actor and director peter fonda died today of respiratory failure due to lung cancer at his los angeles home. he was 79 years old. fonda rose to fame with his role in easy rider but he was true hollywood royalty. the son of legendary actor henry fonda and the brother of actress and activist jane fonda. joining me now to discuss his life and now his legacy, editorial director of the hollywood reporter and douglas brinkley. glad to have you here at this time. i ll start with you, douglas. i want to start with a clip from the film easy rider. okay. you ever want to be somebody else? i d like to try porky pig. i never wanted to be anybody else.
could use people for free because they were already in costume for mardi gras. things that would just never happen today. jane fonda put out a statement about her brother s passing, saying i m very sad. he was my sweethearted baby brother. the talker of the family. i ve had beautiful alone time with him his last days, and he went out laughing. was part of his acting dynasty, hollywood royalty, he was part of all of that. yes, absolutely. he had a long career in tv and movies, he did a film, ulee s gold, and he co-wrote the screenplay of easy rider, and worked with dennis hopper.
their work together. that will air on hbo next year. and of course like her daughter carrie fisher, debbie reynolds wasn t only actress but singer, dancer, business woman, film historian but known best for leading role in singing in the rain, define her as princess leia defines carrie fisher? i think debbie reynolds probably will be remembered for singing in the rain did get oscar nomination for performance in the unsinkable molly brown but most remember singing in the rain that movie stood the test of time. people still watch and enjoy that. much the same way that carrie fisher is remembered for star wars even though accomplished actor, writer, screenwriter and performer as well. and debbie reynolds was part of hollywood royalty, married singer eddie fisher in 1955,
passing of reynolds and how are people mourning? first of all, think you for having me. wish it was better circumstances. hollywood has lost royalty. for someone like me, introduced to her on will & grace where she played debra messing s mom but many knew her from singing in the rain actress so iconic, legacy stretches decades. entrepreneur who knew to collect memorabilia and sold for a tidy profit. a mother, a grandmother, a woman who embodied class and dignity and fierceness and just was ferocious in her comedy and her singing and dancing. we lost true hollywood royalty. and it saddens me that my kids to come won t get to be introduced to her like i was unless i start breaking out old dvds of her work.
hour. the dude. this is piers morgan tonight. good evening. is it possible to have a 40-year career in hollywood, makeover, 60 movies, and still have a reputation as mr. nice guy? well, apparently it is if you re jeff bridges. and he joins me now for me to test his theory. everybody tells me in the business and out you re the nicest guy in show business. how do you plead? i m going for guilty. what the hey? have you always been easy to work with? because the running theme of all your co-workers has always been you re just the nicest guy to work with. yeah, i think i have. you know? i take my lead from my old man, lloyd. lloyd bridges. you know, my dad. great actor. who loved showbiz so much. i got to work with him as a kid on sea hunt. whenever there was a role for a little kid, he d say come on, get out of school, come on, play with dad. you know, that kind of thing. but as an adult i got to work with him twice, on tucker and a movie called blown away. and