Talk:Donald Sutherland

Mr. Sutherland also starred in the DIRTY DOZEN. Hello?
Yes 2601:6C3:4081:41C0:4C17:8B25:A992:913E (talk) 23:38, 1 May 2024 (UTC)


 * He also appeared in Hallmark's Movie Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All in 1994. https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=SNAPST&q=Oldest+Living+Confederate+Widow+Tells+All+TV&filters=fcid:%22actor.tvshow%22+pivot:%2203f90067-c593-29d6-0d7b-45efd34cd42e%22+sid:%225116a120-e90d-19e4-4173-a118d02d1149%22 2600:382:2B00:CE:D444:25E5:348B:4938 (talk) 19:53, 21 June 2024 (UTC)

His career spans over SIX decades, not seven. At least, not yet.
If his career started around 1963, in 2024 it's going to be 61 years long. 2001:4DF4:1309:7B00:74EB:E98D:68:2BDA (talk) 20:30, 2 May 2024 (UTC)


 * No, seven decades: 60s,70s,80s,90s,00s,10s,20s. A bit clever, but accurate. Rest In Peace Donald Sutherland. RTP Rocker (talk) 19:13, 20 June 2024 (UTC)
 * That's not how it works. 2001:4DF4:1309:7B00:9134:48AA:EE5D:4872 (talk) 20:36, 20 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Keep in mind 1963 was his FILM debut. He was acting on stage before then including on West End. 2600:100C:A20C:6C0F:38C3:7DA5:10A4:FB5D (talk) 23:53, 21 June 2024 (UTC)

Infobox image
I'm opening this talk page section in regards to Sutherland's infobox image. Per Template:Infobox person, "when the subject of a biographical article has recently died, particularly those who have been publicly known for decades, editors may come to a consensus on the article's talk page regarding what image would best be suited for the infobox."

The current infobox image (see attached image to prevent confusion) has already been used for years prior to his death, so consensus should be reached here if anybody wants to change it. Please discuss so here, whether you support using the current image or a different image on here. Thanks, B3251 (talk) 00:09, 21 June 2024 (UTC)


 * @JMerrill17 Please talk here and establish consensus before changing the image please. I do not want to engage in an edit war. B3251 (talk) 00:20, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Not sure why the image is in black-and-white. A color image is available; use that. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 00:34, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * The image that I just reverted it back to has already been used as the infobox image for years prior to his death, I don't see why it's totally necessary to change it all of a sudden. I've been trying to tell the editor to discuss it here but they haven't been communicating. B3251 (talk) 00:45, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I don't, either; the current image is pretty representative of Sutherland already. I support the current image. XtraJovial (talk • contribs) 01:00, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I think the user pinged above is the same IP (or IPs for that matter) that has been trying to change the image for a couple of hours now. I don't think they will reply here. ภץאคгöร  01:04, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Since I think I'm "the editor" is referring to, I haven't posted anything because the only thing I can say is, I strongly agree with the template's documentation, whatever image is used it should be by following that guideline.  -  FlightTime  ( open channel ) 01:15, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I am not referring to you, I am referring to the editor that I pinged. B3251 (talk) 02:31, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Infoboxes for deceased individuals usually use older photographs at the height of their success. See Akira Toriyama. elijahpepe@wikipedia (he/him) 03:39, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * But if I were to !vote, I think File:Donald Sutherland, 1981.jpg is the best choice. -  FlightTime  ( open channel ) 01:19, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Appears pretty fuzzy, overexposed and insignificant to me. As much as I try, I can't see why it should be superior to the current image. –Tobias (talk) 16:54, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * What makes this difficult here is that the 'height of his career' per se could also be attributed to during his later life, around mid 1990s - late 2010s, as this is around the time where he was receiving most of his awards/nominations. He is widely recognized for his role in M*A*S*H (1970) for example, but he is also massively recognized (in what is likely his most notable role) for portraying Coriolanus Snow in THG franchise. B3251 (talk) 03:59, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Definitely support use of the current, more recent photo as the main infobox photo TheLoyalOrder (talk) 03:36, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I'm not a big fan of this image, but given the other options available on Wikimedia Commons, I don't see anything better. Kire1975 (talk) 08:50, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * How about this image in 1998 when he was around 63 years old. 113.211.209.191 (talk) 10:51, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I'm a bit iffy on the grayscale image since we still have a pretty good colored image, but it's not a bad option and is within the timeframe I'd prefer. B3251 (talk) 16:09, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * The current image is the most recent one, it's colored and taken during the period when the subject was arguably at the 'height of his career'/his most popular due to Hunger Games franchise, one of the highest-grossing franchises of all time. ภץאคгöร  16:59, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Current image. David J Johnson (talk) 17:06, 21 June 2024 (UTC)


 * Support option 2 or 3 Usually after someone dies, their infobox changes to a more younger one / one that depicts the subject of the article in their 'prime' or 'peak'. Sometimes it's a colored photo, or sometimes it's black and white. I think options 2 and 3 are in good quality that shows a younger Sutherland in his prime, however if I had to pick, option 3 is a bit better. --TDKR Chicago 101 (talk) 17:04, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Now that I get a better look at these, #4 which shows a younger Sutherland, it's out of focus, #2 has a bad shining on the forehead, #3 would be my pick, if the current one is not used. -  FlightTime  ( open channel ) 17:10, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Option one (current) seems to be the best option of all the images as it is a clear view of his face, is in color and is in focus. Jurisdicta (talk) 19:13, 22 June 2024 (UTC)

The University of Toronto doesn’t allow students to pursue a dual degree in engineering
The Early Life and Education section claims that Sutherland pursued a double major in engineering and drama at Victoria University (University of Toronto). However, the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering (FASE) doesn't allow engineering students to pursue any double major due to its heavy course load, and, from what I can find, never has. Additionally, Victoria University has never offered its own engineering program and operates independently of FASE, which operates as its own independent affiliated college of UofT. From sources online, it is clear that at the beginning of his enrolment at UofT Sutherland did pursue engineering in some capacity; however, there is no credible source that I could find that claims he pursued a double major in it. Could someone please confirm whether or not he truly did pursue a double major or whether this is false? ArnavTalwani (talk) 02:23, 21 June 2024 (UTC)


 * Most sources give this as the double major. A couple of Canadian sources vary this though:
 * The Times Colonist says "Sutherland began as an engineering student at the University of Toronto but switched to English and started acting in school theatrical productions."
 * The Albertan says "Sutherland studied drama, engineering and English at the University of Toronto, where he played to audiences at the Hart House Theatre and met his first wife of seven years, Lois Hardwick."
 * It seems quite plausible that he changed his major as I did this myself but I don't know whether this would formally be a double major at that institution.
 * Andrew🐉(talk) 20:55, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank you. This does not make this a double major at the University of Toronto, and I can confirm this since I am currently an undergraduate student in FASE. The University of Toronto requires that students declare both majors and then complete the appropriate course load for those majors; thus, when being conferred a degree, they will be conferred one for both majors. I found a blog credited to the University of Toronto History Society that agrees with the Times Colonist, so it is more likely that Sutherland began studying engineering and then switched to a "specialist" (a more rigorous and in-depth pathway of study than a major offered at UofT) in English or double major in English and Drama. In either case, it seems that part of the article on Wikipedia should be modified accordingly. ArnavTalwani (talk) 21:05, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I was a double major at my school in 1996. I dropped out and came back in 2004 and the double major was not available. Things change. Just because there is no double major at your school now doesn't mean it didn't exist when Donald Sutherland was there 60 plus years ago. That's why we don't do WP:ORIGINAL research here at Wikipedia. We rely on WP:RELIABLE sources. Kire1975 (talk) 21:14, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * There are no reliable sources or records from the University that indicate a double major in engineering ever existed. Additionally, I've checked all FASE archives and there is no indication that the faculty ever allowed students to pursue a double major. Because FASE would have been the only affiliated school/faculty at UofT to have offered engineering when Donald Sutherland was attending (the School of Practical Science, which later became FASE in 1906, became the engineering school for UofT in 1878), if he had pursued a double major in Engineering, he would have been affiliated with FASE in some capacity. Thus, it seems like he did not pursue a double major in engineering and drama because an engineering double major program never existed at this school. ArnavTalwani (talk) 21:25, 21 June 2024 (UTC)

Canadian President?
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (please) 199.7.157.32 (talk) 13:59, 21 June 2024 (UTC)


 * I agree, we should include the comments from Candian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He had this to say, "He was a man with a strong presence, a brilliance in his craft, and truly a great Canadian artist and he will be deeply missed. My thoughts go out to Kiefer and the entire Sutherland family, as well as all Canadians who are no doubt saddened to learn as I am right now." Jurisdicta (talk) 16:37, 21 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Done. Jurisdicta (talk) 16:41, 21 June 2024 (UTC)

Trudeau's comments are in two different sections - Death and tributes and artistry and legacy. That hardly seems necessary. Kire1975 (talk) 15:40, 22 June 2024 (UTC)

Why is the quote by Alissa Wilkinson in the article formated with a white background?
Reviewing the article, under Artistry and legacy, the quote by Alissa Wilkinson is formatted differently than the rest of the article. Is there a reason for this or editor error? Jurisdicta (talk) 16:43, 21 June 2024 (UTC)


 * @Jurisdicta, does it still appear that way to you? Right now I see a light blue. --Classicwiki (talk) If you reply here, please ping me. 06:42, 22 June 2024 (UTC)
 * In night mode, it appears a little green to me. According to Template:Quote box: the RGB background color of the box. Defaults to #F9F9F9 (light gray). Kire1975 (talk) 07:41, 22 June 2024 (UTC)
 * It is currently set to "| bgcolor = LightCyan" so it appearing a little green seems accurate. If it is an issue, feel free to adjust. --Classicwiki (talk) If you reply here, please ping me. 07:51, 22 June 2024 (UTC)
 * The light box behind the text is now gone. I am using dark mode but this is the first time I had seen a light box behind the text. All is well now and the quote appears to be in the same format as the rest of the article. Thanks for the help. Jurisdicta (talk) 19:12, 22 June 2024 (UTC)