He and Alan Alda both play Republicans with Presidential aspirations on television. Alda appears on The "The West Wing" (1999), Sutherland on "Commander in Chief" (2005).
He and Kiefer Sutherland are both Emmy winners. He won in 1996 for Citizen X (1995) (TV), and ten years later, Kiefer won for "24" (2001).
He was awarded an O.C. (Officer of the Order of Canada) on December 18, 1978 for his services to drama.
He was featured in the computer game Conspiracy (digitised video and sound).
He was originally cast as Franklyn Madson in Dead Again (1991), but was eventually replaced by Derek Jacobi.
His first part-time job was as a news correspondent for local radio station, CKBW.
His great-grandmother through male line was a third cousin of President Rutherford Birchard Hayes.
His son, Kiefer Sutherland, appeared in Stand by Me (1986), based on a short story by Stephen King. Donald later appeared in _Salem's Lot (2004)(TV)_. Donald has himself appeared in two Michael Crichton adaptations: The Great Train Robbery (1979) and Disclosure (1994), while is other son Rossif Sutherland appears in Timeline (2003).
In 2003, twice played a character who dies who was the father of a young woman, in Cold Mountain (2003) and The Italian Job (2003). Both actresses (Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron) were nominated for Best Actress (although Theron was nominated for Monster (2003) and not her role in The Italian Job (2003).
In addition to an on-screen bit part as a computer scientist in Billion Dollar Brain (1967), he also provided the mechanical voice for the eponymous "brain".
Is a fan of "24" (2001), and never misses an episode. He declined an offer to play Jack's father, Philip, in the show's sixth season.
Is a huge fan of his son Kiefer's TV show "24" (2001). He never misses an episode.
Is distantly related to the former Governor of Vermont, Howard Dean.
Lives in Santa Monica, California.
Made two guest appearances on "The Saint" (1962), playing two different characters.
Originally wanted to be a sculptor, but decided to be an actor after witnessing people praise a drawing of Churchill that he thought was awful (he realized he couldn't make art to please other people). He had never attended a theater performance, and still hadn't when he received his first role. Thus he was behind the proscenium arch before ever having been in front of it.
Partook in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver as the voice-over narrator describing the history of Canada and was also one of the flag bearers of the Olympic flag.
Played together with his son Kiefer Sutherland in two movies: Max Dugan Returns (1983) and A Time to Kill (1996) where they play enemies.
Prefers to shoot the opening scenes of a movie last in order to better set the tone of the movie to the audience.
Starred in the TV series "Commander in Chief" (2005) with Leslie Hope. During the first season of "24" (2001), Leslie Hope played the wife of his son, Kiefer Sutherland.