The legendary actor Donald McNichol Sutherland had a history of illness as he suffered from rheumatic fever, poliomyelitis, and hepatitis as a child. His health still remained his major problem as Donald also had arthritis in 2017.
Yet, after a long fight with his health, the star actor who has given 60 years to his career, Donald Sutherland, died on June 20, 2024, also due to a long-term illness.
With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more… pic.twitter.com/3EdJB03KKT
— Kiefer Sutherland (@RealKiefer) June 20, 2024
Donald Sutherland was the fourth of his parents’ five children, with two biological siblings and two half-siblings.
He was 88 years old when he took his last breath. His actor son, Kiefer Sutherland, announced the unfortunate news to the world.
Although Donald Sutherland was the second youngest among the siblings, he became the last to leave the world
The world only seemed to know Donald Sutherland, who had only two siblings, John Sutherland and Betty Sutherland. However, that is untrue.
Donald McNichol Sutherland was born on July 17, 1935, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, and was the second child of his parents, Frederick McLea Sutherland Sr. and Dorothy Isobel McNichol.
i think a lot about this emotional moment from a 2017 60 Minutes interview in which Donald Sutherland shares how he was affected by being "ugly" even in the eyes of his mother pic.twitter.com/PjrMKD2F3d
— Corey Atad (@CoreyAtad) June 20, 2024
His mother Dorothy was the second wife of his father Frederick, whom he married on June 2, 1928. Before Dorothy, Frederick married Lois Josephine Parker, his first wife, in 1918.
From his first marriage came two children, John Max Allen Sutherland (1919-1956) and Frances Elizabeth (Betty) Sutherland (1920-1984), the half-siblings of Donald.
However, Lois passed away when Betty was six, and Frederick married Dorothy after moving to Saint John, New Brunswick.
This marriage gave birth to three children: Mary Lou Sutherland (1931-1988), Donald McNichol Sutherland (1935-2024), and Frederick McLea Sutherland Jr. (1937-2010).
Yet none of the siblings ever lived as long as Donald and were not as famous as their brother.
Random Donald Sutherland appreciation post. Love him in everything but especially as the anguished father, still grieving for his older son and caught between his younger son and his wife in ORDINARY PEOPLE. Quietly devastating. #TCMParty pic.twitter.com/Phptx7YKdr
— Sister Celluloid, same on Bluesky and Threads (@sistercelluloid) March 3, 2022
One known sibling with a similar interest in art might be Betty Sutherland, a painter. However, she could not enjoy the fame she deserved.
Now, all of the Sutherland siblings are together with Donald’s passing, announced by his son.
The children are trying to cope with the news and are planning for their father’s funeral alongside their mother and Donald Sutherland’s wife of 52 years, Francine Racette.
May Donald Sutherland’s gentle soul rest in peace. We at Superslice send our regards to his wife and family.
Additional Information
- Donald Sutherland had three wives: Lois May Hardwick (1959-1966), Shirley Douglas (1966-1970), and Francine Racette (1972-2024).
- His five children are twins Kiefer and Rachel from his marriage to Douglas and Rossif, Angus, and Roeg from Racette.
- Donald Sutherland accumulated a total net worth of $60 Million, given that he earned almost $2 million per movie in his recent career. So, if we add up the six-decade-long payments, the net worth seems to be true.
