'', The role on which he put his most distinctive stamp was that of Mister Roberts, the avuncular and idealistic Navy lieutenant aboard a cargo ship in the backwash of the Pacific during World War II. You have to be focused and in my life, in this business, focus is hard to find sometimes. He was 60, a smoker and a drinker and in poor health. Peter Fonda, star of 'Easy Rider,' dies at age 79 | CNN His second wife, the former Frances Seymour Brokaw and the mother of Peter and Jane, committed suicide in 1950 as the result of a mental illness. Born in Grand Island, Nebraska, Henry Fonda started his acting debut with the Omaha Community Playhouse, a local amateur theater troupe directed by Dorothy Brando. The Academy nominated both Jimmy Stewart and his old roomie, Henry Fonda, . Beyond that, Mr. Fonda has said that the demands of his profession often made it impossible to fulfill the role of father as he would have liked. worth of 20 million dollars. Henry Fonda was a top American actor who appeared in film, on stage, and on television. "I know that he took in what I said to him. His father, Henry Fonda, made a brief appearance as well, and it is the only film in which they performed together.[28]. The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind, Mr. Whitehead, President of Trojan Construction, Los Angeles He never told a soul what he did, the story only came out after he died. (As the mother of Marlon Brando, she probably knew potential acting talent when she saw it.) The film was a box-office hit that year. Katharine Hepburn played his wife, Ethel, loving, wise and supportive, and Jane Fonda their daughter, Chelsea, liberated, fortyish and uncertain of herself and with whom he is seeking an accommodation after years of a difficult relationship. In 1936 Fonda married socialite Frances Ford Seymour Brokaw, and the couple had two children, Jane and Peter, both of whom became noted actors. How old was Henry Fonda when he filmed On Golden Pond? Peter Henry Fonda (February 23, 1940 August 16, 2019) was an American actor. Jane Fonda's brother Peter died in 2019. Fonda was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Easy Rider (1969), and the Academy Award for Best Actor for Ulee's Gold (1997). They succeeded getting money from Columbia Pictures. In 2002, Fonda was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. "[40] He also suggested that Americans should seek out names of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in order to protest outside of their homes and the schools of their children. From the start of his career, reviewers invariably praised his portrayals as ''refreshingly natural'' and ''immensely winning,'' and in later years, the consensus was that he was one of the few great American actors. He attended the University of Minnesota, studying journalism while working in two jobs, as a physical-education instructor at a settlement house and as a troubleshooter for the telephone company. ''It's been a very rewarding 46 years for me,'' he said, ''and this has got to be the climax.'' While supporting himself with a series of unsatisfying jobs, he was persuaded by Dorothy Brando, a family friend and the mother of the future star Marlon Brando, to join the Omaha Community Playhouse, where Mr. Fonda acted, painted scenery, became assistant director - and resolved on his career. Mr. Fonda entered Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Sunday, and his family, including his wife, Shirlee, and his children Jane, Peter and Amy, were at his bedside most of the time. Henry Fonda ended his thirteen year old marriage with Frances in 1949. He portrayed thoughtful men of . Ford was the initial director on the comedy, but he was replaced by Mervyn LeRoy, in part because of arguments with Fonda over plot elements. Fonda also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film for The Passion of Ayn Rand (1999). You can reach her onTwitter. "I totally forgot that they were actors. Other stage appearances followed, and in 1934 he played his first leading role on Broadway in The Farmer Takes a Wife. Updates? He was born in Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska, the son of Herberta Elma (Jaynes) and William . However, a cascade of later honors from the motionpicture academy, the American National Theater and Academy and many other professional organizations more than compensated for the oversight. 40 years ago. And it's still the fun that it was 56 years ago. He was voted the 29th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly. Born into Hollywood royalty as Henry Fonda's only son, Peter Fonda carved his own path with his non-conformist tendencies and earned an Oscar nomination for co-writing the psychedelic . He had the lead in Family Express (1991) and South Beach (1993), but then drifted into supporting roles in many "independent" films: Deadfall (1993), directed by Christopher Coppola; Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993), starring his daughter Bridget; Molly & Gina (1994); Love and a .45 (1994) with Rene Zellweger; Nadja (1994), produced by David Lynch. In a 2007 interview, Fonda said that riding motorcycles helped him to focus, stating, I ride an MV Agusta. Academy Award (1982): Actor in a Leading Role, Honorary Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (1981), Golden Globe Award (1982): Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, Grammy Award (1977): Best Spoken Word Recording, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Fonda, The National WWII Museum - Actors in Uniform: From Lieutenant Henry Fonda to Mister Roberts, Henry Fonda - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Dana Andrews, Paul E. Burns, and Henry Fonda in. He then matriculated in Westminster School, a Connecticut boarding school in Simsbury, where he graduated in 1958.[8]. Henry Fonda Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements ( 1905 - 1982) Henry Jaynes Fonda, a famous actor who lived from1905 to 1982. After a performance of ''Clarence Darrow'' in 1974 he collapsed from what doctors called ''total exhaustion,'' and a pacemaker was implanted in his chest because of a heart-rhythm disorder. Discover Henry Fonda's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Katharine Hepburn, who portrayed his bright, spunky wife of nearly 50 years, also won an Academy Award for her performance, and his daughter, Jane, who co-produced the movie, was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as their anxious daughter. Henry was 30 and Frances Ford Seymour was 27 years old. In the 60's, Mr. Fonda's two elder children, the actors Jane and Peter, generated wide controversy, Jane particularly for her assertive advocacy of liberal and radical causes and Peter for his identification with the drug and motorcycle cult. He died of heart failure on August 12, 1982, at the age of 77. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Henry Fonda Theater Center Memorial, c/o the Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass Street, Omaha, Neb. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 77 years old group. and justice. He was an executive producer of the documentary The Big Fix (2012). That's not true. His co-stars included Susan Strasberg, Bruce Dern, and Dennis Hopper. Jack Nicholson played George Hanson, an alcoholic civil rights lawyer who rides along with them. He was cast in the role, in what was a minor hit. Baby it out. Fonda made a return to the big screen as the bounty hunter Byron McElroy in 3:10 to Yuma (2007), a remake of the 1957 Western. At the presentation ceremony he was praised by Jack Lemmon as ''the definitive American actor'' and by Richard Widmark as ''the frontier American - part history, part folklore, part mythology.'' Henry Fonda summary | Britannica [14] Through his friendships with members of the band The Byrds, Fonda visited The Beatles in their rented house in Benedict Canyon in Los Angeles in August 1965. He also guest starred on In the Heat of the Night. In those years Mr. Fonda also appeared with the National Junior Theater in Washington. Although the typical Fonda character frequently moves in a world of menthe American West, the army, the navyhe is less a man of action than one of quiet thought. He According to one account, Peter Fonda largely avoided his father until about five years ago, when he telephoned him and blurted out, "I love you." He explained that he had accepted the ''soft-sell script'' after years of rejecting similar offers because ''the money is out of sight'' and ''I think good exposure in a commercial is better than bad exposure in a film or play. Henry Fonda, (born May 16, 1905, Grand Island, Neb., U.S.died Aug. 12, 1982, Los Angeles, Calif.), U.S. actor. It happened shortly after Fonda joined Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and John Huston in signing an open letter to the House Unamerican Activities Committee, suggesting it end its investigations of Communism involvement in the film industry. The Tragic Real-Life Story Of The Fonda Family - Grunge It was so real that I walked out of the theater and scowled at the cops. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. The two very different actors never knew each other socially because Fonda was much older. He studied journalism at the University of Minnesota and held a number of odd jobs before turning to the stage. For his service in the Central Pacific, he won the Bronze Star, the fourth highest award for bravery or meritorious service in conflict with the enemy. He reprised the role in his movie debut the next year. . In the mornings before we were shooting, I used to see him walk very quietly by himself to the pond to go fishing. Henry Fonda - U-S-History.com He was just 14 years old during the Omaha Race Riot of 1919. His plays included the long-running ''Mister Roberts,'' which opened in New York in 1948; ''The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial'' (1953), ''Two for the Seesaw'' (1958), revivals of ''Our Town'' (1968) and ''The Time of Your Life'' (1971); ''Clarence Darrow,'' a 1974 one-man tour de force, and ''First Monday in October'' (1978). [38] They divorced in 1974 after 13 years of marriage. Together they adopted a child, Amy Fishman. Actor Henry Fonda Dies at 77 - The Washington Post Henry Fonda Height, Weight & Measurements At 77 years old, Henry Fonda height is 6 2 . Fonda also portrayed Mephistopheles, one of two main villains in the film Ghost Rider (also 2007). He was one of the most celebrated and enduring American performers. The woman eventually died, and Jane couldn't stop blaming herself after the painful passing. He married with Margaret Sullavan (50), While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. While attending Marquette University as a business student, he landed a job doing childrens shows on the radio. But I reckon my face looks honest enough and if people buy His Broadway roles included a tour de force in "Clarence Darrow," in which he was the only actor and which was repeated on television. [23] The guitarist and composer Robbie Robertson, of The Band, was so moved by an advance screening that he approached Fonda and tried to convince him to let him write a complete score, even though the film was nearly due for wide release. Mr. Fonda continued acting despite major illnesses. As Playboy magazine reported, Fonda had established a "solid reputation as a dropout". Awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 1978 , awarded AFI Life Achievement Award in 1977 , nominated Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play in 1974 , nominated Academy Award for Best Actor in 1939 , awarded Bronze Star Medal , He graduated from University Of Minnesota. His father was William Brace Fonda, who owned a printing shop in Omaha, and his mother was Herberta Jaynes Fonda. Peter Fonda interview, "Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage" (1999), documentary on, Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor Motion Picture Drama, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film, United States Department of Homeland Security, New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor, DallasFort Worth Film Critics Association, DallasFort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, "Peter Fonda Faces Trial On Marijuana Charges", "Easy Rider at 50: how the rebellious road movie shook up the system", "Ben Foster and Peter Fonda Talk About 3:10 to Yuma", Peter Fonda Got Emotional Seeing His Final Film 'The Last Full Measure' A Month Before He Died, "Peter Fonda: the elegant rebel who set the counterculture in motion", "Peter Fonda, the 'Easy Rider' star and counterculture icon, has died at 79", "Peter Fonda Bashes President Obama in Cannes: 'You are a F*cking Traitor', "Secret Service notified after Peter Fonda's obscene tweet about Barron Trump", "Peter Fonda Slammed for 'Ripping Barron Trump' From Melania Tweet and Other Violent, Disturbing Posts", "Peter Fonda movie boycott part of Barron Trump tweet backlash", "Peter Fonda apologizes for vulgar remarks made about Donald Trump's son", "Peter Fonda apologizes for Barron Trump tweet that sparked movie boycott and scorn", "Sony Pictures Classics Calls Peter Fonda Tweet "Abhorrent" But Will Open 'Boundaries' As Scheduled Update", "Sony Pictures Classics Condemns Peter Fonda's Tweet but Won't Pull His Movie", "Peter Fonda, star of 'Easy Rider,' dead at 79", "Peter Fonda, star of 'Easy Rider,' dies at 79; sister Jane Fonda mourns 'baby brother', "Jane Fonda speaks out following brother Peter's death: 'He was my sweet-hearted baby brother', "Jane Fonda leads the celebrity tributes after her brother Peter passes away", Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor Television, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peter_Fonda&oldid=1150919394, Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (film) winners, Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (television) winners, Articles with dead external links from August 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 April 2023, at 19:49. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He won a supporting actor Oscar in 1971 for his role as the village idiot in David Lean's Ryan's Daughter (1970). In an interiew with The Chicago Tribune this summer, Katharine Hepburn said, "Henry is a very private man. ''I don't think I've been a particularly good father,'' he conceded, ''but I've been lucky.'' After 6 years, We have estimated He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains New York with Joan Tompkins. A year later Hollywood underscored its esteem by awarding him the Oscar for ''On Golden Pond.''. Desirable acting work became scarce. The father usually reacted stoically, defending them, but occasionally expressed annoyance over their flouting of conventions. Fonda continued to alternate between Broadway and Hollywood and appeared occasionally on television. Henry Fonda. All Rights Reserved. Months after their mother's death, 45-year-old Henry remarried Susan Blanchard, who was only nine years older than Jane. The youth was brought up there and in the suburb of Dundee and graduated from the Omaha Central High School in 1923. He did not appear in the film, and the film received mixed reviews upon its limited release. He was born in Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska, the son of Herberta Elma (Jaynes) and William Brace Fonda, who was a commercial printer, and proprietor of the W. B. Fonda Printing Company in Omaha, Nebraska. I don't want to just sell war bonds. it, Hallelujah. He had a net Advertisement. Fonda, Hopper and Southern were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Faber shaved his head and received Obie and Drama Desk awards in 1972 for his turn as a political prisoner in And They Put Handcuffs on the Flowers, Fernando Arrabals harrowing drama about the Spanish Civil War. Early life and career Pictured on a 37 USA commemorative postage stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series, issued in his honor on 20 May 2005. In fact, the Brando family, on a trip to Southern California in the late 1930s, visited Henry on a movie set. [10] He followed this with a support part in The Victors (1963), a bleak look at American soldiers in World War II, directed by Carl Foreman. Nearly fell out with his close friend James Stewart in an argument over blacklisting in the spring of 1947. Peter Fonda, 'Easy Rider' Actor and Screenwriter, Is Dead at 79 Thats an example of luck. [6] He said, "I know what it's like to be dead." It was the same woman that Brando had fired. [19] Fonda then traveled to France to appear in the portmanteau horror movie Spirits of the Dead (1968). In one scene, she relished the moment her character told her father's character, "I want to be your friend. ''It's as if an artist were to paint different parts of a picture on separate pieces of canvas and then have someone else fit them together,'' he said to an interviewer, adding: ''In the theater, the actor does a complete job at each performance, inspired by the audience, whose response prevents his job from becoming tiresome. He went out laughing."[51][52]. Ron Faber, who appeared on Broadway in the 1970s alongside Henry Fonda in First Monday in October and with Irene Papas in Medea, has died. [38] The marriage lasted for 36 years until they divorced in 2011. The actor was a gifted, self-taught painter, mostly of landscapes and still lifes, and enjoyed organic gardening. Peter Fonda dies at 79; sister Jane Fonda mourns 'baby brother' - USA Today While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Fonda was top billed in The Hostage Tower (1980), a television movie based on a story by Alistair MacLean. Peter Fonda Dead at 79 After Respiratory Failure from Lung Cancer "My dad was not a communicative person. It was based on the film High Noon (1952), starring Gary Cooper, with Fonda in the Cooper role. (December 3, 1965 - August 12, 1982) (his death), (March 9, 1957 - January 7, 1961) (divorced), (December 28, 1950 - May 2, 1956) (divorced, 1 child), (September 16, 1936 - April 14, 1950) (her death, 2 children), (December 25, 1931 - March 14, 1933) (divorced), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Fonda played "Wyatt",[22] a charismatic, laconic man whose motorcycle jacket bore a large American flag across the back. He also played a charismatic cult leader in Split Image (1982), a film that also starred James Woods, Karen Allen and Brian Dennehy. In Hollywood, Mr. Fonda portrayed southerners, cowboys, outlaws, comics, woodsmen, sophisticated leading men, and, in more recent years, aging professors, sheriffs and politicians. Anyone can read what you share. [citation needed]. Fonda continued to work in television, guest starring in Channing, Arrest and Trial, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and 12 O'Clock High. On Broadway, meanwhile, he got a walk-on part and bit roles in two short-lived plays, and he appeared in comedy skits in the 1934 hit revue ''New Faces.''. This marriage too ended in a divorce within three years. Peter Fonda - Wikipedia He also starred in the film version of the same work. It forces focus. Mr. Fonda came to take great pride in the careers of his children. But he cited the unmatchable rewards of acting on the stage, where a role can be created and developed ''from beginning to end'' in contrast to the disjointed, out-ofcontinuity shooting of movies. [1][2] Fonda was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Easy Rider (1969), and the Academy Award for Best Actor for Ulee's Gold (1997). The company, one of whose founders was Joshua Logan, played in Baltimore during the winters. Mr. Fonda never attended an actor's school, believing that his profession could best be learned on the stage. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. It must seem effortless and real. Omissions? Jane Fonda told Cohen she wasn't able to achieve everything she wanted in her relationship with her father before he died. Survivors include his wife, Kathleen, and children Hart, Raymond and Elise. Omissions? Jane Fonda Recalls Making Late Father Henry Fonda Break Down in Tears Fonda co-wrote the screenplay with Terry Southern and Hopper. [18], Fonda next played the male lead in Corman's film The Trip (1967), a take on the experience and "consequences" of consuming LSD, which was written by Jack Nicholson. Mr. Fonda was a meticulous and modest craftsman - dedicated and intense - who thoroughly enjoyed his profession. Although part of the reason for his extended stay in the East was his starring role in Mister Roberts on Broadway, he also confided to friends that he couldn't tolerate the political climate in Southern California during those years. Mr. Fonda's early movie roles included the backwoodsman in ''The Trail of the Lonesome Pine'' (1936); the youth driven by poverty into crime in ''You Only Live Once'' (1937); the dispossesed farmworker Tom Joad in ''The Grapes of Wrath'' (1940); the upright ordinary man in both ''The Ox-Bow Incident'' (1943) and ''12 Angry Men'' (1957), of which he was co-producer, and the noble extraordinary man as both ''Young Mr. Lincoln'' (1939) and Wyatt Earp, the frontier marshal, in ''My Darling Clementine'' (1946). 40 years old, and sounds fresher than most music made today. The dramedy costarred Katharine Hepburn and Jane Fonda and was a critical and commercial success. He achieved success on Broadway in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1934), which led him to Hollywood for the film version (1935). They were later joined by James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, who was to become Mr. Fonda's first wife. Was a first-hand witness to the Omaha race riots of 1919 and lynching of Will Brown. age 77 at his death. HENRY FONDA DIES ON COAST AT 77; PLAYED 100 STAGE AND SCREEN ROLES, https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/13/obituaries/henry-fonda-dies-on-coast-at-77-played-100-stage-and-screen-roles.html. [13] Fonda graduated to a starring role in The Young Lovers (1964), about out-of-wedlock pregnancy, the sole directorial effort of Samuel Goldwyn Jr. By the mid-1960s, Fonda was not a conventional "leading man" in Hollywood. He married with Susan Blanchard (71), Mr. Fonda played Norman Thayer Jr., a retired professor who struggles to come to terms with his life and approaching death. "And it's true that their friendship really almost ended over that. . His wife is Shirlee Mae Adams (m. 1965-1982) Henry Fonda Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. He left a legacy of many classic performances over a long career, most of which are considered to be sterling examples of the "Golden Age of Hollywood." Early years Henry Jaynes Fonda was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, on May 16, 1905, to . For his performance, Fonda won a Tony Award. In a candid interview with Andy Cohen, the 84-year-old actor revealed the moment her words made her usually stoic father break down in tears. During a Barbara Walters interview, Jane Fonda claimed that her father was deeply in love with Lucille Ball and that the two were "very close" during the filming of Yours, Mine and Ours (1968). [9] Afterwards, he found work on Broadway and gained notice in Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole, written by James and William Goldman, which ran for 84 performances in 1961. During this time, Fonda began appearing in movies directed by John Ford, and their collaborations produced a number of classic films that established Fonda as a star. Actor: 12 Angry Men. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. "[40][44] Backlash to Fonda's tweets resulted in a call for a boycott of his newest film, Boundaries, and other Sony projects. Frances later committed suicide. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. I began to realize that acting was a game of make-believe: let's pretend. Henry Fonda's early life Henry Fonda. [29], In the early 1990s Fonda also contributed to the script of Enemy (1990), in which he starred. '', Mr. Fonda really lived when he was acting, and just existed when he wasn't, many of this friends agreed. [38] Fonda married his second wife Portia Rebecca Crockett, in 1975. This remarkable, soft-spoken American began in films as a diffident juvenile. He is most remembered for his roles as Abe Lincoln in Young Mr. His other notable film roles included those of an innocent man on trial for robbery in Alfred Hitchcocks The Wrong Man (1956), an American president in Fail-Safe (1964), a villain (a rare role for Fonda) in Sergio Leones Once upon a Time in the West (1968), and a bit part in Wanda Nevada (1979), directed by and starring his son, Peter. His second wife, the former Frances Seymour Brokaw, who was the mother of Jane and Peter, took her life in a sanitarium in 1950. [42] Huckabee's daughter, White House Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, was also the object of Fonda's tweets, in which he suggested that "Maybe we should take her (Sanders') children away"[43], In another later deleted tweet, Fonda targeted United States Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen by calling her a "vulgar" name and calling for Nielsen to be "put in a cage and poked at by passersby"[43], Fonda stated that he deleted his tweet regarding Barron Trump, saying that he "immediately regretted it and sincerely apologize to the family for what I said and any hurt my words have caused. It was directed by Jack Bender and starred Fonda, John Glover, Harold Perrineau, and Katherine Heigl.[31]. Born in May 1953 in Los Angeles, the 69-year-old shot to fame in the 80s for . He was married five times. On April 12, 1967, he visited the aircraft carrier U.S.S. (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images) Henry Fonda was born on May 16, 1905 in Grand Island, Nebraska. They ended their 14 years marriage in 1950. He made this point in "Fonda, My Life," which he wrote with Howard Teichmann and which was published in 1981. When he received the Academy Award for "On Golden Pond," Mr. Fonda was in a hospital. Henry Fonda Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family