Few actors were as naturally iconic as Donald Sutherland over the course of their careers, while also delivering such a wide range of performances across all genres. It’s honestly a tragedy that he went unrecognized by the Academy Awards for any specific role, given his mastery with comedy, horror, sci-fi, and drama. While he did win an honorary Oscar in 2017 for his work, there are no shortage of performances which would have deserved such consideration.
Below are just 10 of them, though this list represents only the tip of the iceberg in terms of his body of work. Sutherland also was a memorable part of the ensemble in films like The Dirty Dozen, JFK, and Outbreak, and a star of other classic films across five decades. Up until his death at the age of 88, he was a memorable presence on screen, committing fully even to projects that might not have earned awards, but still entertained us all.
— Liz Shannon Miller
Senior Entertainment Editor
M*A*S*H (1970)
It’s films like M*A*S*H that make it clear why Sutherland became something of an underground hero for the counterculture. Starring as the army surgeon “Hawkeye” Pierce, the actor is rebellious, masterful, and — above all — cool as hell. Undeniably, his portrayal of the doctor was a defining factor in transforming M*A*S*H from a humble war comedy to a long-running cultural franchise: An avid anti-war activist in reality, M*A*S*H and its debaucherous take on American culture couldn’t have been a more perfect vehicle for the rising star. — Jonah Krueger
Where to Stream: Available on VOD
Klute (1971)
Donald Sutherland plays the title role in this classic thriller from Alan J. Pakula, which also stars Jane Fonda as a sex worker who might hold the clues to solving a man’s disappearance. Fonda’s performance was the one which attracted the most attention, but it was an early example of Sutherland’s ability to make even a straightforward detective role compelling and engaging, especially because of his ability to connect with his co-star. — L.S. Miller
Where to Stream: Tubi
Don’t Look Now (1973)
Nicholas Roeg’s revered work of psychological horror owes a lot to the intensity Sutherland knew how to bring to the screen, even in the role of a grieving parent trying to get his mind off the loss of his daughter with a nice trip to Venice. Don’t Look Now is famous for both its ahead-of-its-time approach to editing as well as its ahead-of-its-time sex scene — proof Sutherland was never afraid to push boundaries. — L.S. Miller
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel, Pluto TV
National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)
With his portrayal of the pot-smoking, slightly mischievous, jaded English professor Dave Jennings, Sutherland continued his streak of immaculate acting and wildly charismatic performances. A surprisingly grounded character in the otherwise absurdist film, Sutherland successfully tapped into the type of professor we all wish we had.
“RIP the GOAT teacher in any school movie,” user poopurpoop commented on this clip of what’s perhaps his most memorable scene. Well said, Mr. Poopurpoop, well said. — J. Krueger
Where to Stream: Netflix
