Hunger Games star Tom Blyth pays sweet tribute to Donald Sutherland

Tom Blyth has paid tribute to his Hunger Games predecessor Donald Sutherland.

Donald's son Kiefer Sutherland shared the sad news earlier this week that his father had passed away at age 88 following a long illness.

One of the many tributes to his life and legacy came from Blyth, who followed in Sutherland's footsteps playing a younger version of President Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

tom blyth, rachel zegler, the hunger games the ballad of songbirds and snakes
Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler in The Ballad of Songbirds and SnakesMurray Close/Lionsgate

In a sweet Instagram post, Blyth acknowledged that while he didn't know Sutherland personally, he felt honoured to share a connection with him in The Hunger Games.

"Donald Sutherland came about as close to mastering the craft of acting as anyone gets. So many genius performances," he wrote on Instagram.

"I never had the honor of knowing him personally, but it was the honor of a lifetime to follow in his footsteps. Thank you sir for birthing one of the great movie characters of all time."

tom blyth
Rodin Eckenroth/GA - Getty Images

Related: Best streaming services 2024 — including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV+

His heartfelt message received lots of love on social media, with his Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes co-star Rachel Zegler among those showing support.

Shortly after news broke of Sutherland's death, the official Hunger Games social media accounts posted their own memorial.

"We asked the kindest man in the world to portray the most corrupt, ruthless dictator we’ve ever seen. Such was the power and skill of Donald Sutherland’s acting that he created one more indelible character among many others that defined his legendary career," a statement read.

"We are privileged to have known and worked with him, and our thoughts are with his family."

Aside from his portrayal of President Snow, Sutherland memorably starred in M*A*S*H, Pride & Prejudice and The Italian Job on the big screen, as well as featuring on the small screen in The Undoing and Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

donald sutherland as president snow, the hunger games catching fire
Murray Close - Lionsgate

He has often been called one of the greatest actors to never receive an Oscar nomination, though he was given an Academy Honorary Award in 2017 for his contributions to the film industry.

You Might Also Like