Peter Fonda wasn’t just Jane Fonda’s younger brother — he was the man who rode a motorcycle straight into the 1960s counterculture and helped create *Easy Rider*. This article traces his bond with Jane, his bitter feud with Dennis Hopper, and the legacy he left behind.
Born: February 23, 1940 ·
Died: August 16, 2019 ·
Age at death: 79 ·
Academy Award nominations: 2 ·
Notable film: Easy Rider (1969)
Quick snapshot
- Peter Fonda died of lung cancer on August 16, 2019 (The Hollywood Reporter (trade publication))
- He was the brother of Jane Fonda and son of Henry Fonda (Los Angeles Times (major U.S. newspaper))
- Exact net worth remains disputed
- Whether the feud with Hopper was ever fully resolved
- 1969: Easy Rider released, defining his career
- 2010: Dennis Hopper dies; Fonda barred from funeral
- His estate left to children Bridget and Justin Fonda
- New appraisals of his legacy as a counterculture icon
Eight facts about Peter Fonda, one pattern: his life was defined by family ties and creative battles that never quite settled.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Peter Henry Fonda |
| Born | February 23, 1940 |
| Died | August 16, 2019 |
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Brewer (1961–1974), Portia Rebecca Crockett (1975–2011), Margaret Park (2011–2019) |
| Children | Bridget Fonda, Justin Fonda |
| Net worth (est.) | $5 million |
| Academy Award nominations | 2 (Best Actor for Ulee’s Gold, Best Original Screenplay for Easy Rider) |
Were Jane Fonda and Peter Fonda close?
Despite a two-year age gap — Jane was born in 1937, Peter in 1940 — the siblings maintained a warm, supportive relationship throughout their lives. They shared the same mother, Frances Ford Seymour, who died by suicide when Peter was 10 and Jane 13. That shared loss likely deepened their bond. The Hollywood Reporter (trade publication) reported Jane Fonda called Peter her “sweet-hearted younger brother” after his death, describing him as the family’s talker. The closeness held despite both navigating Hollywood fame and their father Henry Fonda’s emotionally distant parenting.
Do Peter and Jane Fonda get along?
Yes, publicly and privately. No major feud ever surfaced between them. Peter appeared at Jane’s wedding to Ted Turner in 1991, and Jane visited Peter during his final illness. The Los Angeles Times (major U.S. newspaper) noted that the siblings remained close, with Jane serving as a supportive presence in Peter’s life.
Do Peter Fonda and Jane Fonda have the same mother?
Yes. Both were born to Frances Ford Seymour and Henry Fonda. The family tragedy — Frances’s suicide in 1950 — created a common trauma that the two children navigated together. The Los Angeles Times reported that Peter spoke about their mother’s death as a defining moment in his life.
Peter Fonda built a career on counterculture rebellion, but his strongest anchor was the family he came from. Jane was the one sibling who never became a feud.
Why did Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda not get along?
The partnership that created Easy Rider (1969) turned into a decades-long feud over money, credit, and ego. Best Life (general interest publication) reported that the conflict centered on who deserved screenplay credit for the film. Hopper sued Fonda in 1992, claiming sole authorship of the screenplay, and the case was settled out of court. Far Out Magazine (music and film culture site) described the lawsuit as one of the biggest betrayals of Hopper’s career. The resentment never healed: Fonda said he flew to Taos, New Mexico, for Hopper’s funeral in 2010 but was not allowed into the chapel.
What happened to Peter Fonda at Dennis Hopper’s funeral?
Best Life reported that Fonda made a last attempt to reconcile by attending the funeral, but Hopper’s family barred him. “He was not allowed in,” Fonda later said. The moment underscored the permanence of their rift.
How was Dennis Hopper when he died?
Hopper died of prostate cancer on May 29, 2010, at age 74. His final years were marked by illness and estrangement from Fonda. Express (UK tabloid) reported that Fonda wrote in his 1998 autobiography that Hopper took sole screenplay credit and sued him over millions in profits — a wound that never closed.
The creative alchemy that made Easy Rider a landmark film also produced a personal fracture that outlasted both men. For Fonda, the cost of that collaboration was a permanent estrangement from his co-star.
Who did Peter Fonda leave his money to?
Peter Fonda’s estate, estimated at $5 million, was left to his two children: Bridget Fonda and Justin Fonda. His obituary in the Los Angeles Times confirmed that Bridget, an actress known for Single White Female, and Justin, a film producer, were the primary beneficiaries. The will was not publicly contested.
Peter Fonda cause of death
Peter Fonda died on August 16, 2019, at his home in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter stated the cause as respiratory failure due to lung cancer. He was 79 years old.
How much older was Peter Fonda than Jane Fonda?
Jane Fonda is actually older than Peter — by about two years. Jane was born on December 21, 1937; Peter was born on February 23, 1940. The Los Angeles Times noted that Peter was the “baby of the family.” The age gap likely contributed to his role as the more rebellious sibling, while Jane became the more politically active one.
Do Peter Fonda and Jane Fonda have the same mother?
Yes, as established earlier, both shared mother Frances Ford Seymour. The question often arises because of the age difference, but the answer is straightforward: same mother, same father.
What happened to Peter Fonda at Dennis Hopper’s funeral?
This question was already covered in the Hopper section, but the key detail is worth repeating: Fonda said he was not allowed into the chapel after flying to Taos, New Mexico. The rejection symbolized the finality of their feud.
How was Dennis Hopper when he died?
Dennis Hopper died in 2010 at age 74 from prostate cancer. His estrangement from Fonda was complete; the two never reconciled. BritainDaily (UK news outlet) reported that the feud continued until Hopper’s final days.
Timeline of Peter Fonda’s life
- 1940 — Peter Fonda born in New York City (Los Angeles Times)
- 1969 — Co-wrote, produced, and starred in Easy Rider (The Hollywood Reporter)
- 1997 — Received Academy Award nomination for Ulee’s Gold (The Hollywood Reporter)
- 2010 — Dennis Hopper dies; Fonda barred from funeral (Best Life)
- 2019 — Peter Fonda dies of lung cancer at age 79 (The Hollywood Reporter)
What we know — and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Peter Fonda died of lung cancer on August 16, 2019
- He was not invited to Dennis Hopper’s funeral
- His children are Bridget and Justin Fonda
- He was born in 1940, Jane in 1937
- He and Jane shared the same mother, Frances Ford Seymour
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth (estimates vary)
- Whether the feud with Hopper was ever truly resolved
- Full details of his will
- How much of the Easy Rider profits were disputed
Perspectives on Peter Fonda
Peter Fonda, who has died aged 79 of lung cancer, played the role of his career (and gained an Oscar nomination) for Ulee’s Gold (1997).
Peter Henry Fonda (February 23, 1940 – August 16, 2019) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. He was twice an Academy Award nominee.
He was my sweet-hearted younger brother.
— Jane Fonda, quoted in The Hollywood Reporter
I flew to Taos for his funeral and was not allowed in.
— Peter Fonda, quoted in Best Life
Peter Fonda’s story is one of family loyalty and creative combat. He rode into the counterculture on a motorcycle, but the people who mattered most — his sister, his children, and even his co-star — were the ones who shaped his legacy. For readers trying to understand the man behind Easy Rider, the lesson is clear: the bonds that define us are often the ones we fight hardest to keep or break.
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Frequently asked questions
What was Peter Fonda’s net worth?
Estimated at $5 million at the time of his death, though exact figures vary by source.
What are Peter Fonda’s most famous movies?
Easy Rider (1969), Ulee’s Gold (1997), and The Wild Angels (1966).
Did Peter Fonda ever win an Oscar?
No, but he was nominated twice: Best Actor for Ulee’s Gold and Best Original Screenplay for Easy Rider.
How many children did Peter Fonda have?
Two: Bridget Fonda (actress) and Justin Fonda (film producer).
What was Peter Fonda’s relationship with his father Henry Fonda?
Strained but eventually reconciled. Henry Fonda was emotionally distant, but Peter later said they found peace before Henry’s death in 1982.
Was Peter Fonda married?
Three times: Susan Brewer (1961–1974), Portia Rebecca Crockett (1975–2011), and Margaret Park (2011–2019).
What happened to Peter Fonda’s estate?
Left to his children Bridget and Justin Fonda.
Is Peter Fonda related to Jane Fonda?
Yes, he was her younger brother. They shared both parents.
Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Briefly, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.