Donald Sutherland: Tributes come in from Trudeau, family and fans

Family, peers and famous fans paid tribute to Donald Sutherland Thursday afternoon following news of his death, lauding the Canadian actor as a screen legend and a brilliant artist.

Actor Kiefer Sutherland announced his father’s death at 88 in a social media post in which he also reflected on the elder Sutherland’s love for his craft.

“I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film,” he wrote in a post on X.

The two starred together in several projects throughout the late actor’s career, including the films “Max Dugan Returns,” in 1983; “Forsaken,” in 2015; and “A Time to Kill,” in 1996.

“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 said.

The late Canadian actor has garnered similar praise from some high profile fans, including at least one head of government. Speaking to reporters in Nova Scotia Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recalled the experience of meeting Sutherland when he was young.

“Even as a young man who hadn’t had a full exposure to the depth of brilliance of Donald Sutherland, I was deeply, deeply star struck,” Trudeau said. “He was a man with a strong presence, a brilliance in his craft, and truly, truly a great Canadian artist. And he will be deeply missed.”

Trudeau expressed sympathy for Sutherland’s family, “as well as all Canadians who are no doubt saddened to learn, as I am right now.”

Edgar Wright, an English filmmaker and actor known for his films “Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz” and “Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World,” credited Sutherland with starring in two of his favourite and “most influential” films: “Don’t Look Now” and the 1978 “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.”

“But that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his legendary filmography; a funny, laconic, but also intense and dramatic presence in so many memorable movies, starting with his break-through in ‘The Dirty Dozen,’ and then on an incredible run in the 70’s, 80’s and beyond with ‘M*A*S*H,’ ‘Kelly’s Heroes,’ ‘Little Murders,’ ‘Klute,’ ‘Don’t Look Now,’ ‘The Day Of The Locust,’ ‘Ordinary People and ‘JFK’, among many others,” he wrote in a post on social media.

“So sorry to see you go Donald, but what a legacy you leave behind.”

Adam Nimoy, son of Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, shared a photo on social media of Sutherland with his father and actor Jeff Goldblum on the set of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, in which the three starred together. 

“Donald Sutherland. What an incredible talent,” he wrote.

Here is what other fans are saying about Sutherland.

This is a developing story. More details to come.