Celebrity

Donald Sutherland, The Towering Actor Whose Career Spanned ‘M.A.S.H.’ To ‘Hunger Games,’ Dies At 88

Published

4 months ago

2024-06-20

NEW YORK — Donald Sutherland, a famous film and television actor whose work ranged from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games,” has died. He was 88.

The actor’s son, Kiefer Sutherland, confirmed his father’s death Thursday. No other information was immediately provided.

“I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film,” Kiefer Sutherland stated on X. “Never intimidated by a part, whether good, awful, or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and you can’t ask for more.”

The tall and gaunt Canadian actor with a charming or wicked grin was recognized for oddball characters like Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman’s “M.A.S.H.,” the hippy tank commander in “Kelly’s Heroes,” and the stoned professor in “Animal House.”

Before starting a long career as a respected character actor, Sutherland exemplified 1970s cinema’s unconventional, anti-establishment style.

Over the years, Sutherland demonstrated his versatility in more conventional but unconventional roles like Robert Redford’s “Ordinary People” and Oliver Stone’s “JFK.” More recently, he appeared in the “Hunger Games” movies. He never retired and worked frequently till his death. “Made Up, But Still True,” a memoir, was scheduled to be released in November.

Sutherland | AP News Image

Donald Sutherland, The Towering Actor Whose Career Spanned ‘M.A.S.H.’ To ‘Hunger Games,’ Dies At 88

“I enjoy working. In 1998, Sutherland told Charlie Rose, “I passionately love to work.” “I adore seeing my hand fit into the glove of another figure. I get a great sense of freedom; time seems to halt. I’m not as crazy as I used to be, but I’m still slightly insane.”

Donald McNichol Sutherland was born in St. John, New Brunswick, the son of a salesperson and a math teacher. He was up in Nova Scotia and was a disc jockey with his radio station by age 14.

“When I was 13 or 14, I really thought everything I felt was wrong and dangerous, and that God was going to kill me for it,” said Sutherland to The New York Times in 1981. “My father always said, ‘Keep your mouth shut, Donnie, and maybe people will think you have character.'”

Sutherland began as an engineering student at the University of Toronto but switched to English and began acting in school plays. While studying in Toronto, he met an aspiring actress named Lois Hardwick. They married in 1959 and divorced seven years later.

Sutherland graduated in 1956 and studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Sutherland began performing in West End shows and on British television. He bounced around after moving to Los Angeles until a series of war films altered his path.

His first American picture was “The Dirty Dozen” (1967), in which he played Vernon Pinkley, an officer mimicking psychotic. In 1970, the World War II drama “Kelly’s Heroes” and “M.A.S.H.,” an acclaimed smash hit, were released, catapulting Sutherland to fame.

“There is more challenge in character roles,” Sutherland told The Washington Post in 1970. “There is longevity. A good character actor can portray a distinct face in each film without boring the audience.”

If Sutherland had gotten his way, Altman would have been sacked from “M.A.S.H.” He and co-star Elliott Gould were dissatisfied with the director’s unconventional, improvisational approach and lobbied to have him changed. But the picture outperformed everyone’s expectations, and Sutherland personally resonated with its anti-war message. Sutherland, actress Jane Fonda, and others created the Free Theater Associates in 1971 after being outspokenly opposed to the Vietnam War. In 1973, they performed in venues near military facilities in Southeast Asia after being banned by the Army for their political ideas.

Sutherland | AP News Image

Donald Sutherland, The Towering Actor Whose Career Spanned ‘M.A.S.H.’ To ‘Hunger Games,’ Dies At 88

Sutherland’s career as a leading man peaked in the 1970s, when he starred in pictures by the greatest directors of the day, even if they didn’t always perform their best work with him. Sutherland, who repeatedly stated that he regarded himself at the service of a director’s vision, collaborated with Federico Fellini (1976’s “Fellini’s Casanova”), Bernardo Bertolucci (1976’s “1900”), Claude Chabrol (1978’s “Blood Relatives”), and John Schlesinger (1975’s “The Day of the Locust”).

One of his most memorable performances was as a detective in Alan Pakula’s “Klute” (1971). He met Fonda while filming “Klute,” they had a three-year relationship that began after his second marriage to actor Shirley Douglas ended. He married Douglas in 1966 and divorced in 1971.

In 1966, Sutherland and Douglas welcomed twins Rachel and Kiefer, named after Warren Kiefer, the writer of Sutherland’s first film, “Castle of the Living Dead.”

In 1974, the actor began living with actress Francine Racette, with whom he remained ever since. They had three children: Roeg, born in 1974 and named after filmmaker Nicolas Roeg (“Don’t Look Now”); Rossif, born in 1978 and named after director Frederick Rossif; and Angus Redford, born in 1979 and named after Robert Redford.

To some astonishment, Redford cast Sutherland as the father in his directorial debut, 1980’s “Ordinary People.” Redford’s drama about a gorgeous suburban family shattered by tragedy received four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

The academy neglected Sutherland for the majority of his career. He was never nominated, but he received an honorary Oscar in 2017. He did, however, win an Emmy in 1995 for the television film “Citizen X” and was nominated for seven Golden Globes (including for his roles in “M.A.S.H.” and “Ordinary People”), winning two — again for “Citizen X” and for the 2003 television film “Path to War.”

Sutherland | AP News Image

Donald Sutherland, The Towering Actor Whose Career Spanned ‘M.A.S.H.’ To ‘Hunger Games,’ Dies At 88

“Ordinary People” also signaled a transition in Sutherland’s career toward more mature and, in some cases, less eccentric characters.

However, his New York stage debut in 1981 was a disaster. He played Humbert Humbert in Edward Albee’s version of Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita,” which received harsh reviews and closed after only a dozen performances.

A slump ensued in the 1980s, owing to flops such as the 1981 satire “Gas” and the 1984 comedy “Crackers.”

Sutherland, however, persisted in his efforts. He has a brief but noteworthy appearance in Oliver Stone’s film “JFK” (1991). He returned to play a grandpa for Redford in his 1993 film “Six Degrees of Separation.” He played Bill Bowerman, a track coach, in the 1998 film Without Limits.

Sutherland has worked more on television over the last decade, most notably in HBO’s “Path to War,” when he played President Lyndon Johnson’s Secretary of Defense Clark Clifford. It was an appropriate, albeit ironic, bookend to a career began by “M.A.S.H.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Celebrity

Judge Upholds Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Charge Against Alec Baldwin In On-Set Shooting

Published

14 hours ago

2024-10-26

Kiara Grace

Santa Fe, New Mexico – A New Mexico judge affirmed her decision to dismiss Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter allegation in the fatal shooting of a cameraman on the set of a Western film.

In a ruling issued Thursday, state District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer upheld her July decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter allegation against Baldwin. She claimed that prosecutors did not present any factual or legal arguments to support altering the decision.

“Because the state’s amended motion raises arguments previously made and arguments that the state chose not to raise earlier, the court does not find the amended motion well taken,” the judge stated, adding that the request was also late.

Judge Upholds Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Charge Against Alec Baldwin In On-Set Shooting

A representative for Baldwin’s lawyers stated on Friday that they had no immediate reaction to the ruling.

Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey told The Associated Press that she disagrees with the court’s analysis and intends to appeal the decision. The Santa Fe district attorney appointed Morrissey to take up the case in March 2023, after a previous special prosecutor resigned due to errors in filing first charges.

The case was dismissed halfway through the trial due to allegations that police and prosecutors suppressed information from the defense in the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.”

Baldwin’s trial was disrupted by discoveries that ammunition was brought into the Santa Fe County sheriff’s office in March by a guy who claimed it was related to Hutchins’ death. Prosecutors maintained the ammunition was unconnected and inconsequential, but Baldwin’s lawyers claim detectives “buried” the evidence in a different case file and successfully moved to dismiss.

Judge Upholds Dismissal Of Involuntary Manslaughter Charge Against Alec Baldwin In On-Set Shooting

Baldwin, the primary actor and co-producer for “Rust,” was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal on a film set outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the revolver fired, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin claims he pulled back the hammer but not the trigger, and the handgun fired.

In April, a judge sentenced Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the movie weapons supervisor, to a maximum of 1.5 years in a state prison for involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins’ death.

Last month, Marlowe Sommer denied Gutierrez-Reed’s plea to overturn her conviction or a new trial based on concerns that prosecutors failed to communicate potentially exculpatory evidence. She determined that the armorer’s attorneys failed to prove that there was a reasonable likelihood that the trial decision would have been different if Gutierrez-Reed had access to the evidence, which is now pending in a higher court appeal.

SOURCE | AP

Celebrity

Seth Meyers Is Trading Politics For Parenting In New Standup Special

Published

2 days ago

2024-10-25

Kiara Grace

NEW YORK — Seth Meyers reveals that whether he’s quarreling with his wife or in an odd circumstance with his children, he can’t help but think of turning it into a piece. The comedian and host of “Late Night with Seth Meyers” adapted numerous of those humorous stories for his latest HBO/Max standup special, “Dad Man Walking.”

Meyers’ most recent HBO special, “Lobby Baby,” which aired in 2019, also delves into his parenting adventures. Meyers adds that being holed up with his family during the pandemic forced him to write about his children and marriage to his wife, Alexi Ashe.

“I’ve always enjoyed how — unlike the nightly show, which is so tied to politics and the world we’re living in — this was more about sort of the universal experience of being part of a family,” Meyers said CNN in a recent interview. “It’s really fun to be on stage and realize that you are not alone in the way you are feeling about things.”

Seth Meyers Is Trading Politics For Parenting In New Standup Special

The program was shot live at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, where Meyers received large laughs talking about simple things like not understanding how to fold a stroller and the dangers of playing board games with his children, who are 8, 6, and 3 years old.

Meyers stated that his children have not complained about discussing the humorous things they say and do on stage. “I am very cognizant of saying things that I feel like they’ll be okay with,” he told me. They enjoy appearing on TV and serving as fodder for his act, but he knows that will change as they age. His oldest son suddenly appeared less enthusiastic about the traditional turkey costume contest for Thanksgiving.

“The minute someone at school busts him for being in a turkey costume, game over,” Meyers added, laughing. “But we will give them permission … because my wife did buy into being married to a comedian, whereas they didn’t choose it.”

One of the special’s highlight moments is Alexi attempting to pass through airport security with a tub of hummus. Meyers intended to keep it to himself, but he couldn’t resist testing it onstage. “I am literally in real time thinking … it’s not just that the story is so funny, but I realize this really is a perfect example of who we both are in this marriage,” he told me. “It kind of overlaps nicely with the theme of what I’m trying to do.”

The special’s director, Neal Brennan, believes the humor lies in Meyers’ relatable experiences despite his celebrity and acerbic persona. “He controls ‘Late Night’ and his personal life? “He is completely out of control,” Brennan added, chuckling.

Brennan, who also helmed “Lobby Baby,” claims Meyers has no pretense regarding family. “His conceit is, ‘I’m a very good businessman… and I have all the power.'” I have complete authority; everything I say goes. And when I get home, it’s just a lot of people taking advantage of me and wanting to speak about lava.”

Meyers, known for his stinging political satire, claims that the humor in his act originates from seeing how men and women fail each other and attempting to distribute blame equitably.

“I’m so loath to do that special about a man complaining about his wife,” Meyers joked. He appreciates it when both husbands and wives see themselves in his comedy. “For me, balance is extremely vital. Whereas both sides politically are a complete waste of time, I strive to do both sides through marriage.”

Seth Meyers Is Trading Politics For Parenting In New Standup Special

Meyers also commented on “Saturday Night Live”‘s 50th anniversary, saying he enjoyed seeing his period’s “big swings” on the show. “I loved just being there while you watched Kristen Wiig, Fred Armisen, Andy Samberg and Bill Hader all just become the people who would then be a massive part of show business for the next two decades.”

While some argue that “SNL” is no longer as hilarious as it once was, Meyers believes that being “beautifully uneven” is one of the show’s greatest enduring aspects compared to watching live sports.

“You don’t know until it happens how it’s going to be,” Meyers told the crowd. “I’ve always felt that the poorest show has something fantastic, while the best show has something dreadful. “And no host can guarantee consistency.”

As for whether he’ll continue performing standup, Meyers believes it’s a safe bet, given all the family drama. “They continue to provide stuff. So, sure, I can’t see it stopping very soon.”

SOURCE | AP

Celebrity

Harvey Weinstein’s Retrial Moved To Next Year, Lawyer Plans To Hire A Private Investigator

Published

4 days ago

2024-10-23

Kiara Grace

NEW YORK — Harvey Weinstein’s retrial on sex crimes charges in Manhattan will not begin until at least next year, and his lawyer intends to employ a private investigator to check into a fresh complaint against the movie mogul that will now be included in the case.

The fresh information was revealed as Weinstein appeared in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

Harvey was already set for retrial on two sex offense charges after the state’s top court reversed his 2020 conviction earlier this year. Then, in September, he received a fresh charge for another attack. He’s pled not guilty.

On Wednesday, Judge Curtis Farber granted the prosecution’s plea to consolidate both cases and stated that he would set a new trial date by January 29, 2025.

Harvey Weinstein’s Retrial Moved To Next Year, Lawyer Plans To Hire A Private Investigator

The trial was originally slated to begin on November 12, but Harvey’s attorneys requested a date in March or April when the new accusation was added.

“We’ll need some time to investigate the case, hire a private investigator, and go deeper into discovery,” said Harvey’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala.

Prosecutors said they were not opposed to the date, but they were ready to go to trial in January.

Harvey was convicted of forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and third-degree rape for an attack on an aspiring actor in 2013. In the latest complaint, authorities allege that he forced oral sex on a separate lady in a Manhattan hotel in the spring of 2006.

Aidala stated after the court session that the identity of the new accuser had not been formally disclosed.

Lindsay Goldbrum, the accuser’s attorney, has previously stated that the lady has never made her claim public and does not want to be recognized for the time being, but she “will be fully prepared to speak her truth at trial.”

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office argued that having a second trial on the additional charge would be “extraordinarily inefficient” and a waste of judicial resources. Harvey’s lawyers argued in court documents that the cases should be kept separate, accusing prosecutors of aiming to turn the retrial into “an entirely new proceeding.”

Harvey Weinstein’s Retrial Moved To Next Year, Lawyer Plans To Hire A Private Investigator

Harvey has been detained at the city’s Rikers Island detention facility, where he has suffered many health difficulties.

He was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022, but his lawyers have filed an appeal.

The sexual assault and harassment charges against Weinstein fueled the #MeToo movement in 2017.

The 72-year-old former producer co-founded Miramax and The Weinstein Company, both of which create films and television shows. He produced films such as “Shakespeare in Love” and “The Crying Game.”

SOURCE | AP