Peter Fonda, who became a counterculture icon when he co-wrote, produced and starred in seminal 1969 road movie “Easy Rider,” then showed Hollywood he could act about three decades earlier in “Ulee’s Gold,” for which he was Oscar nominated, died on Friday from lung cancer. He was 79.
The cause of his death was respiratory failure due to lung cancer, according to a family statement released to People magazine.
"In one of the saddest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our hearts. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy," the Fonda family wrote.
"And, while we mourn the loss of this sweet and gracious man, we also wish for all to celebrate his indomitable spirit and love of life," they added. "In honor of Peter, please raise a glass to freedom."
His sister Jane Fonda said in a statement, "I am very sad. He was my sweet-hearted baby brother. The talker of the family. I have had beautiful alone time with him these last days. He went out laughing."
Peter Fonda was the only son of Hollywood legend Henry Fonda and socialite Frances Seymour Brokaw. He was also the brother of actress Jane Fonda.
Peter Fonda had a brief film career in the mid-1960s before his breakout performance as Wyatt in Easy Rider, costarring Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson. Fonda produced and co-wrote the film, earning an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay.
More recently, Fonda played Mephistopheles in the Nicolas Cage vehicle "Ghost Rider" and a biker, for the umpteenth time in his career, in the John Travolta-Tim Allen comedy "Wild Hogs"; had a nice supporting role as a bounty hunter in the 2007 remake "3:10 to Yuma"; and reunited with Cage in the 2015 Louisiana political drama "The Runner," in which Fonda played the younger actor's father.
Comments
Post a Comment