Yahoo Lifestyle Find Out Donald Sutherland's Net Worth at the Time of His Death
Donald Sutherland died on June 20, 2024 at the age of 88, ending an illustrious career that brought him fame, respect and a net worth in the tens of millions. In a moving tribute to his father, fellow actor Kiefer Sutherland referred to his dad as "one of the most important actors in the history of film." (Indeed, the man's credits include movies like Klute, M.A.S.H., Ordinary People, Pride & Prejudice and The Hunger Games.)
"[He was] never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly," Kiefer shared. "He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that."
Keep reading to find out how Sutherland got his start, how much money he earned along the way and more.
Related: Kiefer Sutherland Honors Late Father Donald Sutherland With Emotional Tribute
How did Donald Sutherland get his start?
Born July 17, 1935, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Sutherland initially studied engineering at the University of Toronto but later switched to drama. He continued his education at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in England before officially launching his career in the 1960s. But he certainly didn't have it easy out of the gate.
Famously self-conscious about his looks, Sutherland publicly recounted the story of his first film audition on more than one occasion, sharing that the producer of the project called him directly to explain why they were passing on him despite his talent. "The producer said, 'We thought you were really wonderful,'" Sutherland recalled. "...The reason why we're not casting you is because we've always thought of this fellow as a kind of a guy-next-door sort of guy. And to be absolutely truthful, we don't think you look like you ever lived next door to anybody."
Hollywood standards be damned, Sutherland went on to build an enviable career, playing villains and oddballs, charmers and misfits. His breakout role came in 1967 with The Dirty Dozen, and he followed that up with starring turns in M.A.S.H., Klute, 1900, Ordinary People—and the list goes on and on.
“I love to work. I passionately love to work,” Sutherland told Charlie Rose in 1998. “I love to feel my hand fit into the glove of some other character. I feel a huge freedom—time stops for me. I’m not as crazy as I used to be, but I’m still a little crazy.”
His memoir, Made Up, But Still True, will be out in November.
Related: 100 Best Movies of All Time
What was Donald Sutherland's net worth at the time of his death?
Donald Sutherland was worth $60 million at the time of his death, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He accumulated most of his wealth as an actor in film and television.
How much did Donald Sutherland get paid for Animal House?
In 1978, Sutherland signed on to Animal House as a favor to director Jon Landis, who used to babysit his son Kiefer. "I called Donald, and he said, ‘I’ll do it, but I’m not going to do it for scale. They have to pay me upfront,'" Landis told Entertainment Weekly.
So rather than take 2 percent of the movie's gross to play Professor Dave Jennings, Sutherland accepted his day rate of $25,000, reportedly taking home $35,000 when all was said and done.
Of course, the movie turned out to be a box office hit, raking in more than $130 million domestically. "I don’t remember the numbers involved, but had he taken a profit position, he’d have made at least $20 million," Landis told EW.
How much did Donald Sutherland get paid for The Hunger Games?
Sutherland's Hunger Games salary isn't public record, but NCESC.com estimates that, generally speaking, he made $1-2 million per movie. It's likely he made more for playing President Snow by the time of the sequel.
Does Donald Sutherland have any Emmys?
Yes. He won best supporting actor for his role in HBO's Citizen X in 1995.
Did Donald Sutherland win an Oscar?
Sutherland never won an Oscar, but he did take home an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement in 2017. "I wish I could say thank you to all of the characters that I've played," he said in his acceptance speech, "[and] thank them for using their lives to inform my life."
