Donald Sutherland first appeared in the BBC drama anthology series ‘Studio 4’ in 1962. He went on to make his big-screen debut in the 1963 British drama film ‘The World Ten Times Over’ directed by Wolf Rilla. He made an uncredited appearance in the film. In 1964, he starred in the horror film ‘Castle of the Living Dead’ directed by Warren Kiefer. The film grossed over ₤103.5 million at the box office. He next starred in films like ‘Fanatic’ (1965), ‘The Bedford Incident’ (1965), ‘Billion Dollar Brain’ (1967), ‘The Shuttered Room’ (1967), ‘Sebastian’ (1968), and ‘Oedipus the King’ (1968). In 1970, he portrayed ‘Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce’ in the American black comedy war film ‘M*A*S*H’ directed by Robert Altman. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and was a major commercial success, grossing over $81.6 million on a $3 million budget. He also received ‘Golden Globe Award’ and ‘Laurel Award’ nominations for his performance in the film. That same year, he also appeared in the American comedy-drama film ‘Alex in Wonderland’ directed by Paul Mazursky. The film received a mixed response from critics. He continued to star in films such as ‘Klute’ (1971), ‘F.T.A.’ (1972), ‘Steelyard Blues’ (1973), ‘Alien Thunder’ (1974), ‘The Day of the Locust’ (1975), ‘Fellini's Casanova’ (1976), ‘The Kentucky Fried Movie’ (1977), ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ (1978), ‘Murder by Decree’ (1979), ‘Bear Island’ (1979), and ‘Ordinary People’ (1980).
In 1981, he played the role of ‘Dr. Thomas Vrain’ in the Canadian drama/science fiction film ‘Threshold’ directed by Richard Pearce. He won the ‘Genie Award’ and the ‘Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Award’ for his portrayal of Dr. Thomas Vrain in the film. He was next seen in films like ‘Max Dugan Returns’ (1983), ‘Ordeal by Innocence’ (1984), ‘Revolution’ (1985), ‘The Wolf at the Door’ (1986), ‘The Trouble with Spies’ (1987), ‘Apprentice to Murder’ (1988), ‘Lost Angels’ (1989), ‘Buster's Bedroom’ (1990), ‘JFK’ (1991), ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1992), ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ (1993), and ‘Disclosure’ (1994). He became a recipient of the ‘Golden Globe Award’ and the ‘Primetime Emmy Award’ for his performance as ‘Colonel Mikhail Fetisov’ in the 1995 American television film ‘Citizen X’ directed by Chris Gerolmo. The film was based on Robert Cullen’s 1993 book ‘The Killer Department.’ He next appeared in films such as ‘A Time to Kill’ (1996), ‘The Assignment’ (1997), ‘Without Limits’ (1998), ‘Virus’ (1999), ‘The Art of War’ (2000), ‘Big Shot's Funeral’ (2001), ‘Fellini: I'm a Born Liar’ (2002), ‘The Italian Job’ (2003), ‘American Gun’ (2005), ‘Ask the Dust’ (2006), ‘Days of Darkness’ (2007), ‘Fool's Gold’ (2008), ‘Astro Boy’ (2009), ‘The Con Artist’ (2010), and ‘Horrible Bosses’ (2011). In 2012, he portrayed ‘President Coriolanus Snow’ in the American dystopian action film ‘The Hunger Games’ directed by Gary Ross. The film opened to a positive reception and performed well at the box office, grossing over $694.4 million on a $78 million budget.Â
Sutherland went on to star in films such as ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ (2013), ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1’ (2014), ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2’ (2015), ‘Milton's Secret’ (2016), ‘The Leisure Seeker’ (2017), ‘Measure of a Man’ (2018), ‘American Hangman’ (2019), and ‘Alone’ (2020). He was last seen in the 2022 science fiction disaster film ‘Moonfall’ directed by Roland Emmerich. The film was panned by critics and was a commercial disaster.
Based on the assassination of the former U.S. President, John F. Kennedy, JFK centres around a New Orleans lawyer, Jim Garrison, who sets about investigating the mystery behind the assassination while battling opposition from the government. Widely acclaimed as well as heavily criticized, this political drama stars Kevin Costner as Garrison and delves deeper into the assassination of the former president.
Elizabeth, second of five daughters of the Bennets living in the English countryside, is pressured by her mother for marriage after the wealthy bachelor Charles Bingley becomes infatuated with her older sister Jane. Her relationship with handsome snob Mr. Darcy starts on the wrong foot, and she is pursued by her pompous cousin, clergyman Mr. Collins.
The Best Offer is a romantic mystery crime drama film which tells the story of Virgil Oldman, a man who works at a reputed auction house. When he meets a young and reclusive heiress, he finds himself attracted to her, and shows her his priceless collection of portraits. However, things get ugly when she soon disappears with all of the paintings.
Johnny Got His Gun is a war drama film which tells the story of a patriotic young American soldier, who loses his eyesight, his hearing ability, his speech and also his limbs after a horrible artillery shell attack. He attempts to communicate with his doctors, asking them to relieve him of his suffering by euthanizing him.
In 1944, an American intelligence officer is assigned to train a bunch of hardened criminals and turn them into commandos to be sent to France on an important, but a near suicide mission. He eventually recruits twelve, five of whom are on death row and proceeds to turn them into a courageous and cohesive unit.
This drama film revolves around Conrad Jarrett, a teenager, who is tormented with guilt after the death of his older brother. The relationships between him, his father and his mother also get strained, and therefore, he eventually attempts suicide.
Two childhood friends in Northern Italy during the early years of the 20th century, find themselves on different sides when a huge conflict arises in their country.
This war adventure comedy film, takes us to the time of the Second World War. The story revolves around a group of US soldiers who obtain information about gold worth millions hidden on enemy soil, from a drunk German officer. Therefore, they come up with a plan to steal the treasure for themselves.
An uprising erupts after Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are announced co-winners of the 74th Hunger Games. Furious, President Snow visits her ahead of the Victory Tour and warns her of dire consequences if she fails to convince the crowds that she has chosen to die with Peeta out of love, and not to defy him.
Heartbroken African-American father, Carl Lee Hailey, kills two rapists who raped and tried to hang his ten years old daughter, Tonya. He then recruits Jake Brigance to defend him. Unfortunately, Jake has to go up against not only an all-white racist jury in Canton, Mississippi but the Ku Klux Klan and racist US police officers.
The sex-comedy revolves around the lives of freshmen Larry Kroger and Kent Dorfman who join the notorious Faber College Delta Tau Chi House, after being rejected by the more prestigious Omega Theta Pi. But they have to survive College Dean Vernon Wormer who is conspiring with the Omegas to have the Deltas removed.
Charlie Fineman is so grief-stricken after the sudden loss of his family that he leaves job and goes into a shell. He happens to meet his old college roommate Alan Johnson who has his own stress regarding job and family. Rediscovering their old bond, Alan resolves to help Charlie pull out of his isolation, and in the process Alan too gets rejuvenated.
The black war comedy centers on the exploits of three surgeons who arrive at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in South Korea and wreak havoc with their pranks. ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce, ‘Duke’ Forrest, and ‘Trapper John’ McIntyre turn out to be extremely talented combat surgeons but womanizing rule-breakers with an affinity for mischief.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a sci-fi horror film, which tells the story of alien organisms, which invade San Francisco, California, where they replicate the residents into emotionless automatons.
The movie is based on the eponymous novel by Suzanne Collins and is the first in The Hunger Games film series. In a fictional nation of Panem, in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future, Katniss Everdeen willingly replaces her sister in a televised competition wherein two teenagers from each of the twelve districts of the nation are selected as ‘tributes’ and compelled to fight to the death.
Set in the Civil War era, Cold Mountain is a period drama that revolves around a Confederate soldier as he makes an epic journey back to his beloved, who is also trying to rebuild her life in the face of trouble and danger. Starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renée Zellweger, it is a touching saga of love and war.
This horror thriller film tells the story of a married couple John and Christine, who are still grieving the recent death of their young daughter. They head to Venice, Italy, where they meet two sisters, who claim to be in touch with the spirit of their daughter.
Without Limits is a biographical sports drama film which revolves around the life of Steve Prefontaine, legendary runner, from his youth till his death. The film also covers his relationship with his coach Bill Bowerman.
Tom Gruneman, an executive working for a chemical company in Pennsylvania, goes missing. Although the police try to find him, they eventually fail and eventually detective John Klute is hired to investigate the disappearance. Klute has only one lead: a prostitute. However, he is unaware of the fact that her life is in danger as well.
A group of thieves led by John Bridger steal gold bullion worth $35 million from Italian gangsters. However, one of the team members betrays the rest and leaves with the bullion, taking the others to be dead. A year later, another team member, Charlie Croker, re-assembles the team to take revenge on the betrayer.
After the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese, whom he helped to catch, Detective John Hobbes and his partner Jonesy are called in to investigate a series of demonic murders very similar to Reese’s. When they come in contact with a woman named Gretta Milano, they discover, a fallen malevolent angel might be behind all the killings.
Giacomo Casanova, who is known as a notorious womanizer, is shown to be going to prison due to a sex scandal. However, he manges to escape to Paris, looking for a new life.
The dark comedy follows three friends, Nick Hendricks, Dale Arbus, and Kurt Buckman who decide to kill their respective horribly abusive bosses. Praised for its impeccable comic timing by the cast, the movie has also received criticism for its racist, sexist, and homophobic jokes.
The Eagle Has Landed is a war drama film which tells the story of a Nazi officer, who devises a plan to kidnap or assassinate Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister. Their plan seems to be going well, until certain events begin to threaten their success.
Edward Pierce is a highly intelligent thief who plants to commit a train heist. He teams up with his friends in order to steal a monthly shipment of gold from the London to Folkestone train. However, security seems very tight and the task seems nearly impossible.
Faye is a young woman who aspires to be an actress. However, no one in Hollywood wants anything to do with her due to her alcoholic father. She gets acquainted with aspiring artist Tod, who attempts to romance her, but she declines him, since she only wants to marry a rich man. She soon moves in with another man named Homer Simpson, who lusts after her.
Six Degrees of Separation is a comedy drama mystery film which revolves around Ouisa and her husband, who are art dealers living in New York. Their lives are turned upside down when a mysterious young African American man enters their lives.
Lieutenant Commander Annibel Ramirez of the US Navy is captured and interrogated by the Mossad, but shortly after they realize that it was a case of mistaken identity because Ramirez resembles Carlos the Jackal, one of the most wanted and deadliest terrorists in the world. Eventually Ramirez is recruited on a covert CIA-Mossad operation in order to stop Carlos and bring him down.
After learning about the mass murderer Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror, renowned private detective Sherlock Holmes decides to investigate. He finds that the police are not of much help, as they refuse to share important details of the case with him. However, Holmes carries forward his investigation and seeks the assistance of psychic Robert Lees, hoping that he can set him on the right path.
Backdraft is an American action thriller which tells the story of two brothers who work as firefighters, but don’t get along with each other. However, when they discover that a dangerous arsonist is on the loose, they work together to bring him down.
Alex is a married hitman, who is going through a mid-life crisis. He wants to get out of the family business, but his father doesn’t want him to. Therefore he decides to visit a therapist to undergo counseling. His life takes a turn after he meets a neurotic 23 year-old-woman, for whom he develops feelings. Things get complicated when his father informs that his next target is the therapist he has been seeing.
Based on Suzanne Collins’s final novel – Mockingjay – in the trilogy The Hunger Games, the movie follows Katniss Everdeen as she reaches District 13 and unwillingly agrees to become a symbol of rebellion under the command of President Coin to save Peeta and the nation.
An African monkey carries a deadly virus into a small Californian town. Those infected, with only few hours in hand, have very little chance of survival. Dr. Sam Daniels, an army doctor struggling with his personal issues, now has very little time to find a cure. Moreover, the virus itself has a secret behind, which some want to protect.
Stefan Zetler is a middle-aged symphony conductor who while interviewing Sally, a beautiful young reporter, makes a remark that gets him into trouble. In order to avoid this situation, he decides to go on a vacation. However, he runs into Sally again, and the two begin an affair.
In this final movie of The Hunger Games franchise, Katniss Everdeen escapes the clutches of President Coin to join the ‘Star Squad’. The squad infiltrates the Capitol and brings down President Snow and the Capitol. Unfortunately, Coin’s betrayal ends up killing Prim and Katniss executes Coin who plans to bring the Hunger Games back.
Arthur Bishop is a ‘mechanic’ a professional assassin, who is instructed by his boss Dean to kill his former mentor and friend Harry. Arthur later rescues Harry’s son Steve and starts training him as a hitman. Gradually, he learns Dean framed Arthur and must kill him.
Sixteen years ago a team of astronauts reached Neptune under the leadership of Clifford McBride to search the galaxy for intelligent life; but nothing has been heard about them since then. Now that the solar system is being struck by mysterious power surges that can be traced to the same project created by Clifford, his son Roy must embark on a daring journey to uncover the truth.
Frank, Hawk, Tank, and Jerry were top Air force test pilots belonging to Team Daedalus. Trained to become America’s first space travelers, they were later replaced by chimpanzees. Years later, when a failing Soviet communications satellite is in danger of crashing down on earth, NASA approaches Frank for help. He agrees on the condition that the he has the full Daedalus team to help him.
A renowned anthropologist goes missing in the jungles and appears years later, after he murders two poachers who were killing the gorillas that he was studying. After he is imprisoned, a young psychiatrist tries to evaluate him.
Frank Leone is a skilled mechanic and model prisoner nearing the end of his sentence in a low security prison in New Jersey. One day he is forcibly shifted to a maximum security prison where he learns the warden has a vendetta against him.
Based on a Greek folk tale, this drama film tells the story of a noble youth who marries his own mother accidentally, and later kills his father as well. Eventually, his actions invoke the wrath of the Gods.
The Kentucky Fried Movie is a comedy collection of several satirical sketches that is made as a spoof of TV and movie clichés.
Liz is a woman who works as a massage therapist, and is also struggling to overcome her drug addiction problem. She is hired as a personal therapist by Ogden Osborne, one of the richest men in the US, and she moves in to his house along with her son, hoping that this will give her a new direction in her life.
John Henry is a former gunslinger who returns to his hometown after many years, hoping to rebuild his relationship with his estranged father. However, when it seems that a local gang has been terrorizing the town, John might need to pick up his weapon again to protect the people.
This 1978 Canadian-French film revolves around a detective investigating the brutal murder of a teenage girl. However, conflicting testimonies within the victim’s own family makes the case harder to solve.
In an attempt to restore his father’s honor, a young Roman soldier named Marcus, arrives in Britain to find the golden emblem of his legion, which had disappeared mysteriously years ago.
FTA is a documentary short film which follows an anti Vietnam war theatrical troupe, named Free Theater Associates, as they perform in several different locations around the Pacific Islands.
During the Cold War, a former Oxford Professor, who is also now an officer for the British intelligence, falls in love with a woman, after she is able to spell his name backwards. He offers her a job, but soon after she joins, there is a security breach, and everything goes into jeopardy.
Tom Sanders, a happily married family man and computer expert who is expecting a promotion, feels disappointed when his ex-girlfriend Meredith Johnson is promoted to be his boss. Meredith then seduces him by forcing herself on him. When he spurns her, she files sexual harassment case, and also tries to ruin his career. Tom must fight to save his reputation and career.
A powerful art collector, Joseph Cassidy, hires art critic James Figueras to steal a Debney masterpiece. Joseph is willingly to pay whatever it takes to own the masterpiece. However, when James tries to execute his plans, the operation spins out of control and he is consumed by his own insecurity and greed.
Based on Richard Stark’s novel The Seventh, the movie follows a professional thief McClain as he, along with an old friend, plots to rob a football arena. They put together a team and successfully carry out the job. Things, though, take a darker turn when a murder takes place, the money goes missing, a corrupt detective appears and the gang members doubt McClain’s intention.
Inventor of world’s first viable artificial heart, genius scientist Dr. Gehring, in collaboration with world-renowned heart surgeon Dr. Vrain, is all set for his first ever artificial human heart transplant on Carol Severance. The ethics committee raises questions about rightness and morality of it. But as precious time keeps running out for Carol, Dr. Vrain decides to go ahead with the transplant.
The Puppet Masters is a science fiction horror thriller film which revolves around a group of alien species that is causing havoc on Earth by taking control of humans and using them as puppets. Two government officials, named Sam and Andrew, are assigned the task of stopping the aliens and their agenda.
Detective Hazel Micallef lives in a small town in Canada, along with her mother. Her town is mostly peaceful and she doesn’t have much to worry about. However, she gets alarmed when an elderly woman is murdered in her own house. This is followed by more murders, and detective Hazel soon realizes that she might be dealing with a serial killer.
Ben Finnegan is a treasure-hunter in quest of ‘Queen’s dowry’ that disappeared in the Caribbean in 1715. Divorced by wife Tess, he is in debt of a gangster. After finding a clue, Ben manages a ride on Nigel Honeycutt’s yacht where Tess works as stewardess. They re-discover their romance during the exciting hunt. But they are not the only ones after the treasure.
Set in the early 19th century France, the film follows a traveling circus, which has been invited by Count Drago to perform in his castle in exchange of handsome payment. When the circus eventually reach the castle, they find its doors open and on entering a room find numerous stuffed toys. These toys are so well made that they seem to be alive.
A Montreal-based hitman comes home to find his wife missing and learns that his last kill may have something to do with her disappearance. Despite suspecting his next assignment in England to be a setup, he takes it up, convinced that it may lead him to his missing wife.
A Man, a Woman and a Bank is a crime comedy film which tells the story of two rookie thieves who plan to rob a bank in Vancouver. However, one of them is snapped by a photographer, as he is carrying the bank’s blueprints. Now in order to retrieve the photos, the thief tries to develop a friendship with the photographer.
A container of dead bodies emerges, after which a Chinese ambassador is shot at a US-China trade agreement. An FBI agent witnesses the killing, and decides to pursue the assassin. But he ends up being framed for the murder instead.
An American writer falls in love with a Mexican waitress who wants to marry him to secure her future. He realizes it is too late by the time he proposes to her.
Buffy Summers is a cheerleader and a popular girl in her school. She eventually comes to know that she belongs to a long line of vampire hunters. Now, she has to eradicate a nest of vampires in Los Angeles.
Maverick demolition derby-enthusiast, Jesse Veldini, is often in the jail which disconcerts his aspiring-politician brother Frank. Jesse reconnects with his old non-conformists friends, and hooker girlfriend Iris, who together decide to escape to a place of freedom using a WWII PBY flying boat. With only 10 days before the seaplane is sold as scrap, they need money to get parts for repairs.
Revolution is a historical drama film which tells the story of Tom Dobb, a fur trapper, who decides to take part in the American Revolution, since his son Ned joins the Army as a drummer boy. Things get complicated when his son is captured by the British, and is chosen to replace some British drummer boys. Meanwhile, his father sets out to find and rescue him.
A low-paying pawn shop employee, Weslake joins in on a plan by an amateur musician Dillard, an illegal immigrant Ramon, a pimp named Broadwalk, and a homeless man named Turtle to break into the large safe in the pawn shop. But the rewards might not be what they expected.
Ordeal by Innocence is a mystery film which tells the story of an Englishman, Dr Arthur Calgary, who finds that a man he knew, was executed for the murder of his adoptive mother. He decides to prove that the man was innocent and begins an investigation of his own.
After their boat gets destroyed, an American crew comes across a Russian communications vessel inhibited by destructive aliens. They are left with no other choice but to fight them.
Based on 19th century true events. During 1817-1820, the Bells of Red River, Tennessee, experience unexplained, terrifying incidences that affect a family, especially the youngest daughter, Betsy. After the church condemns John Bell in a land dispute, opponent Kate Batts, known for practicing witchcraft, puts a curse on the family. Despite their efforts, the attacks continue, culminating in the death of a family member.
Shadow Conspiracy is a political thriller film which tells the story of Bobby, a special assistant to the US President, who finds himself in the middle of a huge conspiracy in the White House. He tries to get to the bottom of it and find the traitor, before things get ugly.
Private agent Andy Hammon, hired by a Chicago insurance company, arrives in Miami to investigate a theft of $3 million worth of gems. Hammon pursues Paula Booth, a beautiful affluent girl, who he suspects is involved in fencing of the stolen gems. As he tries to dig deeper in the case, Hammon finds himself being captivated by the girl he is investigating.
Nothing Personal is a comedy film which revolves around a university professor named Roger Keller, who becomes determined to protect baby seals after he sees footage of them getting killed. He seeks help of Abigail Adams, a lawyer, to help him in his cause. As they begin their crusade, they also start falling for each other.
When two KGB agents are accidentally killed by the CIA during a mission, the head of CIA in Paris forms a pact with his Russian counterpart to have two CIA agents killed, to avoid further escalation. When agents Bruland and Griff are chosen as the sacrificial lambs they form an alliance to escape.
In the early 1980s, Yuri Orlov, a Ukrainian immigrant decides to join the arms trade along with his brother Vitaly. He quickly rises in his business, becomes wealthy and marries a famous model, Ava Fontaine. However, his rise also attracts the attention of an Interpol Agent, Jack Valentine.
Aliens have conquered the earth, forcing the surviving humans to take shelter in areas protected by energy shields. However, time is running out and in desperation General Hein is determined to use space cannon to destroy the aliens. Knowing that it might also damage the earth, a team of scientists proposes a more peaceful means to battle the enemy, but the General is not convinced.
Astro Boy, a robot having incredible powers, is discarded by his creator. However, he sets out to find his own identity and ends up in an adventure that would make him the greatest superhero of his time.
The World Ten Times Over is a drama film which tells the story of a Billa and Ginnie, two women who share the same flat in London, and also work as night club hostesses at the same club. Things get complicated when Ginnie gets involved romantically with a rich married businessman, which causes jealousy in their friendship.
Two brothers travel to Munich to spread their German born grandfather’s ashes at the Theresienwiese during the Oktoberfest. There they join the centuries-old beer-games competition; but are humiliatingly defeated. On their return to USA, they assemble an American Beerfest team and also discover their grandfather’s beer recipe.
Dedicated Swiss police detective, Hans Baerlach, spent years trying to get evidence against powerful business-mogul, Richard Gastmann who was apparently involved in the murder of the woman Baerlach loved. His partner, who gets killed during the investigations, is replaced by Walter Tschanz. But the case takes unexpected turn when, in addition to the political interference, Anna Crawley gets involved in the case.
After losing her husband, a recently widowed mother moves into a Greenwich Village apartment along with her infant son. Believing that the baby needs a father figure, she decides to marry her boss; but knowing that he does not like children hides her son with her upstairs neighbor, a bohemian who makes nudie films for his livelihood.
Donald Sutherland Awards
| Path to War | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | 2003 |
| Citizen X | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | 1996 |
| Citizen X | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | 1995 |
