Inside Donald Sutherland’s rollercoaster love life as he dies aged 88: M*A*S*H actor and dad-of-five had two failed marriages and a whirlwind affair with Jane Fonda before wedding his wife of 50 years, Francine Racette

When Donald Sutherland tragically passed away this week at the age of 88, he left behind his devoted wife Francine Racette, to whom he was married for more than five decades.

But before the M*A*S*H alum found the love of his life in Francine, he had an extremely tumultuous romantic life filled with multiple failed marriages, cheating accusations and a whirlwind affair with Jane Fonda.

Almost immediately after the actor entered the spotlight in the late 1960s, he gained a reputation as a real player.

Donald first tied the knot while in college, marrying a former child star who was 18 years older than him.

But shortly after his Hollywood career took off, the Hunger Games star filed for divorce. And within months, he was walking down the aisle with actress Shirley Douglas.

The young stars soon welcomed twins together – including 24 actor Kiefer Sutherland – but his second marriage came to a halt when rumors erupted that he and Jane had become embroiled in a secret affair after falling in love on the set of the movie Klute. .

By the time Donald met Francine in 1972, Hollywood’s new “it” boy was already embroiled in two very public breakups and a tryst with a co-star.

But she seemed to tame the former bad boy, and the couple – who welcomed three sons together – were happy inside love until his passing this week, which was confirmed by his son, Kiefer.

It is said the acclaimed actor died in Miami of a long-term illness, but further details were not immediately available.

“It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” Kiefer wrote on X on Thursday morning.

‘Personally I think [he was] one of the most important actors in film history. 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.’

As the world grapples with the news, DailyMail.com has rounded up everything you need to know about Donald’s love life and family – from his two ex-wives to his five children.

Donald married Lois Hardwick, a former child star who was 18 years older than him when he was in college

Donald met his first wife, Lois Hardwick, while studying at Victoria University, Toronto in Canada.

A budding engineer with a passion for performing, Donald quickly fell in love with Lois, a former child star who was 18 years his senior.

Lois famously starred in many films from the Disney Alice Comedies film series in the 1920s, but retired from acting in 1929.

They married in 1959 and were together for seven years – but shortly after Donald gave up his dreams of becoming an engineer and wanted to become an actor instead, their marriage collapsed.

Just as his film career was taking off, the up-and-coming new Hollywood star filed for divorce from Lois in 1966.

And while he has never spoken publicly about what led to their breakup, the timing of his next romance could be a hint.

Lois sadly passed away two years after they went their separate ways; her cause of death is unknown.

Almost immediately after his divorce from Lois, he walked down the aisle with actress Shirley Douglas

Almost immediately after splitting from Lois, Donald walked down the aisle with actress Shirley, daughter of Canadian politician Tommy Douglas, who is known for creating Canada’s universal health care system.

Just a few months later, she welcomed their twins: Kiefer and Rachel.

Shirley was best known for her roles in Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita, the TV series Wind at My Back and the science fiction series The Silver Surfer.

But their romance was torn apart after reports emerged claiming Donald was having an affair with his Klute costar, Jane.

Kiefer followed in his father’s footsteps and became a major actor, starring in the Fox series 24, the film Stand By Me, the horror comedy The Lost Boys and The Three Musketeers, to name a few.

As for Rachel, she is now a successful producer and has worked on a slew of shows such as Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Pretty Hard Cases, Nurses, Burden of Truth and Mary Kills People.

Shirley died in 2020 at the age of 86 from complications resulting from pneumonia.

He had a whirlwind affair with Jane Fonda that began just before they started shooting Klute together

Both Jane and Donald were at the height of their careers when rumors of a love affair broke out.

But the two remained tight-lipped until Donald finally confirmed it years later Rolling stone.

During a 2018 interview, he confessed that he and Jane had indeed been lovers “for a few years,” explaining that the whirlwind romance began right before the shooting for Klute began.

And it turns out that Jane was the one who took the initiative, despite being a married man.

“We were already cast, but hadn’t started filming yet,” he explained.

“And one day, through a somewhat provocative suggestion, she made it very clear that I should come home with her. And I just said, ‘Okay.'”

He exchanged vows with Francine Racette for the third time, and they were together until his death

Things with Jane must have worked out eventually, because in 1972, Donald exchanged vows for the third time with French-Canadian actress Francine after they bonded on the set of Alien Thunder.

They subsequently welcomed sons Roeg in 1974, Rossif in 1978 and Angus in 1982.

Roeg now works as a talent agent and producer, while Rossif became an actor, starring in ER, Crossing Lines, Poor Boy and River.

Donald’s youngest son Angus briefly dabbled in acting, but now works as a producer.

Donald and Francine remained together until his death this week.