Peter Fonda Talks Easy Rider & More on SOUNDS with Tom Needham

SOUNDS with Tom Needham

Peter Fonda was a renowned American actor, director, and screenwriter, best known for his role in the counterculture classic “Easy Rider” (1969), which he co-wrote and starred in, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. A key figure in 1960s Hollywood, Fonda was a two-time Academy Award nominee and a two-time Golden Globe winner, building a legacy as part of the illustrious Fonda acting family. His early career included a New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award-winning stage performance in “Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole,” before he transitioned to film. Fonda’s directorial debut came with the Western “The Hired Hand” (1971), and throughout the 1970s, he gained recognition as an action star in films like “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry” (1974) and “Futureworld” (1976).

Fonda experienced a major career resurgence with his critically acclaimed performance in “Ulee’s Gold” (1997), which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. He later won another Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in “The Passion of Ayn Rand” (1999). Fonda’s contributions to the film industry were cemented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. His legacy extends beyond his roles, with his work and persona deeply influencing American cinema and culture.