How Rossif Sutherland continues his father Donald’s legacy

Rossif Sutherland’s new show, Murder in a Small Town, was an unexpected opportunity to continue the legacy of his late father Donald.

The series, which premieres Tuesday, September 24 (8 p.m. ET) on Fox, is based on the Karl Alberg novel series by LR Wright, which was first published in the 1980s. Years before Rossif landed the lead role in the new crime series, Donald tried to put together a film adaptation of the books.

“This was news to me,” Rossif, 45, told The Post. “I had no idea this was one of many projects my father was involved in.”

He added: “I only found out when I called my dad to tell him that I had gotten this job at an American network and they did the absurd thing of giving me the lead role.”

Hollywood legend Donald Sutherland died in June at the age of 88. He left behind five children, including Rossif and his half-brother, fellow actor Kiefer Sutherland.

“It actually seemed like a happy coincidence, or maybe it was nepotism,” Rossif said of the role, adding that the people who “wanted to bring the show to life were perhaps delighted by the idea of ​​the son playing him.”

Rossif, who also appears in “The Handmaid's Tale,” added: “Here I am, my father has now died, and I'm on this show that he could have been on if it had happened at a different time. It's all a little surreal. I feel him everywhere in this project.”

“Murder in a Small Town” follows Karl Alberg (Sutherland), who moves to a picturesque coastal town as the new police chief to escape the big city. While investigating crimes, he also develops a romantic relationship with local librarian Cassandra Lee (Kristin Kreuk, “Smallville”).

“Of course, this show is a crime story. It's about the formula: someone commits a crime and we have to find out who did it and why,” Rossif told the Post.

“But at its core, it's a love story between two people who are in the middle of their lives, who have suffered their own pains and who have been scared of many things in life… They found each other. And now their journey will be to bring that love through the cruelties of life.”

He said he liked his character because “his superpower is his humanity. I was quite fascinated by playing a good man.”

Sutherland said that although his father and brother Kiefer are actors and his mother Francine Racette was also an actress, he did not grow up planning to enter the business.

But he added: “I was in the presence of this great man, this great artist,” referring to Donald.

“It was always a gift to see his films. It was absurd because I was his son and he was up there on the screen. I rarely thought it was my father. I saw my father die on the screen so many times before he died. [away] really.”

Rossif said he became an actor “mainly because of my father.” “In many ways, he brought me closer to my father. And in many ways, he's the reason he'll keep me company even now that he's gone.”

Rossif added that he hasn't worked since Donald's death, “but I'm excited to be on set because it's the place he called home and I miss it.”