Jane Fonda Breaks Silence On Ex Donald Sutherland's Death: 'I Am Heartbroken'

Tributes continue to pour in for late actor Donald Sutherland, with the latest coming from his former co-star, Jane Fonda.

The Hollywood veteran recently addressed the Canadian entertainer's passing with a heartfelt statement. She reflected on their longtime relationship with gratitude and praises for the fantastic man the world has lost.

Donald Sutherland took his final breath on Thursday, June 20 at 88. However, his cause of death is yet to be released.

Jane Fonda Honors Donald Sutherland's Memory

In her latest Instagram post, Fonda shared a black-and-white throwback picture of a younger Sutherland. The actor posed on the set of the duo's hit 1971 film “Klute,” where he played the titular character John Klute.

She captioned this image with a touching statement, reflecting on her feelings and what a wonderful man her former co-star was.

"I am stunned to hear that Donald Sutherland has died. He was my fascinating co-star in Klute, and we loved working together," Fonda penned. 

“In this photo, we are on the Klute set with director Alan Pakula. Donald was a brilliant actor and a complex man who shared quite a few adventures with me,” the actress continued, adding:

Fans Join Fonda In Grieving Sutherland's Death

Fonda's words sparked similar sentiments from fans and fellow celebrities, who echoed their grief and thoughts about Sutherland's impact as an actor. Actress Marg Helgenberger wrote:

“L.A. Law” star Debi Mazar dropped her condolences and described Sutherland as “wonderful.” Meanwhile, a fan of Fonda's 1971 movie with the late actor chimed, “This movie is wonderful. Your chemistry together was electric.”

Another “Klute” lover added, “A sad day for Canada & all who loved & admired the man & his unique talent. Iconic pairing you were in Klute... condolences @janefonda.”

Sutherland's Son Confirmed News Of His Death

On June 20, The Blast reported that Donald Sutherland had passed away at 88, with one of his sons confirming the news. Kiefer Sutherland, a well-known actor, addressed his grief in a statement.

"With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away," Kiefer began, describing the late patriarch as "one of the most important actors in the history of film."

He continued, "Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived."

Jane Fonda And Sutherland Previously Dated

The 1971 movie, “Klute,” had a special place in Fonda and Sutherland's hearts as their on-screen romance became a reality. The co-stars dated briefly after their film and worked on several projects together.

One of these projects included staging a traveling anti-war roadshow in front of US soldiers — a reaction to Bob Hope’s United Service Organisations (USO) tour for the troops amid the Vietnam War.

The then couple's show was turned into a documentary titled FTA in 1972, capturing the anti-war sentiment of the era. Besides sparking their romance, “Klute” earned Fonda the Oscar for Best Actress and Sutherland more recognition for his acting skills, per INDEPENDENT. 

Inside Donald Sutherland's Impressive Career

One of Sutherland's most memorable roles was the titular character, John Klute. He portrayed a detective who attempted to protect Fonda’s character, Bree Daniels, from a killer. However, he might be more famous for his part in the 1970 film version of “M*A*S*H.”

In the movie, Sutherland portrayed the womanizing Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce Jr., a role that had his co-star, Elliott Gould, singing his praises. The latter described the late actor as a “giant” of acting who was “enormously kind and generous.”

Sutherland's role as the presidential adviser Clark Clifford in “Path To War” earned him a Golden Globe. He received his second award, plus an Emmy for the mini-series "Citizen X."

In 2017, he obtained the Academy Honorary Award for his acting skills after failing to get a trophy during his lengthy career.