Actor Peter Fonda, the star and co-writer of "Easy Rider" and the son of acting legend Henry Fonda and brother of Jane Fonda, has died, his family confirmed Friday. He was 79. His cause of death was respiratory failure due to lung cancer, the family said.
"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," his family said in a statement. "In honor of Peter, please raise a glass to freedom."
In a statement, Jane Fonda described Peter Fonda as her "sweet-hearted baby brother" and "the talker of the family."
Born into Hollywood royalty as Henry Fonda's only son, Peter Fonda carved his own path with his non-conformist tendencies and earned an Oscar nomination for co-writing "Easy Rider." He never won an Oscar but would later be nominated for best actor in "Ulee's Gold."
Fonda was born in New York in 1940 and was only 10 years old when his mother Frances Ford Seymour died. Fonda had an estranged relationship with his father, but said that they grew closer over the years before Henry Fonda died in 1982.
Although Peter never achieved the status of his father or even his older sister Jane Fonda, the impact of "Easy Rider," which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, was enough to cement his place in popular culture.
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