The Easy Rider Peter Fonda is dead at age 79
The younger brother of Jane Fonda, son of Henry Fonda, father of Bridget Fonda and 1960’s counterculture icon has died in his home in Los Angeles from respiratory failure on the 16th of August. During his lifetime Fonda contributed not only to movies but also supporting Rock bands and artists during the 1960’s and even inspired The Beatles to write a famous line in a song
The Easy Rider Peter Fonda is dead at age 79
The son of Henry Fonda, younger brother of Jane Fonda, and father of Bridget and Justin Fonda, legendary actor Peter Fonda passed away yesterday at age 79 at his home in Los Angeles, from respiratory failure caused by lung cancer. He was born into a family of actors, on February 23, 1940 in New York City. Peter Fonda’s popularity rose during the 1960’s as a symbol for the counterculture. Back then, the actor was friends with several artists and Rock bands of the West Coast/Los Angeles music scene including The Byrds. One of his most notable “accidental” contributions to Rock music came through The Beatles though. In 1966 while with John Lennon and George Harrison taking LSD, Fonda reportedly said, “I know what it’s like to be dead”, referring to an episode that happened on his his eleventh birthday, when he accidentally shot himself in the abdomen and nearly died. That sentence inspired The Beatles’ song “She Said She Said” featured on the album “Revolver”. Fonda starred and produced several counterculture films during the late 1960’s, but what’s considered his signature movie and strongest legacy it’s the 1969 “Easy Rider” that he produced, co-wrote and starred in alongside the also director Dennis Hopper. For that he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. He was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for the 1997 movie “Ulee’s Gold”. Counterculture has lost one of his strongest symbols, 9 years after the other “easy rider” Dennis Hopper also passed.
Watch the original 1969 “Easy Rider” movie trailer
Also watch: the iconic opening scene of “Easy Rider”
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