Henry Fonda

Actor

About

Also Known As

Henry Jaynes Fonda

Birth Place

Grand Island, Nebraska, USA

Born

May 16, 1905

Died

August 12, 1982

Cause of Death

Heart Failure

Biography

Filmography

The Great Depression (1988)

Henry Fonda, The Man And His Movie (1982)

On Golden Pond (1981)

Gideon's Trumpet (1980)

Clarence Earl Gideon

City on Fire (1979)

Meteor (1979)

Photos & Videos

View All

Grapes Of Wrath, The (1940) -- (Movie Clip) Open, Homicide

Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) -- (Movie Clip) I Love Red Hair

Family & Companions

Margaret Sullavan

Wife

Actor. 1931-1933.

Frances Seymour Brokaw

Wife

Married 1936 until her suicide on October 14, 1950.

Susan Blanchard

Wife

Married December 28, 1950 until 1956.

Adfera Franchetti

Wife

Married March 10, 1957 until 1961.

Bibliography

"Henry Fonda: A Biography"

Allen Roberts and Max Goldstein, McFarland (1984)

Notes

Won a Bronze Star.

He received a Presidential Citation Award.

Biography

A beloved, enduring screen star who embodied an idealized yet recognizable vision of the average but nonetheless intelligent and honorable American man, Henry Fonda began his acting career in his native Nebraska with the Omaha Community Playhouse. He worked his way to Broadway in 1929 and arrived in Hollywood in 1934. Fonda's benign, paternal presence landed him roles ranging from conscientious US presidents, in "Young Mr. Lincoln" (1939) and "Fail-Safe" (1964), to the patient juror who saves an innocent man's life in "Twelve Angry Men" (1957). He continued both his stage and screen careers through the 1970s, performing in such fine films as the romantic comedy "The Lady Eve" (1941), the John Ford Westerns "Drums Along the Mohawk" (1939), "My Darling Clementine" (1946) and "Fort Apache" (1948), the Sergio Leone "spaghetti" Western "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1969, one of his rare villainous roles) and the political drama "Advise and Consent" (1962).

Amazingly, for years Fonda's only Oscar nomination was for his moving work as itinerant farm worker Tom Joad in Ford's "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940), a year after the Academy granted him an honorary award, though, he won another statuette as best actor Oscar for his swansong performance in "On Golden Pond" (1981). The first of his five marriages was to actress Margaret Sullavan, opposite whom he worked in the romantic comedy "The Moon's Our Home" (1936). Children Jane and Peter Fonda, by second wife Frances Seymour Brokaw, are both actors.

Filmography

Life Events

1929

Broadway actor (walk-on) "The Game of Life and Death"

1935

Made film debut in a leading role opposite Janet Gaynor in "The Farmer Takes a Wife"

1939

First collaboration with director John Ford, "Young Mr. Lincoln"

1943

Last films before WWII service, "The Immortal Sergeant" and "The Ox-Bow Incident"

1946

Returned to films in John Ford's "My Darling Clementine"

1948

Last feature films for seven years, "A Miracle Can Happen/On Our Merry Way" and John Ford's "Fort Apache"

1948

Returned to Broadway to star in "Mister Roberts"; stayed with the hit for much of its lengthy run, and later went on tour with the show

1955

Returned to films to star in an adaptation of "Mister Roberts"

1957

Lone credit as feature film producer, "Twelve Angry Men", in collaboration with playwright and screenwriter Reginald Rose; Fonda also starred in the film

1962

Starred on Broadway opposite Olivia De Havilland in "A Gift of Time"

1981

Last film, "On Golden Pond"

Photo Collections

12 Angry Men - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from 12 Angry Men (1957), starring Henry Fonda. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Jezebel - Scene Stills

Here are several scene stills from Warner Bros' Jezebel (1938), starring Bette Davis and Henry Fonda.

Jesse James - Movie Posters

Drums Along the Mohawk - Henry Fonda Publicity Still

Young Mr. Lincoln - Movie Posters

The Grapes of Wrath - Movie Posters

Here are a few original-release American movie posters for The Grapes of Wrath (1940), starring Henry Fonda and directed by John Ford.

The Wrong Man - Lobby Card

Here is a Lobby Card from The Wrong Man (1957). Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. This particular card is the only time a Hitchcock cameo was highlighted in the advertising for a Hitchcock movie.

The Fugitive - Henry Fonda Publicity Stills

Here are a few publicity stills of Henry Fonda in The Fugitive (1947), directed by John Ford.

Fort Apache - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Fort Apache (1948). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Fort Apache - Publicity Stills

Here are a number of publicity stills from Fort Apache (1948). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

How the West Was Won - Program Book

Here is the souvenir Program Book sold at Roadshow engagements for the 1962 epic in Cinerama, How the West Was Won.

A Big Hand for the Little Lady - Movie Poster

Here is an original American movie poster for A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966), starring Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, and Jason Robards, Jr.

Daisy Kenyon - Movie Posters

Here are a few original-release movie posters for Twentieth Century Fox's Daisy Kenyon (1947), starring Joan Crawford, Henry Fonda, and Dana Andrews.

My Darling Clementine - Lobby Cards

Here are several Lobby Cards from John Ford's My Darling Clementine (1946), starring Henry Fonda, Linda Darnell, and Victor Mature. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

The Long Night - Lobby Card

Here is a Lobby Card from RKO's The Long Night (1947), starring Henry Fonda and Barbara Bel Geddes. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

The Big Street - Scene Stills

Here are some scene stills from The Big Street (1942), starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda.

The Big Street - Publicity Still

Here is a Publicity Still from The Big Street (1942), starring Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

The Rounders - Publicity Stills

Here are a few Publicity Stills from The Rounders (1965). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.