Ron Howard has paid a glowing tribute to Donald Sutherland.

Ron Howard has heaped praise on Donald Sutherland

Ron Howard has heaped praise on Donald Sutherland

The award-winning actor has passed away, aged 88, following a long illness, and Ron has taken to social media to pay tribute to Sutherland's career.

The 70-year-old filmmaker wrote on X: "#RIPDonaldSutherland. I was blessed to direct him in #Backdraft. One of the most intelligent, interesting and engrossing film actors of all time. Incredible range, creative courage and dedication to serving the story and the audience with supreme excellence. (sic)"

Edgar Wright has also taken to the micro-blogging platform to heap praise on Sutherland.

The 50-year-old director - whose film credits include 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Baby Driver' - wrote: "RIP the great Donald Sutherland, a favourite actor and always fascinating screen presence. He starred in two of my very favourite and most influential films - ‘Don’t Look Now’ and the 1978 ‘Invasion Of The Bodysnatchers’. But that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his legendary filmography; a funny, laconic, but also intense and dramatic presence in so many memorable movies, starting with his break-through in ‘The Dirty Dozen’, and then on an incredible run in the 70’s, 80’s and beyond with ‘M*A*S*H’, ‘Kelly’s Heroes’, ‘Little Murders’, ‘Klute’, ‘Don’t Look Now’, ‘The Day Of The Locust’, ‘Ordinary People’ and ‘JFK’, among many others.

"I even adore his very early appearances in ‘Dr Terror’s House Of Horrors’ and ‘The World Ten Times Over’, as well as his very silly cameo in ‘Kentucky Fried Movie’.

"I know many of you following me will feel the same way about this great screen legend’s passing, so please list your favourite Donald Sutherland films.

"So sorry to see you go Donald, but what a legacy you leave behind. (sic)"

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