Actor Donald Sutherland was born on July 17, 1935, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. He was the youngest of 11 children. He was bedridden for four years due to illness during his childhood. He aspired to a career in broadcasting, and at age 14 hosted a local radio show, becoming Canada's youngest DJ. He studied engineering at the University of Toronto, but also developed an interest in theater. After graduating, he moved to London and began performing on stage. He made his film debut in 1963, at the recommendation of producer Warren Kiefer, in Castle of the Living Dead. He gained attention with roles in The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Master of the Dead (1970). He made a striking impact as an arsonist in Ron Howard's Backdraft (1991).

In his personal life, he married Lois Hardwick in 1959 but divorced in 1966. In the same year, he remarried Shirley Douglas and had two children with her, but they also divorced. In 1972, he married Francine Racette. His son, Kiefer Sutherland, is best known for his role as Jack Bauer in "24."