Actor Donald Sutherland has passed away at the age of 88.
Born in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1935, Donald Sutherland studied at Victoria University, with a double major in engineering and drama. In 1957 he left Canada for Britain and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
After time on the stage, he began to gain small roles in British films and TV, and was featured alongside Christopher Lee in horror films such as CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD (1964), and DR. TERROR’S HOUSE OF HORRORS (1965). In 1967 he landed his breakthrough role in the American war film THE DIRTY DOZEN, where he starred alongside Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, and George Kennedy.
He then appeared in two more war films, starring as the original Hawkeye in Robert Altman’s MASH in 1970. In that same year, he had one of his most famous roles as Oddball alongside Clint Eastwood in KELLY’S HEROES.
His filmography would eventually have over 200 film and TV roles. His big screen credits would include KLUTE (1971), ANIMAL HOUSE (1978), INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1978), THE FIRST GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (1978), ORDINARY PEOPLE (1980), JFK (1991), BACKDRAFT (1991),BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1992), OUTBREAK (1995), A TIME TO KILL (1996), SPACE COWBOYS (2000), THE ITALIAN JOB (2003), COLD MOUNTAIN (2003), PRIDE & PREJUDICE (2005), AD ASTRA (2019), and THE HUNGER GAMES franchise (2012-2015).
He received an honorary Academy Award in 2017, an induction into the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2000 and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. He was the father of actors Kiefer Sutherland, Rossif Sutherland, and Angus Sutherland.
*
This Blogger’s introduction to Donald Sutherland came in n the early 1980’s, when I saw KELLY’S HEROES for the first time. The role of Oddball was perfect for him, and his immortal line, “why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves”, has been adorned on t-shirts, posters and social media memes for years. After Oddball, his versatility was proven time and time again. From his dedicated public servant in BODY SNATCHERS, to his mysterious Mr. X in JFK, and his chilling pyromaniac in BACKDRAFT. He could be lovable, he could be evil, and he was always great.
No comments:
Post a Comment
A few rules:
1. Personal attacks not tolerated.
2. Haters welcome, if you can justify it.
3. Swearing is goddamn OK.