Peter Fonda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Fonda
|
|
|---|---|
Fonda in 2009
|
|
| Born |
Peter Henry Fonda
February 23, 1940 New York City, New York, U.S.
|
| Died | August 16, 2019 (aged 79) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | University of Nebraska Omaha |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1957–2019 |
| Spouse(s) |
Susan Jane Brewer
(m. 1961; div. 1974)Portia Rebecca Crockett
(m. 1975; div. 2011)Margaret DeVogelaere
(m. 2011) |
| Children | 2, including Bridget Fonda |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives |
|
Peter Henry Fonda (born February 23, 1940 – died August 16, 2019) was an American actor. He was a very important person in the changing culture of the 1960s. Fonda was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his movie Easy Rider (1969). He was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for Ulee's Gold (1997). For Ulee's Gold, he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. Fonda also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for The Passion of Ayn Rand (1999).
Peter Fonda's Early Life
Peter Fonda was born in New York City on February 23, 1940. His father was the famous actor Henry Fonda. His mother was Frances Ford Seymour. His older sister is the well-known actress Jane Fonda. Peter and Jane also had a half-sister named Frances. Their mother passed away when Peter was ten years old.
Peter went to the Fay School in Massachusetts. He then went to Westminster School in Connecticut. He graduated from Westminster School in 1958.
After graduating, Fonda studied acting in Omaha, Nebraska. This was his father's hometown. While at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Fonda joined the Omaha Community Playhouse.
Peter Fonda's Acting Career
Starting Out in Films and TV
When Peter Fonda returned to New York, he joined the Cecilwood Theatre in 1960. He soon found work on Broadway, which is famous for its plays. He became known for his role in Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole in 1961. Fonda also appeared as a guest star on many TV shows. These included Naked City and Wagon Train.
Fonda's first movie role was in Tammy and the Doctor (1963). He played the love interest for actress Sandra Dee. This movie was quite popular. He then had a supporting role in The Victors (1963). This film was about American soldiers in World War II. Fonda's acting in this movie earned him a Golden Globe Award. It was for being a promising new actor.
Fonda continued to work in television. He guest starred in shows like The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. He also tried out for the role of John F. Kennedy in the movie PT-109. Director Robert Rossen was impressed by Fonda. Rossen cast him in his last movie, Lilith (1964). Fonda's acting in Lilith received good reviews. Before he died, Rossen offered Fonda a contract for seven movies. Fonda then played a main role in The Young Lovers (1964). This movie was about young love and family.
Easy Rider and Its Impact
Peter Fonda helped produce, co-write, and star in Easy Rider (1969). The movie was directed by Dennis Hopper. Easy Rider tells the story of two bikers with long hair. They travel across the southwestern and southern United States. On their journey, they face unkindness and violence. Fonda played "Wyatt," a quiet and cool character. His motorcycle jacket had a large American flag on the back.
The movie became a huge success around the world. Jack Nicholson was nominated for an Oscar for his role. Fonda, Hopper, and Terry Southern were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The film made over $40 million.
Directing and Action Roles
After Easy Rider was so successful, many people wanted Fonda for their films. He directed and starred in the Western movie The Hired Hand (1971). He also directed the science fiction film Idaho Transfer (1973). Fonda did not act in Idaho Transfer. Around the same time, he co-starred with Lindsay Wagner in Two People (1973). In this movie, he played a soldier who left the Vietnam War.
Fonda starred with Susan George in Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974). This movie was about two NASCAR hopefuls. They rob a supermarket to get money for car racing. The film was a big hit at the box office that year. This led Fonda to make many action movies. These included Race with the Devil (1975), where he fled from devil worshippers. He also starred in Futureworld (1976), which was a sequel to Westworld.
Movies in the 1980s and 1990s
Fonda was the main star in The Hostage Tower (1980), a TV movie. He also appeared in the popular film The Cannonball Run (1981). He played a "chief biker" in a funny way, nodding to his earlier motorcycle movies. This film was a huge success with many famous actors. He also played a leader of a group in Split Image (1982).
Fonda appeared in many films in the 1980s. These movies were of different types. Some were filmed in Japan, Germany, and Canada. He also had a supporting role in Certain Fury (1985) with Tatum O'Neal.
In the early 1990s, Fonda helped write the script for Enemy (1990), which he also starred in. He had main roles in Family Express (1991) and South Beach (1993). Then he started taking supporting roles in many independent films. These included Deadfall (1993) and Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993). In Bodies, Rest & Motion, his daughter Bridget also starred. He had a good supporting role in Escape from L.A. (1996). He also guest starred on the TV series In the Heat of the Night.
After many years of different types of films, Fonda received great praise for his acting in Ulee's Gold (1997). For this role, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. In 1998, Fonda starred in the TV movie The Tempest. This movie was based on William Shakespeare's play.
He was in The Passion of Ayn Rand (1998). Then he appeared in the crime film The Limey (1999). He played Terry Valentine, an older rock music producer. This film was directed by Steven Soderbergh.
Fonda wrote a book about his life called Don't Tell Dad (1998). In the 1990s, Fonda also appeared in an advertisement for American Express.
Peter Fonda in the 2000s
Fonda's work in the 2000s included roles in Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000) and Wooly Boys (2001). He also appeared in The Laramie Project (2001) and Supernova (2005).
In 2002, Fonda was added to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. This honored his connection to motorcycles, especially from Easy Rider.
He appeared in Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008). He also played "The Roman," the main bad guy in The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009). This was a sequel to The Boondock Saints. Fonda also appeared on the TV series Californication.
Later Career and Final Role
Fonda's later roles included American Bandits: Frank and Jesse James (2010). He also appeared in episodes of CSI: NY. Other films were Smitty (2012) and As Cool as I Am (2013). He was also in The Runner (2015) with Nicolas Cage. His last films included The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017) and Boundaries (2018). He was also a producer for the documentary The Big Fix (2012).
His very last acting role was in the Vietnam War movie The Last Full Measure. The director, Todd Robinson, said that Peter Fonda was able to watch the whole movie before he passed away. He became very emotional when he saw it.
Peter Fonda's Honors
In 2000, a Golden Palm Star was placed on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California. This star was dedicated to him, recognizing his achievements.
Peter Fonda's Personal Life
Fonda was married three times. He married his first wife, Susan Brewer, in 1961. They had two children together, Bridget and Justin. They divorced in 1974 after 13 years. Fonda married his second wife, Portia Rebecca Crockett, in 1975. This marriage lasted for 36 years until they divorced in 2011. Fonda married his third wife, Margaret DeVogelaere, in 2011. This marriage lasted for eight years until Fonda's death in 2019.
Peter Fonda's Death
Peter Fonda passed away on August 16, 2019. He was 79 years old. He died at his home in Los Angeles from breathing problems caused by lung cancer.
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Academy Award | Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay | Easy Rider | Nominated |
| 1997 | Golden Globe | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | Ulee's Gold | Won |
| New York Film Critics Circle | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor | Won | ||
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor | Won | ||
| Academy Award | Academy Award for Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| 1999 | Golden Globe | Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | The Passion of Ayn Rand | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Award | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | 3:10 to Yuma | Nominated |
Images for kids
-
Fonda in 2009
-
Jane, Henry, and Peter Fonda in July 1955
-
Fonda guest starring with Patty McCormack in The New Breed television series, 1962
-
A replica of the "Captain America" Harley-Davidson chopper that Fonda rode in Easy Rider (1969).
-
Fonda in 1970
-
Fonda at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival
See also
In Spanish: Peter Fonda para niños
