De Amerikaanse acteur Peter Fonda, zoon van Henry en broer van Jane Fonda, is op 79-jarige leeftijd overleden aan de gevolgen van longkanker.

Hij was vooral bekend van zijn rol in de baanbrekende indiefilm Easy Rider, waarvoor hij ook als scenarist optrad. Dat leverde hem een Oscarnominatie voor Beste Originele Scenario op.

Later regisseerde hij onder meer de western The Hired Hand en kreeg hij in 1997 een Oscarnominatie voor zijn vertolking van een imker in Ulee’s Gold.

Na films als The Limey, Ghost Rider en 3:10 to Yuma zal hij voor het laatst te zien zijn in de oorlogsprent The Last Full Measure, gepland voor dit najaar.

“Hoewel we rouwen om de dood van een lieve en goede man,” zegt zijn familie in een statement, “willen we dat zijn ontembaarheid en levenslust gevierd wordt. Eer Peter en hef het glas op de vrijheid.”

“Ik ben diepbedroefd,” zegt Jane Fonda. “Hij was mijn lieve kleine broer en de babbelaar van de familie. Ik heb de laatste paar dagen mooie momenten met hem alleen beleefd. Hij ging met een lach.”

Peter Fonda’s dood liet ook de rest van Hollywood niet onbewogen. Bekijk enkele reacties hieronder:

RIP Peter Fonda, counter culture legend, groundbreaking actor and all round real life hero. His sampled voice in Primal Scream’s ‘Loaded’ will echo on forever: “Just what is it that you want you to do…” https://t.co/kVXWn7QQNA

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) August 16, 2019

My heart goes out to Jane over the loss of her brother. Peter Fonda was a revolutionary filmmaker during a revolutionary time. Born in the house I now live in, his spirit will be missed.

— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) August 16, 2019

https://twitter.com/ava/status/1162496579204288513

R.I.P. Peter Fonda. Most will post about “Easy Rider” – a great film – but I’d also strongly recommend his 2nd movie as a director – the little known lyrical western “The Hired Hand” – We did an evening together celebrating it at the Cinematheque – Peter was so proud of that film pic.twitter.com/hfY3c0BVlI

— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) August 16, 2019

Peter Fonda was a lovely person- a beautiful spirit. Peace at last Peter

— Mia Farrow 🏳️‍🌈 🌻🇺🇸💙 (@MiaFarrow) August 17, 2019

RIP #PeterFonda. A legend not only on screen but for helping create the independent film industry. There will never be another like him. Our condolences to Bridget and his family ☮️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ADInCZXvSb

— Cary Elwes (@Cary_Elwes) August 16, 2019

Wow… lost one of the good ones today.
To one of the most important and iconic show business and activist families in Hollywood history… my condolences.#PeterFonda#EasyRider pic.twitter.com/DvKoMeiC2G

— Billy Baldwin (@BillyBaldwin) August 16, 2019

2) I think the first time he approached me was 10 or 15 years ago and I was blown away because he went out of his way to come up to me, very casual not acting like a Hollywood phony at all and would tell me to “keep at it” and “keep doing my thing, man.”🥰

— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 16, 2019

4). I admit I could never get beyond the part where this #EasyRider Legend was just talkin comedy. He was very generous when I would ask him questions about what it was like to make that film and we talked about Dennis Hopper whom he spoke of extremely fondly. This freakin guy! pic.twitter.com/l6GxhlfECg

— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 16, 2019

6) This film is a must see. Find it somewhere this weekend you will not be sorry. I honestly think if he was still with us, I’d see him somewhere, talk about politics, film, gossip a little bit, I would try to make him laugh, and he would probably end with “Stay cool, man”. pic.twitter.com/hYoofMxSOM

— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) August 16, 2019

Bron: EW, Deadline, The Wrap