What is Henry Fonda birthday?

Henry Fonda was born at 1905-05-16

When was Henry Fonda died?

Henry Fonda was died at 1982-08-12

Where was Henry Fonda died?

Henry Fonda was died in Los Angeles

Where is Henry Fonda's birth place?

Henry Fonda was born in Grand Island

What is Henry Fonda nationalities?

Henry Fonda's nationalities is American

Who is Henry Fonda spouses?

Henry Fonda's spouses is Margaret Sullavan

Who is Henry Fonda childrens?

Henry Fonda's childrens is Jane Fonda, Peter Fonda

What was Henry Fonda universities?

Henry Fonda studied at University Of Minnesota, University of Minnesota, Omaha Central High School

What was Henry Fonda notable alumnis?

Henry Fonda's notable alumnis is University Of Minnesota

Which company or organization was founded by Henry Fonda?

Henry Fonda was the founder/co-founder of University Players

Who is Henry Fonda's father?

Henry Fonda's father is William Brace Fonda

Who is Henry Fonda's mother?

Henry Fonda's mother is Elma Herberta Fonda

How famous is Henry Fonda?

Henry Fonda is famouse as Actor

Henry Fonda - Film & Theater Personalities, Timeline and Childhood

Home › American › Henry FondaMay 16, 1905449 views

Henry Fonda Biography Stories Embed this Biography stories

Table of contents

Personal Details
Photo
Overview
Awards
Timeline
FAQ

American University Of Minnesota Film & Theater Personalities Actors Taurus Celebrities

Henry Fonda's Personal Details

Henry Fonda was a well-known American film and stage actor

Information	Detail
Birthday	May 16, 1905
Died on	August 12, 1982
Nationality	American
Famous	University Of Minnesota, Film & Theater Personalities, Actors
Spouses	Margaret Sullavan
Known as	Henry Jaynes Fonda, One-Take Fonda, Hank
Childrens	Jane Fonda, Peter Fonda
Universities	University Of Minnesota University of Minnesota Omaha Central High School
Notable Alumnis	University Of Minnesota
Founder / Co-Founder	University Players
Birth Place	Grand Island
Gender	Male
Father	William Brace Fonda
Mother	Elma Herberta Fonda
Sun Sign	Taurus
Born in	Grand Island
Famous as	Actor
Died at Age	77

// Famous University Of Minnesota

Russell M. Nelson

Russell M. Nelson is an American religious leader, author, and philanthropist. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Norman Borlaug was an American biologist known as the “Father of the Green Revolution”. This biography of Norman Borlaug provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Robert M. Pirsig

Robert M. Pirsig is a contemporary American writer and philosopher. Read this biography to learn more about his childhood, life, works and timeline.

Who is Henry Fonda?

Henry Jaynes Fonda was a well-known American film and stage actor born in early twentieth century. Initially, he was a short shy boy keenly interested in boys scouting; but avoided girls as much as he could. Towards the end of his school years he suddenly grew tall and handsome. His aim in life was to become journalist; but when he was twenty years old, his mother’s friend Dorothy Brando, who also happened to be Marlon Brando’s mother, was staging a play called ‘You and I’ at Omaha Community Hall, Nebraska. On her insistence, Fonda tried for the lead role and immediately fell in love with acting. He not only turned out to be good actor, but began to learn everything from stage production to set construction. However, it was not until he played the lead role in ‘Merton of the Movies’ that he actually decided to take up acting as a career option. He first went to New York to try his luck at the Broadway and then shifted to Hollywood. Nicknamed ‘One Take Fonda’ he soon became one of America’s greatest stars and in a career that lasted for almost five decades he acted in 106 films, TV shows and shorts.

// Famous Actors

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor. Let’s take a look at his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.

Shemar Moore

Shemar Moore is a model turned actor best known for his role in the television series ‘The Young and the Restless’. This biography of Shemar Moore provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Childhood & Early Life

Henry Fonda was born on May 16, 1905 in Grand Island, Nebraska, to William Brace Fonda, and his wife, Elma Herberta (née Jaynes). His father was an advertising-printing jobber. Henry often worked at his father’s plant after school.

Initially, he wanted to become a journalist. Therefore, after graduating from school he enrolled at the University of Minnesota with journalism as his major; but did not finish his course. Instead, he took up employment at a Retail Credit Company Equifax Inc.

Career

Henry Fonda began his acting career in 1925 at Omaha Community Hall, Nebraska at the behest of Dorothy Brando. At that time he did not take it as a career option. Three years later, he made up his mind to be an actor.

Accordingly, he left his job in 1928 and set out for New England. Here he began performing first for Provincetown Players and then for Joshua Logan's University Players Guild in Massachusetts and finally headed for New York City to work in the Broadway in 1932.

In New York, he struggled for two years; but everything changed when ‘The Farmer Takes A Wife’ opened at Broadway on October 30, 1934. In this show, Fonda played the part of Dan Harrow and received critical acclaim.

The success of the play induced Victor Fleming to adapt the drama for a comedy film and chose Fonda for the same role. Accordingly, Fonda moved to Hollywood and began shooting for the film version of ‘The Farmer Takes A Wife’. The film, released in 1935, helped him find a foothold in Hollywood.

In 1935, Fonda was cast in ‘Trail of the Lonesome Pine’ as Dave Tollivert. His acting ability attracted the attention of celebrated actress Batte Davis, who picked him up to play the part of Preston Dillard against her in the 1938 production of ‘Jezebel’. The role established him as successful leading man.

Next, in 1939, Fonda was chosen by eminent director John Ford to play the part of Abraham Lincoln in ‘Young Mr. Lincoln’. It marked the beginning of a long association. In fact in the same year, he starred in Ford’s next venture and his first color feature ‘Drums Along the Mohawk’.

However, when in 1940 Ford tried to engage him in his next venture ‘The Grapes of Wrath’, Darryl Zanuck of Twentieth Century Fox insisted that Fonda sign a seven year contact with the company, which he happily did. Ultimately he won his first Oscar nomination for the role of ex-convict and dispossessed farmer, Tom Joad, in this film.

He also received critical acclaim for his part of Charles Poncefort Pike in ‘The Lady Eve’ (1941) and for Augustus Pinkerton in ‘The Big Street’ (1942). At the same time, as World war II set in he began raising funds for the Allied forces for the defense of Great Britain.

In 1943, Fonda acted in ‘The Ox-Bow Incident’, an American western film noir directed by John Ford. Although the movie failed at the box office, he enjoyed portraying the character Gil Carter and his performance was highly appreciated.

In 1943, he joined United States Navy as a Quartermaster 3rd Class on the destroyer USS Satterlee. Later, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in Air Combat Intelligence in the Central Pacific.

On returning from war in 1946, Fonda portrayed the character of the legendary sheriff Wyatt Earp in the movie ‘My Darling Clementine’. The film directed by John Ford is considered a classic even today.

Subsequently, he did six more films before his contact with Twentieth Century Fox expired in 1947. Next he started working with Ford's new production company, Argosy Pictures, without going into any long term contract. ‘The Fugitive’ (1947) and ‘Fort Appache’ (1948) are two most significant films of this period.

Henry Fonda next returned to Broadway to star in ‘Mister Roberts’, which opened at the Alvin Theatre on February 18, 1948 and ran for 1,157 performances over three years; Fonda received ‘Tony Award’ for his performance in the play.

The play ended in January 1951. Subsequently, Fonda went on national tour and successfully staged plays like ‘Point of No Return’ (December 1951 – November 1952) and ‘The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial’ (January 1954 – January 1955).

in 1955, Fonda returned to films after a gap of eight years with the film version of ‘Mister Roberts’. This was followed by ‘War and Peace’ and ‘The Wrong Man’, both released in 1956.

In 1957, Fonda made his first venture into production with ‘12 Angry Men’, in which he played the Juror Number 8. The low budget film shot in just seventeen days is considered to be a classic.

In 1960s, he took part in number of war films and Western epics like ‘The Longest Day’, ‘How The West Was Won’, ‘Fail Safe’, ‘In Hams Way’ and ‘Battle of the Bulge’ etc. At the same time, he also did light hearted cinemas like ‘Spencer’s Mountain’ and ‘Yours Mine and Ours’

In 1970s, Henri Fonda took part in a series of disaster films, which had impending or ongoing disasters as its subject. ‘Tentacles’ (1977) and ‘The Swarm’ (1978) fall in this category.

Awards & Achievements

In 1981, Henry Fonda received the Academy Awards in the Best Actor category for his role in ‘On Golden Pond’. In 1982, he received Golden Globe Award in Best Motion Picture Actor – Drama category for the same work.

In 1948, he won Tony Award for his role in ‘Mister Roberts. In 1958, he received BAFTA Award in the Best Actor category and Golden Globe Award in Best Motion Picture Actor – Drama category for his role in ‘12 Angry Man’.

In 1977, he received Grammy Awards in the Best Spoken Word Album for his work in ‘Great American Document’. He was also awarded the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by Academy Awards in 1980, by Tony Awards in 1979 and by AFI Awards in 1978.

For his role during the Second World War he was awarded the Navy Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star.

Personal Life & Legacy

Henry Fonda married five times. He first married Margaret Sullavan in 1931; it ended in a divorce in 1933. Next in 1936, he married Frances Ford Seymour Brokaw, with whom he had two children, Jane and Peter Fonda. Both the children grew up to be renowned actors.

Henry Fonda ended his thirteen year old marriage with Frances in 1949. The following year he married twenty-one year old Susan Blanchard. Together they adopted a child, Amy Fishman. This marriage too ended in a divorce within three years.

Next in 1957, Fonda married Italian baroness Afdera Franchetti; the union ended in a divorce in 1961. Finally, in 1965 he married Shirlee Mae Adams and remained wedded to her until his death in 1982.

Towards the end of his life, Fonda developed prostate cancer. However, he died from heart disease at his Los Angeles home on August 12, 1982. As Fonda was an agnostic, he did not want any funeral. Consequently, his body was promptly cremated.

Today, he is widely recognized as one of the Hollywood Greats of the Classic Era. To celebrate his birth centenary, the United States Post Office had released a thirty-seven cent postage stamp, which bore an artist’s impression of Fonda, as part of their ‘Hollywood Legends’ series in May 2005.

// Famous Film & Theater Personalities