Inside the three-generation Sutherland acting dynasty

Donald was the patriarch of the Sutherland dynasty, making his screen debut in 1963 when he made an uncredited appearance in The World Ten Times Over. Despite being an anti-war activist, the star made his name in war films, rising to public consciousness in the likes of The Dirty Dozen and Kelly’s Heroes.

Donald continued to land leading roles in major projects, with his film credits also including Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Ordinary People, Six Degrees of Separation and Space Cowboys. Towards the end of his career, he reintroduced himself to a new generation of fans when he portrayed the dictator President Snow in The Hunger Games franchise.

The actor also had an incredible TV career, winning an Emmy Award for his role as Mikhail Fetisov in Citizen X. Other major roles for the star include Uprising, Human Trafficking, Trust and The Undoing.

During his life, Donald was married three times. His first marriage was to headteacher Lois May Hardwick, and it lasted between 1959 and 1966. His second marriage was to the actress Shirley Douglas, with the couple welcoming twins Kiefer and Rachel Sutherland. His final marriage was to his Alien Thunder co-star, Francine Racette, and the couple welcomed three sons: Rossif, Angus, and Roeg, the former two going into acting.

Donald died at the age of 88 on 20 June 2024, while in a hospice after being diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Kiefer confirmed his death and dozens of A-listers paid tribute, including Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, Josh Brolin and Dame Helen Mirren.

In the Sutherland acting dynasty, Donald’s second wife, Shirley Douglas, actually has the earliest acting debut, as she first appeared on our screens in 1955 when she played Pasty in crime thriller Joe MacBeth.

The actress followed this up with roles in Dead Ringers, The Shower and Woman Wanted. She made her last film appearance in 2000, but continued acting on TV for several more years, before retiring in 2008.

Shirley shared Donald’s love of activism, and she campaigned for the American Civil Rights Movement and against the Vietnam War. In 1969, she was charged with conspiracy to possess unregistered explosives, but she claimed she was being framed. Although she was barred from the United States for a time, the case against her was ultimately dismissed.

The year after her retirement, Shirley was consigned to a wheelchair due to a degenerative spine condition. She died at the age of 86 following complications from pneumonia on 5 April 2020.

Also involved in the Sutherland dynasty is Donald’s third wife, Francine Racette, whom he met when they filmed Alien Thunder together in the 1970s. They dated for over a decade before marrying in 1990; they remained together until Donald’s death in 2024.

Francine, now aged 79, also starred in Four Flies on Grey Velvet and The Disappearance.

Donald’s eldest son, Kiefer, has become a major actor, with the star’s biggest role being as Jack Bauer in 24. His portrayal of the hardened character won him an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe.

The actor started his career in 1983 when he starred in Max Dugan Returns. He followed this up with roles in The Bay Boy, Stand By Me, The Lost Boys, The Three Musketeers and Dark City. Video game fans will also recognise him as the voice of Venom Snake and Big Boss in the Metal Gear franchise.

It’s not just acting that Kiefer is famed for, as the 59-year-old is also a singer, having released four albums since 2016, with his latest coming out in May 2026.

In 1987, Kiefer married Camelia Kath, who was 14 years his senior, with the pair welcoming a daughter, Sarah Sutherland; they divorced in 1990. In 1996, he married Kelly Winn, but the pair separated three years later, before Kiefer filed for divorce in 2004, which was granted in 2008.

Since 2014, the star has been in a relationship with model Cindy Vela, and the actor popped the question in 2017. However, nine years later, the couple are still yet to walk down the aisle.

Rossif, 48, made his film debut in 2003, appearing in Timeline, and he has since appeared in the likes of Poor Boy’s Game, Dead Before Dawn, River and Keeper. The star has also had a stellar TV career, landing a recurring role on ER while also starring in Reign, Paris Paris and Murder in a Small Town, playing Karl Alberg in the latter series.

The actor married his Reign co-star, Celina Sinden, in 2016, and the couple share a son together. Perhaps he’ll also form the next part of the Sutherland dynasty…

Angus, 44, is Donald’s youngest son with his third wife, Francine. Like most of his brothers, Angus has also entered the world of acting, making his debut in the 2005 television series Commander in Chief.

Angus has also had roles in Familiar Strangers, Lost Boys: The Tribe, November Criminals and 1917. He has since left the world of acting behind and now focuses on producing.

The youngest person in the Sutherland acting dynasty is Sarah Sutherland, who is the daughter of Kiefer Sutherland and his first wife.

Sarah’s largest role was as Catherine Meyer in Veep, playing the Vice President’s daughter between 2012 and 2019; the role earned her a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

The actress has also starred in Innocence, The Newsroom, The Kid Detective and Like a House on Fire.