Peter Fonda

Peter: (How hard is was directing his dad for Wanda Nevada) Not at all. He was an extraordinary actor. I acted in the film with him. The neat part was acting with him. He said "I dont know why you do that, son, I dont know why you give yourself that kind of trouble." But for me there was no trouble. After we finished his scene, he wrote me a letter saying that in his 41 years of making motion pictures, he had never seen a crew so devoted to their director, nor a director so devoted to his crew. "You are a very good director, son, and I love you very much. Your dad." He had never used those words with me before. I passed that letter around the company. For without the company, the letter would never have been written.

Peter: (The key to standing the test of time) Your abilities to change with time and remain true to your inner self. To continue to produce quality ideas, quality life, quality work.

Peter: (How his acting styles has changed over the years) I've always internalized things -- from the beginning. Everyone was so surprised with my performance in Ulee's Gold, but I was doing the same thing in Easy Rider... But everyone always has a different perception of you -- which is great. But around 1990 I did make a change. I started paying attention to my daughter [Bridget Fonda], watching her choices, and listening to my sister, following her advice. And that led me in a different direction as an actor.

Peter: (Passion for acting and directing) Well, they're so different. It's the 8-year-old in me that will relish in the acting. But I get to play all the characters when I direct -- and I don't mind the challenge or responsibility -- I can appreciate the production and editorial process because I've been in those positions.

Peter: I was caught by a powerful public surge to hold onto their chosen heroes. I was the son of a chosen hero. I was still trying to find me.

Peter: Henry Fonda's son: That's how everybody identified me until Easy Rider came along. Good old Captain America.

Peter: (On why he prefers to be addressed as Peter) Whenever I hear 'Mr. Fonda,' I look over at the door, figuring he's come back.

Peter: I have always maintained that society has no business dictating morality.

Peter: Every director is so different from every other one.