Who Were Donald Sutherland’s 3 Wives? How Many Kids Did He Have?
Donald Sutherland was a decorated Canadian actor with an impressive career spanning several decades. While he never received an Academy Award nomination, he received two Golden Globes and a Primetime Emmy for his work. Sadly, he died in June 2024 at 88 years old. Here’s what to know about his wife, Francine Racette, who survives him, as well as his past wives and five children.
Who is Donald Sutherland’s wife, Francine Racette?
Donald Sutherland was married three times. He married his third wife, Francine Racette, in 1972 after meeting her on the set of Alien Thunder, a Canadian drama.
Racette was born in Quebec and worked as an actor. She appeared in American and French films throughout her career. Racette graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1966 and became known for her performances in Au revoir les enfants, Lumière, and The Disappearance — another film she starred in alongside Donald. She retired from acting in the ’80s.
Donald’s romance with his third wife came on the heels of a short-lived romance with Jane Fonda in 1971. They starred in Klute that same year and attended the Academy Awards together when Fonda won Best Actress for her role in the movie. Their relationship lasted until June 1972.
Who were Sutherland’s 2 previous wives?
Donald Sutherland married twice before embarking on his 50-year marriage to Francine Racette. In 1966, he married the late actor Shirley Douglas. They stayed together for four years before divorcing in 1970, and they welcomed twins during their marriage. Douglas is the famous actor Kiefer Sutherland’s mother.
Donald and Douglas reportedly had money troubles during their marriage. The actor made his first movie, The Castle of the Living Dead, in 1964 and didn’t arrive in Hollywood until 1967.
“We had no money,” Donald said, according to the Los Angeles Times. Donald called his friend and fellow actor Christopher Plummer for help.
“I woke him up,” Donald explained to the publication in 2011. “He loaned me $1,500. Incredible. We were on a Boeing 707 — Shirley, her son Tom. Kiefer and [his twin] Rachel were probably 3 or 4 months old. I had a raincoat on, and I was holding Kiefer, and when we landed in Los Angeles, he threw up all over me.”
Donald’s first wife was Lois Hardwick. The couple tied the knot in 1959 and stayed married for seven years before divorcing. Like her husband, Hardwick had an acting career and rose to fame as a child actor, starring in several Alice Comedies for The Walt Disney Company. Most notably, Hardwick was 18 years older than Donald.
Donald and Hardwick got divorced in 1966. She died two years later.
How many kids did Donald Sutherland have?
Donald Sutherland had five children in total with his second wife, Shirley Douglas, and his third wife, Francine Racette. He and his first wife, Lois Hardwick, never had kids.
Kiefer and Rachel Sutherland, 57, are twins who had Douglas as their mother. Kiefer has a well-known acting career and is best remembered for his role as Jack Bauer in the drama 24. He announced his father’s death on X. Rachel stays out of the spotlight but works in the entertainment industry as a production manager.
Donald and Racette had their son, Roeg Sutherland, on Feb. 5, 1974. According to People, he reportedly works in the media finance division of the Creative Artists Agency, which oversees the “packing and representation of independently financed films, television, and digital content.”
Donald and Racette had Rossif Sutherland on Sept. 25, 1978. While he didn’t initially take an interest in acting, he always looked up to his father and eventually entered the industry. His performance in the 2016 film River earned him a nomination for a Canadian Screen Award.
Finally, Donald and Racette had Angus Sutherland on Sept. 3, 1982. Angus also avoids the spotlight like Rachel, preferring to work behind the camera.
Donald is also survived by four grandchildren, including actor Sarah Sutherland known for her role in Veep.
Elements of this article were originally reported by The U.S. Sun and HollywoodLife.
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