Remembering a one-of-a-kind walk-and-talk with Donald Sutherland.
Celebrate the life and career of actor Donald Sutherland, who passed this week at age 88.
“Walk with me.” That’s what actor Donald Sutherland said to me as our interview time came to an end. While his publicists watched with surprise, Sutherland and I got up from a booth and walked throughout Toronto’s Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel, previously The InterContinental.
Sutherland and I crisscrossed the hotel courtyard, walked in and out of the adjacent bar, and into the restaurant.
I remember listening more than speaking because Donald Sutherland always had something fascinating to say about various topics, from art to culture and society to politics.
I’m celebrating the life and career of actor Donald Sutherland, who passed this week at age 88, and remembering this one-of-a-kind walk-and-talk.
More Than a Character Actor
Movie buffs know Sutherland for his roles in standout movies from the Easy Riders and Raging Bulls era of Hollywood. Think of movies like Don’t Look Now, Klute, and M*A*S*H. Many of these same film historians remember how M*A*S*H filmmaker Robert Altman cast Sutherland and co-star Elliot Gould because he saw them more as “character actors” willing to take direction versus top stars who call the shots.
Young movie fans recognize Sutherland for his role as President Snow in The Hunger Games franchise. However, I wasn’t speaking with Sutherland to support a big Hollywood blockbuster. We spoke in support of the indie documentary Trumbo, the story of the blacklisted filmmaker and screenwriter who Sutherland acted for on the 1971 anti-war drama Johnny Got His Gun.
My warmest and most fascinating interviews are with actors from Hollywood’s Rock-n-Roll era of ’70s cinema. I remember interviews with Julie Christie, Jacqueline Bisset, and Peter Fonda. They have rich and successful histories to share and a grounded sense of their roles in the movie industry. Sutherland remains the best interview of the bunch; it was insightful, generous, and curious.
Sometime around the fourth go-around through the hotel courtyard, the publicists intervene and peel Sutherland and me apart. We could have chatted for the rest of the afternoon; like I know today, I could fill endless columns discussing Sutherland’s piercing gaze, lean frame, and frequently menacing presence in support of many standout performances.
Cheers to Donald Sutherland, his contributions to cinema, and my one-of-a-kind walk-and-talk throughout a Toronto hotel. How often does one experience an intimate encounter with creative greatness and wisdom? Upon news of his passing at age 88, I want to share a deep and grateful thank you.
What’s your favorite Donald Sutherland movie? Is it an art film like Fellini’s Casanova (1976)? Do you prefer his WWII movies The Dirty Dozen (1967) or Kelly’s Heroes (1970)? Share your picks!
