After years of suffering numerous illnesses but still enjoying a long career in Hollywood, Donald Sutherland has passed away. He was 88 years old.
Father of TV star Kiefer Sutherland, Donald was known worldwide for roles in projects such as MASH, Pride and Prejudice It is Hunger Games franchise.
His light shone brightly on screen as, in private, he battled everything from polio to rheumatic fever and hepatitis.
![Donald Sutherland's cause of death: Beloved star dead at 88 7 Donald Sutherland and Kiefer Sutherland together](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-510757796-1024x725.jpg)
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Donald Sutherland’s cause of death: Kiefer’s father passes away
The sad news was released and confirmed on June 20th that Donald Sutherland, aged 88, had passed away.
“With a heavy heart, I say that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” actor Kiefer Sutherland posted on your social networks. “Personally, I consider him one of the most important actors in the history of cinema. Never be intimidated by a role, be it good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and you can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”
A life well lived, indeed, although not without problems. Although the official cause of death has not yet been announced, Deadline reports that Donald passed away after a long illness.
Additionally, Donald has suffered greatly from several near-fatal diagnoses over the years.
Born in Canada, Donald Sutherland narrowly survived a series of childhood illnesses, including infantile paralysis and rheumatoid fever. He talks at length about his struggles in his book“Made Up, But Still True”, which will be published later this year.
![Donald Sutherland's cause of death: Beloved star dead at 88 9 GettyImages 533421786](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-533421786-1024x683.jpg)
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His near-death experience in the 1970s
Living to age 80 almost didn’t happen. In a 2012 interview, Donald reported having contracted spinal meningitis, which left him clinically dead for four seconds in 1970.
“I got sick in the middle of filming ‘Kelly’s Heroes.’ I came to Yugoslavia for one day of filming and I was gone for six weeks”, recalled the actor in the interview.
“They took me to hospital – I had spinal meningitis.
“They didn’t have antibiotics, so I went into a coma and they told me that for a few seconds I died.”
Fortunately, he didn’t, allowing him time to create a career that has earned him a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globes, and a Critics Choice Award.
Unfortunately, he was one of the best actors to never receive an Oscar nomination. Fortunately, he was recognized with an honorary Oscar in 2017.
His family, including his four other children – three more sons and a daughter – will hold a private celebration of life in honor of Donald at a later date. No word on an official funeral yet.
![Donald Sutherland's cause of death: Beloved star dead at 88 11 GettyImages 1175616206](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-1175616206-1024x683.jpg)
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His films and TV work
Generations of fans have loved Donald Sutherland for one reason or another.
The 1967 film “The Dirty Dozen” launched his career. From there, he was cast as Captain “Hawkeye” Pierce in the 1970 hit comedy “MASH.”
He has also starred alongside his famous son Kiefer in several projects over the years, including the films “Max Dugan Returns” (1983), “Forsaken” (2015) and “A Time to Kill” (1996).
In more recent years, he is known to millennial fans for his role as Mr. Bennet opposite Keira Knightley in the film adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice.” He also appeared as the evil President Snow in all four of the original “Hunger Games” films.