The Hunger Games star Donald Sutherland is finally getting recognition for his exemplary career with an honorary Oscar.

The actor, who played baddie President Snow in the blockbuster series, has had a pretty stellar career since first breaking out in the 1960s, and is now getting credit where it's due with a lifetime achievement award.

Shockingly, Sutherland has never been nominated for an Oscar despite starring in all-time classics such as Don't Look Now, Ordinary People and M*A*S*H. Better late than never, eh?

The Academy announced its Governors Awards nominees yesterday (September 7), and joining the star will be Killer of Sheep director Charles Burnett, Exorcist cinematographer Owen Roizman and French New Wave filmmaker Agnès Varda.

The four will all be presented with Oscar statuettes at the Academy's 9th Annual Governors Awards on Saturday, November 11.

Fans were delighted for Sutherland, though many were outraged that he had never been acknowledged by the Academy in the past:

Last year's honourees were Jackie Chan, Anne V Coates, Lynn Stalmaster and Frederick Wiseman, while previous years have seen the likes of Angelina Jolie, Spike Lee and Steve Martin all awarded.

Meanwhile, it emerged in recent years that Don't Look Now could be in store for a remake, something that Sutherland has firmly spoken out against.

president snow in the hunger gamespinterest
Lionsgate

"Don't embarrass yourselves by participating in it. It's bullshit. It was a piece of work indelibly written by Nicolas Roeg," he said back in 2015.

"Why would they do it? It's just people trying to profit off the back of something that's very beautiful. It's shameful. They should be ashamed of themselves."


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Sam Warner

Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.