Canada Post Commemorative Stamp of Donald Sutherland

CANADA POST on 19 October 2023 issued a First Day Cover honouring the career of one of Canada’s most respected and versatile actors, Donald Sutherland. Cancellation postmark originated in St. John, New Brunswick. The cachet features Sutherland in his role as Oddball in the film "Kelley's Heroes".

Born on 17 July 1935, in Saint John, New Brunswick, Sutherland studied engineering and drama at the University of Toronto before moving to England to pursue his passion for acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

He appeared in stage productions and television shows, making his feature film debut in 1963 as “Tall Man in Nightclub” in The World Ten Times Over. In 1967, Sutherland starred in his breakthrough role as killer Vernon Pinkley in the classic Second World War film, The Dirty Dozen.

His first lead role in a major motion picture came in 1970 when he played Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in the bitingly dark comedy, M*A*S*H. The role transformed him into a Hollywood A-lister and one of the biggest movie stars in the world. It also earned him his first of nine Golden Globe nominations.

Sutherland’s incredible talents and eclectic tastes led him to take on a broad range of roles over the course of his seven-decade career. He is known for memorable performances in a variety of films, including  "Kelley's Heroes" (1970), "Klute" (1971), "Ordinary People" (1980), "Backdraft" (1991), "Disclosure" (1994), "A Time to Kill" (1996), "Fallen" (1998), "Pride & Prejudice" (2005), and "The Hunger Games" franchise (2012-2015).

With his international success, Sutherland has remained a proud Canadian and starred in many Canadian productions, including the TV movie "Bethune" (1977) and the 1990 feature film "Bethune: The Making of a Hero", playing legendary Canadian Dr. Norman Bethune in both.

His work in nearly 200 films and television productions has garnered him many awards, including a Genie (1983), an Emmy (1995), two Golden Globes (1995 and 2002), the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement (2000), and an Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (2017).

He has also received stars on Canada’s Walk of Fame (2000) and the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2011) and been named a Companion of the Order of Canada (2019) and a Commandeur of France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2012).

Stamp Details:
Designer: Paprika
Dimensions:
Flat: 136 mm (W) X 154 mm (H)
Folded: 68 mm (W) X 154 (H)
Printer: Colour Innovations
Printing process:
Stamps side: 4 COLOUR PROCESS + 2 PMS – FIRST PASS
1 PMS + TAGGING – 2ND PASS
Cover side: 4 COLOUR PROCESS + 1 PANTONE + VARNISH
Quantity: 200,000

Source: Canada Post