Ralph “Sonny” Barger, founder of the Hells Angels and actor of the “Sons of Anarchy” series, died Wednesday (6/29) of cancer at the age of 83. He left a message on his Facebook account, saying that he lived a long and adventurous life and that he ended up with his wife, Zorana.
“If you are reading this it is because I am gone. I asked for it to be published soon after my death. I have had a long life, with many adventures. And I have had the privilege of being part of a fantastic club. A public person. for a long time, I preferred to be with my club siblings, my family and closest friends. Know that I died peacefully, after a short battle with cancer. And know that, in the end, I was with my wife Zorana and dear ones nearby. Keep your head up, be loyal, free and always keep honor. “
Barger founded the famous motorcycle club in Oakland, California in 1957, but the Hells Angels took a decade to become famous. The motorcycle club gained special notoriety after being clumsily hired as a security guard at a free Rolling Stones concert in Altamont in 1969. One person was killed in the audience during a fight with one of the bikers. According to the club founder, the blame for the atmosphere of violence during the show would be the Rolling Stones, who took too long to get on stage.
He has written several books about his experience with the Hells Angels, covering this and other historical cases. In addition, he inspired the characters in the books of Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Wolfe.
The fame of the club also led him to the cinema. Barger played a variation of himself as president of the Hells Angels in “The Steering Wheel”, one of the first motorcycle films, directed by Richard Rush in 1967, two years before “Easy Rider”.
He later appeared in “Hell’s Angels ’69” (1969), but the Altamont incident put everything related to the Hells Angels on hold. Barger was seen in the Stones concert documentary, “Gimme Shelter”, released in 1970, and then only in another club documentary, released 13 years later – “Hells Angels Forever” (1983) – at the same time as it is. throat cancer diagnosed.
The cancer has left its marks, forcing him to wear a throat device to communicate. He was also arrested several times, accused of drug and arms trafficking. But, over time, he appeared again in documentaries about motorcycles and madness: “Harley Davidson: The Spirit of America” ​​(2005), on the trajectory of the famous motorcycle brand in the United States, and “Gonzo: The Life and Work by Dr. Hunter S. Thompson “(2008), in which he commented on his relationship with the famous writer.
That revival inspired “Sons Of Anarchy” creator Kurt Sutter to invite him to play a character from the series between 2010 and 2012. Focused on a motorcycle club not unlike the Hells Angels, the series allowed him to return to acting and he also had a small figure in the cheap horror “Dead in 5 Heartbeats” in 2013.
In 2010 he was again diagnosed with cancer, this time of the prostate. He has followed his treatment, but in his farewell message he does not mention if this is what he ended up winning his latest race against fate.
Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
