Donald Sutherland
Warm and wise, one of Canada’s national treasures (and father to Kiefer, another fine actor) is one of the most beloved in the business. The 78-year-old actor also has one of the deepest and diverse filmographies in modern cinema, with stellar turns in films as varied as Klute, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, JFK, Without Limits and The Hunger Games. Whether it is in the leading role or a part of a larger ensemble, Sutherland never skimps on giving a full-bodied performance.
He has even starred in various Oscar winners, most notably his tremendously moving turn as a grieving father in Robert Redford’s Ordinary People, the 1980 Best Picture winner. However, the Academy has never recognized any of his performances, despite multiple Golden Globe nominations and wins. A prize for a lifetime’s worth of achievement in film is well overdue. Sutherland instantly adds grace, weight and a slight ounce of humour to many of the roles he takes. He was a voice of grit and authority in wartime movies like The Dirty Dozen and his zany turn in M*A*S*H* is still one of the most well-regarded of Sutherland’s career. Even so, he has not yet danced with the Academy on any circumstances, which is a shame given his storied career.
