Captain America has died.
Peter Fonda, the two-time, Oscar-nominated star, who was best known for the iconic ’60s film Easy Rider, has died of lung cancer. His publicist, Melody Korenbrot, confirmed to The Wrap. He was 79.
His family gave a statement to People Magazine, telling the publication that the brother of actress and activist, Jane, and son of acting titan, Henry, died of respiratory failure at 11:05 am Friday morning due to complications from lung cancer.
“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. 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. In honor of Peter, please raise a glass to freedom.”
His sister Jane Fonda added in another 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.”
A part of Hollywood royalty, Fonda became synonymous with the 1960s. His early films paired him with Roger Corman as bikers and anti-heroes in the ’60s films The Wild Angels and The Trip.
He then co-wrote and starred in the 1969 classic Easy Rider as directed by Dennis Hopper, playing the biker by the name of Captain America. The film was nominated for two Oscars, including Fonda’s screenplay.
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Fonda also directed himself in the 1971 western The Hired Hand followed by a sci-fi in 1973 titled Idaho Transfer. He would also star in and direct the mystery, comedy and romance Wanda Nevada with Brooke Shields in 1979.
Throughout the ’70s, Fonda also starred in Open Season, the satanic B-movie, co-starring with Ernest Borgnine, Race With the Devil and the Westworld sequel, Futureworld. Later. he would star in Ulee’s Gold, for which he would be nominated for a second Oscar.
Fonda won a Golden Globe in 2000 for The Passion of Ayn Rand.
More recently, he played Mephistopheles in the Nicolas Cage flop Ghost Rider and a biker, for the umpteenth time in his career, in the John Travolta-Tim Allen comedy Wild Hogs. He had a 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.
Fonda was married three times. His most-recent wife was Margaret DeVogelaere. He is survived by his daughter, Bridget and son, Justin.
Source: The Wrap
