Tributes from Donald Sutherland’s former Hollywood co-stars are pouring in as they celebrate the prolific actor’s “gigantic” presence on and off screen.
Elliott Gould, who starred with Sutherland in Robert Altman’s 1970 film M*A*S*H, where they played battlefield surgeons, told DailyMail.com that the 6ft 4in Sutherland stood out from most , but not only because of his height.
“Donald was a giant, not only physically but also as a talent,” Gould said. ‘He was enormously kind and generous.
“It’s never easy to lose the caliber of a human being and actor like Donald Sutherland, but this hurts deeply because Donald was like my brother and a big part of my own career.”
Gould said that when they took on the roles of Hawkeye Pierce (Sutherland) and Trapper John McIntyre (Gould), they were both young parents and quickly bonded in their new roles as actors and parents.
Both were nominated for the Golden Globes for Best Actor in 1971.
Actor Elliott Gould, right, and Donald Sutherland formed a close bond during the filming of the 1970 film M*A*S*H.
Set in South Korea during the Korean War, the film M*A*S*H followed the lives of medical personnel caring for the wounded in a mobile military surgical hospital. Sutherland, left, and Gould, right, played battlefield surgeons in the 1970 film.
Gould, 85, added: “Rest in peace, my dear and kind friend.” I love you and I will never forget you.’
The veteran Canadian-born actor’s movie star son, Kiefer Sutherland, announced the Hollywood icon’s passing on Thursday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” Kiefer Sutherland wrote in bad or ugly.
He added: “He loved what he did and he did what he loved, and you can never ask for more than that.” A life well lived.’
The veteran actor starred in more than 200 film and television roles during his Hollywood career spanning more than 60 years.
Sutherland CAA representative Missy Davy confirmed to DailyMail.com that the veteran actor died in Miami.
His family will hold a private celebration of life, but no further details were provided about his cause of death.
Tim Matheson, who starred with Sutherland in the classic 1978 comedy National Lampoon’s Animal House, said he admired his co-stars’ passion for their craft.
“One of the best and most passionate actors I’ve ever worked with,” Matheson told DailyMail.com.
‘He made me a better person, performer and director by working with him. And he always had a devilishly delicious sense of humor and intelligence to delight you with.
He added: ‘I offer my deepest condolences to his family for their loss. And thank you Donald for leaving us such a great legacy and work to celebrate you. I will always adore you.’
Tim Matheson starred in National Lampoon’s Animal House with Sutherland, which was released in 1978.
Matheson, left, said he admired Sutherland’s “passion” for acting.
Sutherland appeared in some 200 television shows and films over six decades, including Six Degrees of Separation, Klute and the 1978 remake of The Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
In his most recent roles, he played the main antagonist, President Snow, in The Hunger Games franchise.
He received an honorary Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2017.
Elliott Gould, right, said Donald Sutherland, left, was “a giant, not only physically but also as a talent.”
In 2022 he appeared in what would be his last projects, Lawmen: Bass Reeves and Swimming With Sharks.
Sutherland was set to star in the upcoming apocalyptic film Heart Land, which is in pre-production.