1 / 13
Born July 17, 1935, Canadian actor Donald Sutherland had a knack for acting from an early age. Not only did Donald have a flair for drama, but he was also quite gifted mathematically! Earning a double major from the University of Toronto in engineering and drama, Donald would ultimately choose drama over engineering and would begin his acting career across the pond in 1957!
2 / 13
After studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, it wouldn't take Donald Sutherland long to begin to make a name for himself in British films and TV. Early roles included starring in horror films like 'Castle of the Living Dead' alongside the late actor Christopher Lee, before making his breakthrough with 1967 war film 'The Dirty Dozen'. As MGM's highest-grossing movie of the year, it was the push Donald needed to take his career back across the pond.
3 / 13
Donald Sutherland would make quite the entry into Hollywood when he took the part of "Hawkeye Pierce" in hit 1970 black comedy war film M*A*S*H. Following his outstanding performance, Donald would find himself the lead actor in many films to come!
4 / 13
Not only would Donald Sutherland's next role become an Academy Award winning film, but he would also begin an intimate relationship with a Hollywood legend! While filming 1971 neo-noir crime thriller Klute, Donald had a whirlwind relationship with his gorgeous and talented co-star Jane Fonda!
5 / 13
Donald Sutherland would continue to rise to prominence throughout the 1970s, espeically with 1973 film Don't Look Now. He would win critical acclaim after his performance in Bernardo Bertolucci's 1976 epic 1900 and became one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood!
6 / 13
Moving away from war films for a bit led Donald Sutherland to take on this next American classic, 1978's Animal House. Playing the part of a pot-smoking professor, Donald is absolutely hilarious in this comedy! The role was a smart choice and would help him to relate to a younger generation, gaining him even more fans!
7 / 13
While he still had not won his own Academy Award by 1980, Donald Sutherland would once again star in an Academy Award winning production! Taking on the role of a conflicted father in 1980 family drama Ordinary People, Donald proved he was truly a well-rounded and talented actor!
8 / 13
While Donald Sutherland would slow down a bit in the 1980s, he still turned out quite a few amazing performances! His most notable performances came in 1989 alongside actor Marlon Brando in South African apartheid drama A Dry White Season and as a cruel warden in action film Lock Up.
9 / 13
1990 would also prove to be a busy year for Donald Sutherland with performances in both hit Ron Howard thriller Backdraft and period drama Bethune: The Making of a Hero. While producing hit after hit, Donald was also busy at home with his growing family! With two children from his second marriage and three from his current marriage, Donald Sutherland would name his four sons after directors he had previously worked with; Kiefer for Warren Kiefer, Roeg for Nicolas Roeg, Rossif for Frédéric Rossif, and Angus Redford after Robert Redford!
10 / 13
The 1990s continued to be filled with success for Donald Sutherland, including with his Golden Globe winning performance in 1995's Citizen X. In 1996, Donald Sutherland would have the chance to star with his own son, Kiefer Sutherland, in hit John Grisham based crime drama A Time to Kill! With an all-star cast including the gorgeous Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, and Matthew McConaughey, the film was a huge commercial success!
RELATED: Jonah Hill Beats Samuel L. Jackson In Amount Of Swear Words On Screen
With a career spanning almost six decades, Canadian actor Donald Sutherland became one of the most iconic actors in Hollywood. While he never won an Academy Award, his performances in films including A Time to Kill and Animal House have many critics labeling him one of the best actors of his time! Here is a look back at Donald Sutherland's best roles!
Enjoy!