Tom Blyth says following in Donald Sutherland's 'Hunger Games' footsteps was 'honor of a lifetime' (original) (raw)
Actor Tom Blyth is paying tribute to Donald Sutherland for originating "one of the great movie characters" — their shared role of President Coriolanus Snow in "The Hunger Games" franchise.
Sutherland, who died at age 88, first played Snow in 2012's "The Hunger Games," based on the young adult novels by Suzanne Collins. He played the tyrannical fictional president in the series' three subsequent films.
Blyth took on the role in 2023 for "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," a prequel film set about 60 years before the events of the Jennifer Lawrence-led films.
Sutherland’s son Kiefer Sutherland announced his father’s death June 20.
In the wake of the revered actor's death, Blyth was one of multiple "Hunger Games" stars to honor Sutherland's legacy. Sharing a photo of the actor to Instagram June 20, Blyth called taking on one of his roles "the honor of a lifetime."
"Donald Sutherland came about as close to mastering the craft of acting as anyone gets," Blyth said in his caption. "So many genius performances. I never had the honor of knowing him personally, but it was the honor of a lifetime to follow in his footsteps. Thank you sir for birthing one of the great movie characters of all time."
In the original "Hunger Games" films, Sutherland plays Coriolanus at the height of his power. He serves as the series' core antagonist, challenged by Katniss Everdeen, a bow and arrow-wielding teenage revolutionary.
"The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" tells Snow's villain origin story, starting with his role as a mentor to tribute Lucy Gray in the 10th annual Hunger Games, which sees children fight to the death as punishment for a past uprising. (For context, Katniss participates in the 74th annual Hunger Games.)
Blyth and Rachel Zegler brought young Snow and Lucy Gray's toxic relationship to life in the film.
Zegler acknowledged Sutherland's death on her Instagram story, resharing a post featuring the late actor with three broken heart emoji.
In addition to the "Hunger Games" films, Sutherland appeared in the film version of "M*A*S*H," "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," "Ordinary People" and the 2005 adaptation of "Pride & Prejudice," among other memorable projects.
The "Hunger Games" book and film series are ongoing. Earlier in June, Collins announced a fifth book set in the world of Panem, "Sunrise on the Reaping," which is set during the 50th Hunger Games. The book is set to publish in March 2025 with a film adaptation expected in November 2026.
Maddie Ellis is a weekend editor at TODAY Digital.