Susan Brewer, also known as Susan Jane Brewer, is best remembered as the first wife of actor Peter Fonda, the counterculture film icon best known for Easy Rider. Susan married Peter in 1961, several years before Easy Rider changed his career, and they became parents to two children, actress Bridget Fonda and Justin Fonda. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1974. While Peter, Bridget, and the wider Fonda family remained famous, Susan lived a much quieter life, leaving many details about her career, age, later relationships, and present-day history outside the public spotlight.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Susan Jane Brewer |
| Known As | Susan Brewer |
| Famous For | First wife of Peter Fonda |
| Former Husband | Peter Fonda |
| Marriage Year | 1961 |
| Divorce Year | 1974 |
| Marriage Length | About 13 years |
| Children | Two |
| Daughter | Bridget Fonda |
| Son | Justin Fonda |
| Former Father-in-Law | Henry Fonda |
| Former Sister-in-Law | Jane Fonda |
| Daughter’s Profession | Actress |
| Peter Fonda’s Famous Film | Easy Rider |
| Profession | Private / not consistently documented |
| Exact Birth Date | Not reliably confirmed |
| Independent Net Worth | Not reliably verified |
| Later Life | Very private |
Who Is Susan Brewer?
Susan Brewer is the first wife of the late actor Peter Fonda.
Her place in the Fonda family story is important because she was married to Peter during the years before and during his transformation into a major Hollywood figure.
She was also the mother of two of his children.
Those children were:
Bridget Fonda.
Justin Fonda.
Bridget later became a successful actress herself.
Why Is Susan Brewer Famous?
Susan did not become famous through a major acting career.
Most people discover her because they are researching:
Peter Fonda.
Bridget Fonda.
Jane Fonda.
Henry Fonda.
The Fonda family tree.
Peter Fonda’s marriages.
Because Susan was part of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable acting families, interest in her continues decades after her divorce.
Was Susan Brewer Married to Peter Fonda?
Yes.
Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda married in 1961.
Their marriage lasted until 1974.
That gave them approximately 13 years together as husband and wife.
Was Susan Brewer Peter Fonda’s First Wife?
Yes.
Susan was Peter Fonda’s first wife.
Peter later married Portia Rebecca Crockett.
Much later, he married Margaret DeVogelaere.
Susan therefore belongs to the earliest marriage chapter of his adult life.
When Did Susan Brewer Marry Peter Fonda?
Susan and Peter married in 1961.
Peter was still a young actor at the time.
His biggest cultural breakthrough was several years away.
This matters because Susan did not marry Peter after Easy Rider made him an international counterculture icon.
She knew him before that enormous change.
How Long Were Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda Married?
About 13 years.
Their marriage covered a major transition in Peter’s life.
He went from being the son of a legendary actor to becoming a major star with his own identity.
During those same years, Susan and Peter also became parents.
Who Was Peter Fonda?
Peter Fonda was an American actor, director, writer, and producer.
He was born into one of Hollywood’s most famous acting families.
His father was Henry Fonda.
His sister was Jane Fonda.
Peter eventually created his own very different screen identity.
He became strongly associated with the American counterculture of the late 1960s.
What Was Peter Fonda Famous For?
His most famous film was Easy Rider.
The movie became one of the defining films of the late 1960s.
Peter played Wyatt, also called Captain America.
He starred alongside Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson.
The film became associated with:
Motorcycles.
Freedom.
Counterculture.
Youth rebellion.
Changing American values.
Independent filmmaking.
Was Susan Brewer Married to Peter Fonda During Easy Rider?
Yes.
Easy Rider was released in 1969.
Susan and Peter were still married.
That means Susan experienced Peter’s most important early career breakthrough as his wife.
Did Susan Brewer Work on Easy Rider?
No major professional role in Easy Rider should automatically be assigned to Susan.
She was Peter’s wife.
That does not mean she:
Produced the film.
Wrote it.
Acted in it.
Financed it.
Managed the production.
Professional credits belong to the people actually credited on the project.
Did Susan Brewer Help Write Easy Rider?
No.
Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern are associated with the film’s screenplay.
Susan should not be given an unverified writing credit.
Was Susan Brewer an Actress?
Susan is not primarily known for a significant acting career.
Some online profiles may give her professional labels that are difficult to verify.
The safest description is that she remained much more private than the Fonda actors around her.
Was Susan Brewer a Model?
No major modeling career should automatically be assigned to her without reliable documentation.
What Did Susan Brewer Do for a Living?
Her independent professional history is not strongly documented in mainstream biographies.
That means it would be misleading to invent a detailed career simply to fill space.
She should not automatically be called:
Actress.
Model.
Producer.
Manager.
Business executive.
Unless reliable evidence supports those titles.
Did Susan Brewer Manage Peter Fonda?
No.
There is no basis for describing her as Peter’s professional manager.
A spouse may naturally:
Give advice.
Discuss work.
Attend events.
Support a partner.
That is different from having an official management role.
Did Susan Brewer Help Peter Fonda Become Famous?
Susan shared Peter’s life while his career grew.
That gives her an important personal place in his story.
But professional success belongs to Peter’s acting, filmmaking, collaborators, and career decisions.
Susan’s importance does not require inventing a behind-the-scenes Hollywood role.
Did Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda Have Children?
Yes.
They had two children:
Bridget Fonda.
Justin Fonda.
Their children became an important part of the wider Fonda family.
Who Is Bridget Fonda?
Bridget Fonda is Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda’s daughter.
She became an accomplished actress.
Unlike many celebrity children who never enter the family profession, Bridget became a successful performer with a recognizable career of her own.
When Was Bridget Fonda Born?
Bridget Fonda was born on January 27, 1964.
She was born while Susan and Peter were married.
Is Susan Brewer Bridget Fonda’s Mother?
Yes.
Susan Brewer is Bridget Fonda’s biological mother.
This is one of the strongest and clearest facts in Susan’s biography.
Who Is Bridget Fonda’s Father?
Peter Fonda.
That made Bridget part of a multigenerational acting family.
Her grandfather was Henry Fonda.
Her aunt is Jane Fonda.
What Movies Is Bridget Fonda Known For?
Bridget built a strong acting career during the late 1980s and 1990s.
She became known for films such as:
Single White Female.
Point of No Return.
Jackie Brown.
Singles.
A Simple Plan.
Lake Placid.
She developed her own acting identity rather than relying only on the Fonda surname.
Did Susan Brewer Make Bridget Fonda an Actress?
No.
Parents influence children in many ways.
But Bridget’s professional career came through her own acting work and choices.
Susan should not be given professional credit for every role her daughter later earned.
Did Bridget Fonda Grow Up With Susan Brewer?
Susan was Bridget’s mother and naturally played a major role in her childhood.
After Susan and Peter divorced, family arrangements changed.
However, exact custody schedules and private parenting details should not be invented.
Who Is Justin Fonda?
Justin Fonda is Susan and Peter’s son.
Unlike Bridget, Justin did not become a major internationally famous movie star.
His life has remained significantly more private.
That privacy should be respected.
Is Justin Fonda Susan Brewer’s Son?
Yes.
Susan is his biological mother.
Is Justin Fonda an Actor?
Justin has had some connections with the entertainment world, but he did not build the same highly visible acting career as:
Peter.
Bridget.
Jane.
Henry.
It would be misleading to make him sound like another major Fonda movie star.
Is Susan Brewer the Mother of All Peter Fonda’s Children?
Susan is the mother of Peter’s two widely known children:
Bridget.
Justin.
Peter did not build another widely documented biological family with his later wives.
Was Susan Brewer Related to Henry Fonda?
Through marriage.
Henry Fonda was Peter’s father.
That made Henry Susan’s father-in-law during her marriage to Peter.
Who Was Henry Fonda?
Henry Fonda was one of the great American actors of classic Hollywood.
He became famous for films such as:
The Grapes of Wrath.
12 Angry Men.
The Ox-Bow Incident.
Once Upon a Time in the West.
On Golden Pond.
His career became one of the foundations of the Fonda acting legacy.
Was Susan Brewer Henry Fonda’s Daughter?
No.
She was his daughter-in-law through marriage to Peter.
Was Susan Brewer Related to Jane Fonda?
Again, through marriage.
Jane Fonda is Peter Fonda’s sister.
That made Jane Susan’s sister-in-law while Susan was married to Peter.
Is Jane Fonda Bridget Fonda’s Aunt?
Yes.
Jane Fonda is Bridget’s paternal aunt.
That family relationship helps explain why Bridget was born into such a famous acting dynasty.
Was Susan Brewer an Actress Like Jane Fonda?
No major acting career comparable with Jane’s is associated with Susan.
Their connection was family, not professional competition.
Was Susan Brewer Close to Jane Fonda?
Their exact personal relationship should not be invented.
They were sisters-in-law for more than a decade.
That does not tell us whether they were:
Best friends.
Distant.
Extremely close.
Occasionally in contact.
Private family relationships can change over time.
Was Susan Brewer Close to Henry Fonda?
Again, no exact emotional relationship should be assumed.
A father-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship can take many forms.
The public does not have enough reliable information to describe theirs in detail.
Did Susan Brewer Come From a Famous Family?
Susan’s own family background was much less publicly famous than the Fonda family.
Some family-history discussions connect Bridget Fonda’s maternal side with businessman Noah Dietrich, a figure known for his long professional association with Howard Hughes.
However, complicated family relationships should be described cautiously rather than turning uncertain genealogy into a major part of Susan’s biography.
Was Susan Brewer Related to Noah Dietrich?
Bridget Fonda’s maternal family has publicly been associated with businessman Noah Dietrich.
But the exact family structure is less central and less consistently explained than Bridget’s well-known Fonda side.
The safest approach is to acknowledge the connection cautiously rather than overstate it.
Who Was Noah Dietrich?
Noah Dietrich was a businessman and longtime executive associated with Howard Hughes.
He became known for helping manage parts of Hughes’ business empire.
However, Susan’s biography should not be turned into a biography of Howard Hughes.
Did Susan Brewer Meet Howard Hughes?
No personal relationship should automatically be assumed simply because of a family connection to someone who worked with Hughes.
Why Did Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda Divorce?
Their marriage ended in 1974.
The exact private reason should not be reduced to one unverified explanation.
Their 13-year marriage covered:
Young adulthood.
Parenthood.
Hollywood fame.
The counterculture era.
Peter’s growing career.
Major lifestyle changes.
Relationships can become complicated over that length of time.
Did Peter Fonda’s Fame Cause the Divorce?
It may have created pressure.
Actors and filmmakers often face:
Travel.
Long shoots.
Public attention.
Career uncertainty.
Social changes.
Time apart.
But none of that proves fame alone ended the marriage.
Did Peter Fonda Cheat on Susan Brewer?
Specific infidelity claims should not be presented as the confirmed reason for their divorce without reliable evidence.
Peter’s personal life attracted attention, especially during the free-spirited culture of the 1960s and 1970s.
That does not mean every rumor should become a fact about Susan’s marriage.
Did Susan Brewer Leave Peter Fonda?
The exact legal and emotional circumstances of the breakup are private.
It is safer to say that they divorced in 1974.
Did Peter Fonda Leave Susan Brewer?
Again, assigning one person complete blame would require stronger evidence than is widely available.
Did Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda Stay Friends?
Their relationship after divorce was not heavily publicized.
Because they shared two children, they remained connected through family.
But no claim should be made that they were:
Close friends.
Enemies.
Completely estranged.
Unless directly supported.
Did Susan and Peter Co-Parent Bridget and Justin?
They remained the parents of Bridget and Justin after divorce.
The exact custody arrangements and parenting schedules should remain private unless clearly documented.
How Did the Divorce Affect Bridget Fonda?
Bridget was still young when her parents divorced.
Growing up in a famous acting family naturally gave her an unusual childhood.
However, her personal feelings about the divorce should not be invented.
Did Bridget Fonda Live With Susan After the Divorce?
Some accounts of Bridget’s upbringing describe her spending significant time with her mother.
But family arrangements can be complicated and can change over childhood.
A detailed custody schedule should not be guessed.
Did Susan Brewer Encourage Bridget to Act?
No specific claim should be made unless Bridget or Susan clearly discussed it.
Bridget had obvious exposure to acting through her father’s family.
That does not mean Susan pushed her into the profession.
Did Susan Brewer Appear in Bridget Fonda’s Movies?
No major acting role in Bridget’s films is associated with Susan.
Did Susan Brewer Manage Bridget Fonda?
No.
No formal management role should automatically be assigned.
Did Susan Brewer Receive Money From Bridget’s Acting Career?
No private family financial arrangement should be assumed.
An adult child’s acting earnings are her own professional income.
Who Did Peter Fonda Marry After Susan Brewer?
Peter later married Portia Rebecca Crockett.
That marriage lasted for many years before ending.
He later married Margaret DeVogelaere, often known as Parky.
Did Portia Crockett Cause Peter and Susan’s Divorce?
A later marriage should not automatically be blamed for an earlier divorce.
No simple cause should be invented.
Who Is Margaret DeVogelaere?
Margaret DeVogelaere became Peter Fonda’s third wife.
She remained married to him until his death in 2019.
Did Margaret DeVogelaere Replace Susan Brewer?
No.
Susan was Peter’s first wife and mother of his children.
Margaret belonged to a much later stage of Peter’s life.
Different marriages do not erase earlier family relationships.
Was Susan Brewer Jealous of Peter Fonda’s Later Wives?
There is no responsible basis for assigning that emotion.
Her private feelings after divorce belonged to her.
Did Susan Brewer Remarry?
Her later relationship history is not widely documented.
No second husband should be confidently named without reliable confirmation.
Who Is Susan Brewer’s Husband Now?
Her later marital status remains private.
Did Susan Brewer Have More Children?
No additional children should be confidently assigned to her without reliable evidence.
Bridget and Justin are the two children strongly connected with her public biography.
When Was Susan Brewer Born?
Her exact birth date is not consistently documented in strong mainstream profiles.
Some secondary biographies publish specific dates or years.
Those should be treated cautiously.
How Old Is Susan Brewer in 2026?
Her precise age cannot responsibly be stated without a securely verified birth date.
She belonged to the same broad generation as Peter Fonda, who was born in 1940.
But an exact age should not be invented.
Where Was Susan Brewer Born?
Her exact birthplace is not widely established.
No city or state should be added merely to make a biography table look complete.
What Is Susan Brewer’s Nationality?
She is associated with the United States through her life and family.
However, detailed legal citizenship history is not a major public part of her biography.
What Is Susan Brewer’s Ethnicity?
No ethnicity should be inferred from:
Her surname.
Appearance.
Marriage.
Family associations.
Identity should be based on reliable public information.
Who Were Susan Brewer’s Parents?
Her parents and early family life remain much less publicly documented than the Fonda side of her family.
There is no need to create a detailed family tree from weak genealogy sources.
Does Susan Brewer Have Siblings?
Her sibling history remains private.
Where Did Susan Brewer Go to School?
Her education is not widely documented.
No college or university should be invented.
Was Susan Brewer Wealthy Before Marrying Peter Fonda?
Her exact financial background is not reliably established.
Any family connections should not be turned automatically into a claim that she grew up extremely wealthy.
Did Susan Brewer Marry Peter Fonda for Fame?
There is no evidence supporting that.
She married Peter before Easy Rider made him one of the symbols of a generation.
Did Susan Brewer Marry Peter for Money?
Again, no evidence supports that claim.
Peter came from a famous acting family, but his own greatest success was still ahead.
Was Peter Fonda Rich When He Married Susan?
He came from a famous Hollywood family.
However, his independent career had not yet reached its later peak.
His lifestyle and professional position changed considerably during their marriage.
What Is Susan Brewer’s Net Worth?
Susan’s independent net worth has not been reliably verified.
Celebrity websites may publish specific estimates.
Those numbers should be treated cautiously.
A genuine calculation would require access to:
Career income.
Property.
Investments.
Savings.
Debt.
Divorce arrangements.
Later family assets.
That information is private.
Is Peter Fonda’s Net Worth Susan Brewer’s Net Worth?
No.
They divorced in 1974.
Peter continued working for more than four decades afterward.
His later earnings should not simply be copied into Susan’s biography.
Did Susan Brewer Get Half of Peter Fonda’s Money?
There is no reliable evidence supporting such a simple claim.
Divorce settlements can involve:
Property.
Support.
Child expenses.
Private agreements.
No exact figure should be invented.
Did Susan Receive Easy Rider Royalties?
No professional royalty arrangement should automatically be assumed.
Peter’s film rights and compensation depended on professional contracts.
A former spouse does not automatically receive royalties from a movie forever.
Did Susan Own Part of Easy Rider?
No ownership should be assumed simply because she was married to Peter when the film was made.
Did Susan Benefit Financially From Peter’s Fame?
As a married couple during part of Peter’s career, their household naturally would have been affected by his earnings.
That is very different from saying Susan personally owned his films or continued receiving all later income.
Did Susan Brewer Inherit From Peter Fonda?
They had been divorced for around 45 years when Peter died.
No inheritance should automatically be assumed.
Peter’s later estate arrangements belonged to his legal family and private planning.
When Did Peter Fonda Die?
Peter Fonda died on August 16, 2019.
He was 79 years old.
His death brought tributes from across Hollywood and from fans who remembered Easy Rider and his long acting career.
How Did Peter Fonda Die?
Peter died after a battle with lung cancer.
His family publicly announced his death.
There is no need to expand into private medical details beyond what the family made public.
Was Susan Brewer Peter Fonda’s Wife When He Died?
No.
They had divorced in 1974.
Margaret DeVogelaere was Peter’s wife at the time of his death.
Was Susan Brewer Peter Fonda’s Widow?
No.
Susan was his former first wife.
Was Susan Brewer Alive When Peter Fonda Died?
Her later status is not documented as prominently as Peter’s.
No same-name death record or obituary should automatically be connected with her.
How Did Susan React to Peter Fonda’s Death?
Her private reaction should not be invented.
They had:
Shared 13 years of marriage.
Raised two children.
Lived through a major period of young adulthood.
A former spouse can have complex feelings after such a death.
Those feelings belong to Susan.
Did Bridget Fonda Attend Peter Fonda’s Funeral?
Private family mourning details should not be overexposed unless publicly confirmed.
The important fact is that Bridget lost her father in 2019.
What Happened to Bridget Fonda?
Bridget stepped away from acting in the early 2000s.
She later married composer Danny Elfman.
She has generally chosen a much more private life after leaving Hollywood.
In that sense, Bridget’s later privacy has something in common with her mother.
Is Danny Elfman Susan Brewer’s Son-in-Law?
Through Bridget’s marriage, Danny Elfman became part of Susan’s extended family.
However, exact private family relationships should not be overexplained.
Does Susan Brewer Have Grandchildren?
Bridget Fonda and Danny Elfman have a son.
That makes Susan part of another generation of the family.
However, the private life of younger relatives should be respected.
Is Susan Brewer Close to Bridget Fonda Today?
The exact emotional relationship between an adult mother and daughter should not be guessed.
They are family.
Anything beyond that should come from them rather than speculation.
Is Susan Brewer Close to Justin Fonda?
Again, their private relationship should not be assigned labels without evidence.
Where Does Susan Brewer Live Now?
Her exact later residence should remain private.
There is no reason to locate her using:
Property records.
Phone databases.
Private social media.
Family addresses.
Does Susan Brewer Live in California?
She has strong historical California and Hollywood family connections.
That does not automatically establish her present residence.
Is Susan Brewer on Instagram?
No same-name account should automatically be identified as Peter Fonda’s former wife.
Susan Brewer is a common enough name to create a high risk of mistaken identity.
Is Susan Brewer on Facebook?
The same caution applies.
Private profiles should not be turned into celebrity sources.
Is Susan Brewer on TikTok?
No major public TikTok identity is associated with her.
Did Susan Brewer Write a Book About Peter Fonda?
No major tell-all memoir by Susan is widely known.
She did not build a public career around discussing Peter or the Fonda family.
Did Susan Brewer Give Interviews About Peter?
She has not maintained a large interview archive.
That is one of the reasons her version of the marriage remains comparatively unknown.
Did Susan Brewer Publicly Attack Peter Fonda?
No long-running public feud became the defining story of their post-divorce lives.
Did Peter Fonda Publicly Attack Susan Brewer?
Their marriage appeared in biographies of Peter, but Susan did not become a permanent target of public criticism from him.
Why Is Susan Brewer So Private?
Because she did not choose the same public path as the Fonda actors.
Peter became an actor and filmmaker.
Jane became an actress and activist.
Henry became a Hollywood legend.
Bridget became an actress.
Susan did not build a career requiring that kind of public attention.
After divorce, she had even more reason to live privately.
Why Do People Search “Susan Brewer Peter Fonda”?
Because she was Peter Fonda’s first wife and the mother of his two children.
Why Do People Search “Susan Brewer Bridget Fonda”?
Because Susan is Bridget Fonda’s mother.
Why Do People Search “Susan Brewer Justin Fonda”?
Because Justin is also Susan and Peter’s child.
Why Do People Search “Susan Brewer Jane Fonda”?
Because Jane was Susan’s sister-in-law during her marriage to Peter.
Why Do People Search “Susan Brewer Henry Fonda”?
Because Henry was Susan’s father-in-law.
Why Do People Search “Susan Brewer Easy Rider”?
Because Susan was married to Peter when the film made him a major cultural figure.
She was not, however, a professional creator of the movie.
Why Do People Search “Susan Brewer Divorce”?
Because her marriage to Peter ended in 1974 after around 13 years.
Why Do People Search “Susan Brewer Net Worth”?
Because Peter Fonda belonged to a wealthy and successful Hollywood family.
But his wealth does not provide a reliable calculation of Susan’s personal finances.
Why Do People Search “Susan Brewer Now”?
Because she largely disappeared from celebrity reporting after the divorce.
Is Susan Brewer Still Alive?
Her present status is not strongly documented in major public profiles.
No unverified obituary should automatically be attached to Peter Fonda’s former wife.
What Is Susan Brewer Doing Now?
Her exact 2026 life is not publicly documented in a reliable way.
Her current:
Career.
Residence.
Relationship status.
Daily routine.
Should remain private rather than being guessed.
Is Susan Brewer More Than Peter Fonda’s First Wife?
Absolutely.
She was:
A woman with her own life before Peter.
A wife for about 13 years.
The mother of Bridget and Justin.
Part of the Fonda family during a major period of Hollywood change.
A mother who watched her daughter build an acting career.
A private person who spent decades outside celebrity attention after divorce.
Most of those later years simply did not become public.
Why Is Susan Brewer Important to the Fonda Family Story?
Because she is the mother of the generation that continued Peter’s family line.
Bridget became a famous actress.
Justin remained connected to the family more privately.
Susan therefore sits between two generations of the Fonda story.
On one side:
Henry Fonda.
Jane Fonda.
Peter Fonda.
On the other:
Bridget Fonda.
Justin Fonda.
Susan was not the most famous person in that family.
But she was an important part of it.
Did Susan Brewer Influence Bridget Fonda’s Privacy?
That would be speculation.
However, it is interesting that both women eventually lived far more privately than many members of the wider Fonda family.
No direct cause should be claimed.
Did Susan Brewer Want Bridget to Leave Acting?
No such personal parenting advice should be invented.
Bridget made her own adult decision to step away from Hollywood.
What Information About Susan Brewer Is Often Unclear Online?
Several details should be treated cautiously:
Exact birth date.
Exact age.
Birthplace.
Parents.
Siblings.
Education.
Independent profession.
Later marriage.
Additional children.
Current residence.
Current status.
Net worth.
Exact divorce settlement.
These are all areas where biography websites may copy unverified information.
What Can We Reliably Say About Susan Brewer?
The safest summary is clear.
Susan Brewer, also known as Susan Jane Brewer, was Peter Fonda’s first wife.
They married in 1961.
They had two children:
Bridget Fonda.
Justin Fonda.
Susan was Peter’s wife when Easy Rider became a major cultural phenomenon in 1969.
She did not have an established professional role in the film.
Susan was Henry Fonda’s daughter-in-law and Jane Fonda’s sister-in-law through marriage.
Her daughter Bridget later became a successful actress.
Susan and Peter divorced in 1974 after about 13 years of marriage.
Peter later remarried.
Susan largely disappeared from Hollywood publicity.
Her exact profession, birth date, later relationships, current residence, and independent net worth remain private or insufficiently documented.
Final Thoughts
Susan Brewer’s story begins before Easy Rider.
That is the easiest way to understand why she matters in Peter Fonda’s biography.
Today, Peter is remembered as a symbol of the late 1960s.
Motorcycle.
Long hair.
Open roads.
Counterculture.
Freedom.
But Susan married him in 1961.
Years before that image existed.
At the time, Peter had one enormous advantage and one enormous challenge.
His surname.
Fonda.
His father was Henry Fonda.
His sister was Jane Fonda.
That meant Hollywood already knew the family.
But it also meant Peter had to prove he was more than Henry Fonda’s son.
Susan shared those early years with him.
Then they became parents.
Bridget was born.
Justin followed.
Now Peter was not only an actor.
He was a husband and father.
Then everything changed.
Easy Rider arrived.
The movie was not simply another acting job.
It became part of American cultural history.
Suddenly Peter had an identity that was completely his own.
He was no longer only a member of the Fonda family.
He was Peter Fonda, counterculture icon.
Susan was there while that happened.
But fame looks different from inside a marriage.
Audiences saw:
Motorcycles.
Movie premieres.
Photographs.
Hollywood.
A cultural revolution.
A spouse sees:
Work schedules.
Travel.
Children.
Changes in routine.
New people.
Pressure.
Ordinary family life happening beside extraordinary success.
That was Susan’s world.
Then the marriage ended in 1974.
About 13 years after it began.
That is a long time.
Long enough for people to change.
Long enough for a struggling actor to become famous.
Long enough to have children and watch them begin growing up.
Long enough for a marriage to collect complicated history.
That is why reducing the divorce to one easy cause would be unfair.
Maybe fame created pressure.
Maybe the relationship changed.
Maybe there were problems the public never understood.
Whatever happened belonged to Susan and Peter.
Then Susan moved away from the center of Hollywood publicity.
Peter continued acting.
Bridget grew up.
And something interesting happened.
Bridget became an actress too.
The Fonda acting line continued.
Henry.
Peter.
Jane.
Then Bridget.
For Susan, that must have created a strange family connection with Hollywood.
First, she was married to an actor.
Then her daughter became one.
But Susan herself remained outside the spotlight.
That distinction is important.
Women connected with famous families are often treated as if they must have a secret entertainment career.
Maybe Susan was a producer.
Maybe she managed Peter.
Maybe she helped Bridget.
Maybe she owned part of the films.
But unless evidence supports those claims, there is no reason to invent them.
Her importance is already clear.
She was their family.
That is enough.
Then there is Bridget’s later life.
After building a respected acting career, Bridget stepped away.
For many years, she became remarkably private.
There is something interesting about that.
Susan had done something similar after her divorce from Peter.
Again, we should not say Susan caused Bridget’s decision.
But both women demonstrate that connection with Hollywood does not mean a person must remain public forever.
People can leave.
They can choose quieter lives.
The internet sometimes struggles with that idea.
It wants to know:
Where does Susan live?
Who is she married to?
What is her net worth?
Is she alive?
What does she do all day?
But Susan’s first marriage ended more than 50 years ago.
That is an enormous amount of time.
The years after Peter Fonda are far longer than the years she spent married to him.
It would be unfair to imagine her entire identity froze in 1974.
She had a life afterward.
Probably many chapters.
The public simply did not witness them.
That privacy should not be treated like missing evidence that must be solved.
It is part of her story.
Susan also should not be reduced to money.
Peter eventually became successful.
Bridget became successful.
The Fonda name became valuable in Hollywood.
But Susan’s net worth cannot be calculated by adding together the fortunes of famous relatives.
People have:
Separate assets.
Separate careers.
Separate investments.
Private legal agreements.
Private estates.
A number copied from a celebrity website tells us almost nothing.
The same is true of Easy Rider royalties.
Susan was Peter’s wife when the movie came out.
That does not make her the film’s owner.
Her historical importance comes from sharing that life chapter, not from a professional copyright claim.
Then Peter died in 2019.
By then, Susan had been his ex-wife for around 45 years.
Think about that.
Their marriage lasted 13 years.
Their lives after divorce lasted more than three times that long.
That puts the relationship in perspective.
It was important.
It created two children.
It covered Peter’s breakthrough.
But it was one chapter.
Not Susan’s entire life.
Perhaps that is the fairest way to remember Susan Brewer.
She was Peter Fonda’s first wife.
She knew him before Easy Rider.
She became the mother of Bridget and Justin.
She was part of one of Hollywood’s most famous families.
Then she stepped away from public attention.
And while the Fonda name continued appearing on screens, Susan kept most of her own story for herself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Susan Brewer?
Susan Brewer, also known as Susan Jane Brewer, is best known as Peter Fonda’s first wife.
Was Susan Brewer married to Peter Fonda?
Yes.
When did Susan Brewer marry Peter Fonda?
They married in 1961.
When did Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda divorce?
They divorced in 1974.
How long were Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda married?
About 13 years.
Was Susan Brewer Peter Fonda’s first wife?
Yes.
Did Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda have children?
Yes. They had two children.
Who are Susan Brewer’s children?
Bridget Fonda and Justin Fonda.
Is Susan Brewer Bridget Fonda’s mother?
Yes.
Is Susan Brewer Justin Fonda’s mother?
Yes.
Was Susan Brewer the mother of all Peter Fonda’s children?
Yes. Bridget and Justin are the two children publicly associated with Peter.
Who is Bridget Fonda?
Bridget Fonda is an actress known for films including Single White Female, Jackie Brown, and A Simple Plan.
Is Bridget Fonda related to Jane Fonda?
Yes. Jane Fonda is Bridget’s aunt.
Is Bridget Fonda related to Henry Fonda?
Yes. Henry Fonda was Bridget’s grandfather.
Was Henry Fonda Susan Brewer’s father?
No. He was her father-in-law.
Was Jane Fonda Susan Brewer’s sister?
No. Jane was Susan’s sister-in-law during her marriage to Peter.
Was Susan Brewer an actress?
No major acting career is reliably associated with her.
Was Susan Brewer a model?
No significant modeling career should be assumed without reliable evidence.
What did Susan Brewer do for a living?
Her independent profession is not consistently documented.
Did Susan Brewer manage Peter Fonda?
No.
Did Susan Brewer work on Easy Rider?
No major professional role should automatically be assigned to her.
Was Susan Brewer married to Peter Fonda during Easy Rider?
Yes.
Did Susan Brewer write Easy Rider?
No.
Did Susan Brewer own Easy Rider?
No automatic ownership should be assumed.
Did Susan Brewer receive Easy Rider royalties?
No specific professional royalty arrangement should automatically be assumed.
Was Peter Fonda famous when he married Susan Brewer?
He came from a famous acting family, but his own greatest breakthrough was still ahead.
Why did Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda divorce?
The exact private reason is not reliably documented enough to reduce to one cause.
Did Peter Fonda cheat on Susan Brewer?
No specific infidelity claim should be presented as the confirmed reason without strong evidence.
Did Peter Fonda’s fame cause the divorce?
Fame may have created pressure, but it cannot responsibly be described as the only cause.
Did Susan Brewer leave Peter Fonda?
The exact circumstances of their breakup remain private.
Did Susan and Peter stay friends?
Their post-divorce relationship is not widely documented.
Did Susan and Peter co-parent Bridget and Justin?
They remained their parents after divorce, although exact custody and parenting arrangements remain private.
Did Susan Brewer raise Bridget Fonda?
Susan was Bridget’s mother and played an important role in her childhood.
Did Susan encourage Bridget Fonda to become an actress?
No specific claim should be made without reliable evidence.
Did Susan manage Bridget Fonda’s career?
No official management role should be assumed.
Who did Peter Fonda marry after Susan Brewer?
He later married Portia Rebecca Crockett and then Margaret DeVogelaere.
Did Peter Fonda’s later wives cause his divorce from Susan?
No such claim should automatically be made.
Did Susan Brewer remarry?
Her later marital history is not reliably documented.
Who is Susan Brewer married to now?
Her later relationship status remains private.
Did Susan Brewer have more children?
No additional children should be confidently assigned without reliable evidence.
When was Susan Brewer born?
Her exact birth date is not consistently documented.
How old is Susan Brewer in 2026?
Her precise age cannot responsibly be stated without a verified birthday.
Where was Susan Brewer born?
Her exact birthplace is not widely documented.
Who were Susan Brewer’s parents?
Reliable mainstream information about her parents is limited.
Does Susan Brewer have siblings?
Her sibling history remains private.
Where did Susan Brewer study?
Her educational history is not widely documented.
What is Susan Brewer’s net worth?
Her independent net worth has not been reliably verified.
Is Peter Fonda’s net worth Susan Brewer’s net worth?
No. They divorced in 1974.
Did Susan Brewer get half of Peter Fonda’s money?
There is no reliable evidence supporting that claim.
Did Susan Brewer inherit from Peter Fonda?
No inheritance should automatically be assumed because they had been divorced for decades.
When did Peter Fonda die?
Peter Fonda died on August 16, 2019.
How old was Peter Fonda when he died?
He was 79.
How did Peter Fonda die?
He died after a battle with lung cancer.
Was Susan Brewer Peter Fonda’s wife when he died?
No.
Was Susan Brewer Peter Fonda’s widow?
No. She was his former first wife.
Is Susan Brewer still alive?
Her current status is not strongly documented enough for a confident statement, and same-name records should not automatically be attached to her.
Where does Susan Brewer live now?
Her exact current or later residence should remain private.
Is Susan Brewer on Instagram?
No same-name account should automatically be identified as Peter Fonda’s former wife.
Is Susan Brewer on Facebook?
Private profiles should not automatically be treated as official.
Did Susan Brewer write a book about Peter Fonda?
No major tell-all memoir by Susan is widely known.
Did Susan give interviews about the Fonda family?
She did not build a major public media career around discussing the family.
Why is Susan Brewer famous?
She is mainly known as Peter Fonda’s first wife and as the mother of Bridget and Justin Fonda.
Why is Susan Brewer important to Peter Fonda’s story?
She shared his life before and during his breakthrough as an actor and filmmaker and was his wife when Easy Rider transformed his public identity.
Why is Susan Brewer important to Bridget Fonda’s story?
Susan is Bridget’s mother and belongs to the maternal side of the family behind one of Hollywood’s most recognizable acting dynasties.
What is Susan Brewer remembered for today?
Susan Brewer is remembered as Peter Fonda’s first wife, the woman who married him in 1961 before Easy Rider made him a counterculture icon. Their 13-year marriage produced Bridget and Justin Fonda, and Susan remained an important part of the wider Fonda family while choosing a life far more private than the famous actors around her.
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