherland), a grieving father who loses his daughter in a tragic drowning accident. Along with his wife Laura (Julie Christie), John travels to Venice for a grieving process, but their journey takes a surreal and supernatural turn as they encounter a series of eerie and unexplained events. Sutherland’s performance as John is both powerful and haunting, capturing the depth of his character’s emotional pain and vulnerability. Don’t Look Now was a critical and commercial success, showcasing Sutherland’s range as an actor and solidifying his reputation as a dramatic leading man.
Watch Don’t Look Now on Paramount+
1. Citizen X as Col. Mikhail Fetisov (1995)
Citizen X, a 1995 HBO drama film, is a critically acclaimed but often overlooked masterpiece that tells the true story of the Soviet Union’s hunt for a serial killer known as Andrei Chikatilo, who terrorized the country in the 1970s and 1980s. The film follows the investigation led by Col. Mikhail Fetisov (Donald Sutherland), a driven and dogged detective who becomes obsessed with catching the killer. Sutherland’s performance as Fetisov is remarkable for its subtlety and nuance, capturing the character’s complexity and inner turmoil as he navigates the treacherous waters of Soviet bureaucracy and corruption.
The film’s gritty realism and atmospheric tension are matched by Sutherland’s understated yet powerful portrayal of Fetisov, which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie. Despite its critical acclaim, Citizen X remains a relatively unknown gem in Sutherland’s filmography, but it is a testament to his ability to bring depth and gravitas to even the most complex and dark subject matter. Want to read about the best roles from another Hollywood icon? Here’s our pick of Kevin Costner‘s best roles in TV and film.
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