My Take
Peter Fonda will forever be Wyatt — Captain America himself — thundering across the open highway in Easy Rider, a movie he didn't just star in but co-wrote and produced, essentially willing the New Hollywood counterculture into existence. He came from Hollywood royalty (son of Henry, brother of Jane) but carved out something entirely his own: restless, sun-baked, a little dangerous. What I love is that he never coasted on that legacy. Decades later he turned in this quiet, devastating performance in Ulee's Gold and walked away with a Golden Globe, reminding everyone he was a real actor, not just an icon. He passed in August 2019, but the image of him on that chopper, Dennis Hopper beside him, wind in their hair and America sprawling out ahead — that's genuinely immortal cinema.
Overview
Peter Henry Fonda (February 23, 1940 – August 16, 2019) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. He was twice an Academy Award nominee, both for acting and screenwriting, and a two-time Golden Globe Award winner for his acting. He was a member of the Fonda acting family, as the son of actor Henry Fonda, the brother of actress and activist Jane Fonda, and the father of actress Bridget Fonda.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Peter Fonda
- Name (Japanese)
- ピーター・フォンダ
- Reading
- ぴーたー・ふぉんだ
- Born
- February 23, 1940 – August 16, 2019
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Dragon
- Origin
- New York City, New York, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- film actor / film director / screenwriter / film producer / actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- University of Nebraska Omaha
Awards & achievements
- 1962 Theatre World Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 1998 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
- 2000 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Thomas and the Magic Railroad | — | |
| Notable work | Ulee's Gold | — | |
| Notable work | The Passion of Ayn Rand | — | |
| Notable work | Easy Rider | — |
6. Links
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.