American actor Peter Fonda, made famous by his role as a biker in the movie "Easy Rider" that he co-wrote, died in the morning of Friday, August 16, at his home in Los Angeles at the age 79 years old. Son of Hollywood star Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda's little brother and father of Bridget Fonda, Peter Fonda died of respiratory arrest caused by lung cancer, his publicist said in a statement.

"While we mourn the loss of this sweet and graceful man, we also wish to celebrate his indomitable spirit and his love of life.To honor Peter, toast to freedom, please," concludes the communiqué signed by his family.

Counterculture icon

"I'm very sad, he was my nice little brother, the talkative of the family, I had a wonderful time alone with him in the last few days and he left with a laugh," said Jane Fonda in a statement. to AFP.

"Easy Rider", written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Terry Southern, played by the first two and directed by Hopper, is one of the banner films of the American counterculture of the sixties. It evokes the quest for freedom through a motorcycle odyssey in the great outdoors of the American Southwest.

"Born to Be Wild"

The image of Peter Fonda with his legs extended on his Harley-Davidson chopper painted in the colors of the American flag is emblematic of the cinema of that time. A copy of this bike had sold at 1.35 million dollars auction in 2014. The death of the actor, whose most famous film has marked the history of the 60s, may leave a great void.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of the film (July 14, 1969), Peter Fonda had organized a screening in New York on September 20, with musicians to perform the famous rock soundtrack of the film, including the unforgettable " Born to Be Wild "from the Steppenwolf band.

Environmental activist

In 1998, Peter Fonda had competed in the Oscars for his role in Victor Nuñez's film "The Gold of Life", which ultimately earned him a Golden Globe. More recently, Peter Fonda played Mephistopheles in "Ghost Rider" (2007). His latest film, The Last Full Measure, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman and Laurence Fishburne, is due out in late October in the United States.

An environmental activist from the beginning, the actor made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011 when he called US President Barack Obama a "fucking traitor" by blaming him for managing a tide. black in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.

With AFP