Longtime Actor Peter Fonda Dies at 79, Family Reports

Peter Fonda in a 2009 photo. (Photo by Glenn Francis of www.PacificProDigital.com via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)

Peter Fonda, best known for his role in “Easy Rider,” died at age 79, it was reported.

TMZ reported on Friday, Aug. 16 that he died after battling lung cancer.

A spokesman for the actor said he died on Friday morning at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family.

His official cause of death was respiratory failure due to lung cancer, said the report, adding that he had been in the hospital recently.

He is the brother of Jane Fonda and son of Henry Fonda.

“It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that Peter Fonda has passed away,” his family said in a statement, reported Deadline Hollywood.

“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,“ the statement added. ”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.”

Fonda was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in “Easy Rider” and also in “Ulee’s Gold.” He co-wrote and co-starred in “Easy Rider” with Dennis Hopper.

He won a Golden Globe Award for “The Passion of Ayn Rand.”

Notable Celebrity Deaths in 2019

John Singleton

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Nipsey Hussle

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Luke Perry

Undated file photo of Luke Perry. (Newsmakers)

Peter Tork

Peter Tork of the Monkees died at 77 in February 2019. (Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

Albert Finney

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James Ingram

Longtime R&B singer James Ingram died in late January. Quincy Jones, a collaborator of his, wrote, “With that soulful, whisky sounding voice, James Ingram was simply magical ... every beautiful note that James sang pierced your essence and comfortably made itself at home.”

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Fatima Ali

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Carol Channing

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Bob Einstein

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Comedian and actor Bob Einstein died on Jan. 2 after a battle with cancer. He was 76.

Daryl Dragon

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