The world just lost a great actor and a notable peace advocate—Donald Sutherland, who died on June 20, 2024, at age 88. Known for films like Kelly’s Heroes, MASH and The Hunger Games, his influence extended far beyond the silver screen. He tirelessly campaigned for peace and social causes.
His outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War led him to back the Indochina Peace Campaign, a movement aimed at halting U.S. aggression in Vietnam and fostering peace in the region. He also co-organized the FTA—officially Free the Army, often written with a different F-word—tour with Jane Fonda.
This series of anti-war shows, performed worldwide for American troops, provided a counter-narrative to the pro-war United Service Organizations tours. With Fonda, Sutherland produced a documentary about their FTA tour. It featured skits and anti-war songs, interspersed with Black G.I.s talking about their experiences of racism in the Armed Forces.
Despite being the target of FBI surveillance and attempts to undermine his anti-war activism, Sutherland’s commitment to his cause remained unshaken, even when the documentary he co-produced with Fonda about their FTA tour was abruptly removed from American cinemas. His unwavering spirit and unwavering dedication to his principles made him a prominent figure in the anti-war movement.
Sutherland’s anti-war campaigning continued, and he criticized the policies of George W. Bush’s administration. At the Venice Film Festival in 2019, alongside Mick Jagger, he criticized global political leaders for failing to address climate change. “They are ruining the world,” Sutherland said. “We have contributed to the ruination of it, but they are ensuring it.”
Donald Sutherland’s legacy as a peacemaker and contributor to the arts, social causes and the anti-war movement remains a testament to the power of conviction. It leaves an indelible mark on the world.
Chris Houston is president of the Canadian Peace Museum and a columnist for The Bancroft Times.
