Susan Brewer is best known as the first wife of Peter Fonda, the actor who became a counterculture icon through films such as Easy Rider. Susan and Peter married in 1961, before his biggest fame arrived, and they later became parents to two children, actress Bridget Fonda and Justin Fonda. Their marriage lasted roughly 13 years before ending in divorce in 1974.
Unlike Peter, Susan never became a major Hollywood celebrity. She worked in creative fields and has been credited in acting, costume, and casting-related work, but she spent much of her life away from heavy publicity.
Susan Brewer Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Susan Jane Brewer |
| Known For | Peter Fonda’s first wife |
| Former Husband | Peter Fonda |
| Married | October 8, 1961 |
| Divorced | April 15, 1974 |
| Children | Bridget Fonda and Justin Fonda |
| Profession | Artist; also credited in acting/costume/casting work |
| Mother | Mary Brewer |
| Public Profile | Mostly private |
| Net Worth | Not reliably verified |
Who Is Susan Brewer?
Susan Brewer became part of one of Hollywood’s most famous families when she married Peter Fonda.
Peter was the son of legendary actor Henry Fonda and the younger brother of Jane Fonda.
That meant Susan was entering a family already strongly connected to film history.
But there is an important detail.
Susan married Peter before Easy Rider turned him into an international symbol of late-1960s counterculture.
She knew him before that iconic image was fully formed.
Susan Brewer’s Early Life
Susan Brewer is commonly identified as Susan Jane Brewer.
Biographical records place her birth on May 12, 1939, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Some genealogy-style records also identify her as an American artist and actress.
Her mother was Mary Brewer, an actress who was born Mary Alice Sweet. IMDb identifies Susan as one of Mary Brewer’s children.
This meant Susan grew up with at least some exposure to creative and entertainment circles.
Susan Brewer’s Family Background
Susan’s mother, Mary Brewer, had connections to acting and later painting.
That creative environment may help explain Susan’s own artistic interests.
Unlike Peter, however, Susan did not spend decades building a giant public screen career.
She moved more quietly through creative work.
This difference would remain a major theme in her life.
Peter became one of the most recognizable faces of his generation.
Susan remained much more private.
Who Was Peter Fonda?
Peter Fonda was born on February 23, 1940.
He came from an acting dynasty.
His father Henry Fonda was already a major Hollywood star, known for classics such as The Grapes of Wrath and 12 Angry Men.
His sister Jane Fonda also became one of the most famous actresses of her generation.
Peter eventually carved out his own identity.
And he did it in a way that was very different from his father.
How Did Susan Brewer Meet Peter Fonda?
The exact story of Susan and Peter’s first meeting is not as heavily documented as Peter’s later film career.
But they were already together by the beginning of the 1960s.
They married on October 8, 1961.
A Getty image from 1962 shows Peter and Susan sitting together in London, smiling beside each other during their early marriage.
At that point, Peter was still building his career.
The enormous fame had not yet arrived.
Susan Married Peter Before Easy Rider
This is one of the most interesting parts of Susan’s story.
She did not marry Peter Fonda after he became famous for motorcycles, rebellion, and Easy Rider.
She was already his wife.
That means she experienced the entire transformation with him.
Peter moved from being the son of a famous actor to becoming a major cultural figure in his own right.
That shift must have dramatically changed their family life.
Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda’s Children
Susan and Peter had two children together.
Their daughter Bridget Fonda was born on January 27, 1964.
Their son Justin Fonda was born in 1966.
IMDb identifies Susan Brewer as Bridget’s mother, while genealogical records also list both Bridget and Justin as Susan and Peter’s children.
These children became part of the next generation of the Fonda family.
Who Is Bridget Fonda?
Bridget Fonda became the most famous of Susan and Peter’s children.
She built a successful acting career and appeared in films including Single White Female, Jackie Brown, Point of No Return, and A Simple Plan.
She was part of a remarkable acting dynasty.
Her grandfather was Henry Fonda.
Her aunt was Jane Fonda.
Her father was Peter Fonda.
And her mother was Susan Brewer.
Bridget eventually stepped away from acting, but her career gave the Fonda family another major Hollywood name.
Who Is Justin Fonda?
Justin Fonda is Susan and Peter’s son.
Unlike Bridget, he did not become a major mainstream movie star.
He has generally kept a much lower public profile.
That privacy makes him somewhat similar to Susan.
In a family filled with extremely famous actors, not every person chose the same degree of public visibility.
Peter Fonda’s Career Begins to Rise
During the 1960s, Peter’s acting career grew steadily.
He appeared in films including Tammy and the Doctor, The Victors, and The Wild Angels.
Then came the project that changed his image forever.
Easy Rider arrived in 1969.
Peter not only starred in the movie but also helped produce and co-write it.
The film became a cultural phenomenon.
Easy Rider Changed Everything
Easy Rider was more than a movie.
It became a symbol of a generation.
Peter played Wyatt, also known as Captain America, riding a motorcycle across the United States with Dennis Hopper’s character Billy.
The movie captured the mood of the late 1960s.
Freedom.
Rebellion.
Counterculture.
Drugs.
Politics.
And distrust of traditional institutions.
Peter suddenly became one of the faces associated with that entire movement.
Susan was still his wife during this huge moment.
Life With a Counterculture Icon
Being married to a famous actor can be difficult enough.
Being married to someone who becomes a cultural symbol brings another level of attention.
Peter’s image after Easy Rider was not simply “successful actor.”
He represented something larger.
Fans wanted to know him.
Journalists wanted to interview him.
Hollywood wanted more films.
And audiences connected him with a rebellious lifestyle.
That kind of fame can place pressure on any relationship.
Still, it would be wrong to claim fame alone caused Susan and Peter’s later divorce without direct evidence.
Susan Brewer’s Own Career
Susan was not simply a celebrity spouse.
IMDb credits a Susan Brewer associated with Vision Quest, Lovely But Deadly, and Time Walker, with work across casting, costume and wardrobe, and acting departments. IMDb also identifies her as previously married to Peter Fonda.
Other biographical records describe her as an artist.
This paints a picture of someone with her own creative interests.
She may not have reached Peter’s fame, but she was not completely outside the creative world.
Susan Brewer as an Artist
Several records describe Susan primarily as an artist.
That identity is important because celebrity biographies can easily reduce people to their marriages.
Susan had a creative background of her own.
Her mother had also worked in acting and painting.
So creativity appears to have run through Susan’s side of the family too.
This becomes especially interesting when looking at Bridget’s later acting career.
When Did Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda Divorce?
Susan and Peter divorced on April 15, 1974, according to genealogical records. Their marriage had lasted from October 1961 until 1974.
Peter’s Wikipedia biography similarly describes the marriage as lasting around 13 years.
By then, his career and public identity had changed enormously.
The young actor Susan married had become one of Hollywood’s best-known counterculture stars.
Why Did Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda Divorce?
The exact private reasons for the breakup are not clearly documented in strong mainstream sources.
That means it is better not to pretend there is one simple answer.
Marriages can end for many reasons.
Career pressure, changing priorities, personality differences, and family challenges may all play roles.
But unless Susan or Peter clearly identified one cause, those remain possibilities rather than proven facts.
What is firmly established is the timeline.
They married in 1961.
They raised two children.
And they divorced in 1974.
Peter Fonda After Susan Brewer
Peter remarried after the divorce.
In 1975, he married Portia Rebecca Crockett.
That marriage lasted for decades before ending in divorce in 2011.
Later that same year, Peter married Margaret DeVogelaere.
They remained married until Peter’s death in 2019.
Susan therefore represented Peter’s earliest marriage and the chapter in his life before and during his first great period of fame.
Susan Brewer’s Life After Divorce
After the divorce, Susan became much less visible publicly.
She did not spend decades appearing in celebrity interviews about Peter.
She did not build a major public career around being his former wife.
Instead, she maintained a largely private existence.
That is why modern searches for Susan produce much less reliable information than searches for Peter or Bridget.
Her later relationships, daily routine, and exact professional path are not heavily documented.
Did Susan Brewer Remarry?
Some online sources attach later surnames or relationship details to Susan.
But the information is not always consistent.
Because Susan Brewer is also a fairly common name, confusing her with another person is easy.
For publication, later marriage claims should be handled cautiously unless they come from clear records specifically tied to Peter Fonda’s former wife.
Her post-divorce personal life was far less public.
Susan Brewer’s Relationship With Bridget Fonda
Bridget’s life keeps Susan connected to Hollywood history.
Bridget eventually became an acclaimed actress in her own right.
IMDb identifies Susan Brewer as Bridget’s mother.
That means Susan is part of one of the most famous family lines in American film.
Henry Fonda.
Peter Fonda.
Jane Fonda.
Bridget Fonda.
And behind one branch of that family tree sits Susan Brewer.
Bridget Fonda’s Career
Bridget became particularly prominent during the late 1980s and 1990s.
She appeared in a wide range of films.
Her performances often combined intelligence, vulnerability, and independence.
She later married composer Danny Elfman in 2003 and stepped away from regular acting. IMDb lists the marriage and identifies one child, Oliver Elfman.
Bridget’s retirement only increased public curiosity about the private side of the Fonda family.
Susan Brewer and the Fonda Dynasty
The Fonda family is unusual because several generations became successful in entertainment.
Henry Fonda became one of classic Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Jane Fonda became an Oscar-winning actress and activist.
Peter became an icon through Easy Rider.
Bridget carried the name into another generation.
Susan’s place in that family may be quieter, but it is still important.
She was Peter’s wife during a defining era.
And she is Bridget’s mother.
Did Susan Brewer Act in Movies?
IMDb lists Susan Brewer with credits connected to Lovely But Deadly, Time Walker, and Vision Quest, though her work spans more than one production department.
This means she had some professional connection to film production.
However, she should not be described as a major actress with a large Hollywood filmography.
Her public career was much smaller than Peter’s.
Susan Brewer’s Net Worth
There is no independently verified figure for Susan Brewer’s personal net worth.
Some websites publish estimates in the low millions.
But those estimates are not supported by public financial records.
Peter Fonda’s earnings also cannot simply be treated as Susan’s personal wealth after their 1974 divorce.
Without dependable documentation, the safest answer is that Susan Brewer’s net worth is not publicly verified.
How Old Is Susan Brewer?
Genealogical and biographical records commonly give Susan’s birth date as May 12, 1939.
That would place her in her late eighties in 2026.
However, modern information about her life is limited because she has not maintained a highly visible public profile.
Is Susan Brewer Still Alive?
There are online obituaries for women named Susan Brewer.
But this is where careful identity checking is essential.
For example, a Seattle Times-linked obituary describes a Susan Jean Brewer who died in 2012 at age 56, with an entirely different husband and family.
That person was clearly not Peter Fonda’s former wife.
No reliable source reviewed here establishes that Peter Fonda’s first wife has died.
So unrelated obituaries should not be used to make that claim.
Peter Fonda’s Death
Peter Fonda died in August 2019 at age 79.
His death brought renewed attention to his life, family, and marriages.
Fans naturally began searching for the people closest to him across different periods.
Susan’s name returned because she had shared some of his most formative years.
She was there before the legend.
And she remained there while the legend was being created.
Why People Still Search for Susan Brewer
Peter Fonda remains an important figure in film history.
Easy Rider continues to be studied and watched.
Bridget Fonda remains a favorite actress for many 1990s film fans.
And the larger Fonda family still attracts enormous curiosity.
People naturally ask:
Who was Peter Fonda’s first wife?
Who is Bridget Fonda’s mother?
What happened to Susan Brewer?
Those questions keep Susan’s name alive.
Interesting Facts About Susan Brewer
Susan Brewer was Peter Fonda’s first wife.
They married on October 8, 1961.
They divorced in 1974.
Their marriage lasted approximately 13 years.
They had two children, Bridget and Justin Fonda.
Susan married Peter before Easy Rider made him internationally famous.
Her daughter Bridget became a successful actress.
Susan is also identified as an artist.
IMDb credits her with work in acting, wardrobe, and casting-related areas.
Her mother Mary Brewer was an actress.
Susan spent much of her later life away from major publicity.
Susan Brewer’s Quiet Role in Hollywood History
Susan never became as famous as Peter, Jane, Henry, or Bridget.
But fame is not the only way someone becomes part of Hollywood history.
Her marriage covered Peter’s transformation from a young actor into a counterculture icon.
She became the mother of Bridget Fonda.
She worked creatively herself.
And she remained connected to a family whose name stretches across several generations of American cinema.
That is a significant story even without constant red-carpet attention.
Where Is Susan Brewer Today?
Reliable current reporting about Susan’s daily life in 2026 is scarce.
She has remained highly private.
There are no widely reported recent interviews explaining where she lives, what projects she works on, or whether she maintains a public social-media presence.
That privacy should be respected rather than filled with guesses.
The strongest facts about Susan remain centered on her family, creative work, and early marriage to Peter Fonda.
Final Thoughts
Susan Brewer occupies a fascinating but understated place in the Fonda family story.
She married Peter Fonda in 1961, before he became one of the defining faces of 1960s counterculture. Their marriage lasted about 13 years and produced two children, Bridget and Justin.
During those years, Susan watched Peter’s career transform dramatically.
Then their marriage ended in 1974.
Peter continued through new marriages and decades of acting, while Susan largely stepped away from the public spotlight.
Still, her connection to Hollywood never entirely disappeared.
Her daughter Bridget became a major actress.
Susan also had creative work of her own and is described in biographical records as an artist, with IMDb credits across several production areas.
What makes Susan’s story memorable is not scandal.
It is timing.
She was part of Peter Fonda’s life before Easy Rider, during the moment that film changed everything, and through the early years of the next Fonda generation.
FAQs About Susan Brewer
Who is Susan Brewer?
Susan Brewer is best known as Peter Fonda’s first wife and the mother of Bridget and Justin Fonda.
When did Susan Brewer marry Peter Fonda?
They married on October 8, 1961.
When did Susan Brewer and Peter Fonda divorce?
They divorced in 1974 after roughly 13 years of marriage.
How many children did Susan Brewer have with Peter Fonda?
They had two children: Bridget Fonda and Justin Fonda.
Is Susan Brewer Bridget Fonda’s mother?
Yes. IMDb identifies Susan Brewer as Bridget Fonda’s mother.
What did Susan Brewer do for a living?
She is described as an artist, and IMDb credits her with work in acting, costume/wardrobe, and casting departments.
Was Susan Brewer married to Peter during Easy Rider?
Yes. Easy Rider was released in 1969, while Susan and Peter remained married until 1974.
What is Susan Brewer’s net worth?
Her individual net worth has not been reliably verified.
Is Susan Brewer still alive?
No reliable source reviewed here confirms her death. Obituaries for other women named Susan Brewer should not be confused with Peter Fonda’s former wife.
Why is Susan Brewer still famous?
She remains known because of her marriage to Peter Fonda, her role in the Fonda family, and as the mother of actress Bridget Fonda.
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