Donald Sutherland
- Born: 17 Jul, 1935
Tall, long-faced and gaunt, this Canadian-born, London-trained actor probably wouldn't make it as a young leading man if he were starting out in contemporary Hollywood. In the halcyon days of 1970s American filmmaking, however, the politically active Donald Sutherland prospered as a distinctive character lead. He acquired British repertory stage experience and acted in several 60s horror films before winning his first plaudits as the flamboyant aristocrat in "Joanna" (1968). Sutherland solidified his position as a vaguely off-center lead with his irreverent surgeon Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman's breakthrough feature, "M*A*S*H" (1970). Since the 80s, the actor has often played rather glum fathers, authority figures or colorful villains.
FAMILY & COMPANIONS
- grandfather : maternal
- father Frederick Sutherland: ran the local bus, gas and electricity company; deceased
- mother Dorothy Sutherland: deceased
- son Kiefer Sutherland: born on December 21, 1966; twin brother of Rachel; mother, Shirley Douglas; named after Warren Kiefer, writer of Sutherland's first film "Castle of the Living Dead"; reportedly estranged from father
- daughter Rachel Sutherland: born on December 21, 1966; twin sister of Kiefer
- son Roeg Sutherland: born in 1974; mother, Francine Racette; named after director Nicolas Roeg
- son Rossif Sutherland: born in 1978; mother, Francine Racette; named after director Frederick Rossif ("To Die in Madrid")
- son Angus Redford Sutherland: born c. 1980; mother, Francine Racette; middle name after Robert Redford
- wife Lois Hardwick: married in 1959; divorced in 1966; Canadian; met at University of Toronto
- wife Shirley Douglas: married in 1966; divorced in 1971; Canadian; mother of Kiefer and Rachel Sutherland; daughter of former Canadian NDP leader, Tommy Douglas; met while filming "Castle of the Living Dead"; she was arrested for trying to buy hand grenades from the CIA with a personal check, but case ultimately thrown out of court
- Jane Fonda: met while filming "Klute"; had three-year relationship; performed together in "Free the Army" anti-war revue that toured military bases (1973)
- Joan Juliet Buck: thinly veiled their relationship in her novel "The Only Place to Be"
- wife Francine Racette: met in 1972 while filming "Alien Thunder"; mother of Roeg, Rossif and Angus
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