Actor Donald Sutherland has added a new honor to his six-decade career – Canada Post has issued a commemorative stamp honoring the film and television star.
Born in 1935 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Sutherland studied engineering and drama at the University of Toronto before moving to Great Britain to pursue his passion for acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After supporting performances in British television series including “The Avengers” and “The Saint” and in British horror films including “Castle of the Living Dead” and “Die! Die! My Darling,” Sutherland landed a breakthrough role as the homicidal Vernon Pinkley in the 1967 classic “The Dirty Dozen.” Three years later, he scored his first leading role as Capt. Hawkeye Pierce in “M*A*S*H.”
While Sutherland has become one of the most versatile stars in Hollywood, Canada Post noted the actor “has remained a proud Canadian and starred in many Canadian productions, including the TV movie “Bethune” (1977) and the 1990 feature film “Bethune: The Making of a Hero,” playing legendary Canadian Dr. Norman Bethune in both.” Within his native country, his honors include the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement (2000) and being named a Companion of the Order of Canada (2019).
