The Henry Fonda Story

Key Takeaways

• Fonda started life as a shy, socially awkward boy
• Henry Fonda was roommates with James Stewart when they were struggling actors in New York
• Prior to his impressive film career, Fonda was a renowned stage actor

The Awkward Years

Henry Jaynes Fonda was born on May 16, 1905, in Nebraska, where he spent his entire youth before leaving for college at the University of Minnesota. He was short for his age, a shy, socially awkward boy, though he enjoyed Boy Scouts, skating, and swimming.

While working part-time at his father’s printing company, he became interested in journalism, which he pursued at university. But his college career didn’t last long. He left in his sophomore year, returned to Nebraska, and worked as a file clerk for a credit company.

The Accidental Actor

Family friend, Dorothy Brando (Yes, Marlon’s mom!) suggested this bashful 20-year-old audition for a play at the Omaha Community Playhouse—and he was cast. From that moment he was obsessed with every aspect of theater. The following season, when he got the lead in the satirical comedy, Merton of the Movies, he decided this pastime would be his career.

Broadway Dreams

In 1928, he quit his job and moved to Massachusetts, where he graced the stages of the Cape Playhouse and The University Players, a summer stock theater company. There, he met actress Margaret Sullavan and they were married in 1931.

After the 1931-32 season, he left The Players and moved to New York to be with Margaret. The romance soon fizzled, and the couple divorced in 1933. When James Stewart arrived in New York, he and Fonda became fast friends and roommates. Both started getting better parts, including roles on Broadway, but in the early days of the Great Depression, work was sporadic at best. Money was tight or non-existent. There were days when the boys didn’t even have change for a subway token.

Fonda Goes Hollywood

After a successful Broadway run as the lead in The Farmer Takes a Wife, Fonda reprised his role in the film version, starring opposite Janet Gaynor. Now, the guy who couldn’t afford a train ride was making $3,000 a week and hobnobbing with Hollywood elite. More movies followed, including many made by famous Western director, John Ford.

Some of Fonda’s outstanding Westerns include: Jesse James (1939) with Tyrone Power, Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) with Claudette Colbert, My Darling Clementine (1946) with Victor Mature and Linda Darnell, Fort Apache (1948) with John Wayne, The Ox-Bow Incident with Anthony Quinn, The Tin Star (1957) with Anthony Perkins, Warlock (1959) with Richard Widmark, How the West Was Won (1962) which also featured James Stewart and John Wayne, Firecreek (1968) with James Stewart, Spaghetti Western, Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) with Charles Bronson and Claudia Cardinale, There Was a Crooked Man (1970) with Kirk Douglas, comedy My Name Is Nobody (1973) with Terence Hill, and The Red Pony (1973) with Maureen O’Hara, among others.

Awards

• Fonda’s only Academy Award was for On Golden Pond (1981) with Katharine Hepburn, and daughter, Jane Fonda.
• Nominations include: The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and 12 Angry Men (1957)
• He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for The Red Pony (1973) and won a Tony Award for his Broadway performance in Mr. Roberts.
• In 2005, he was posthumously awarded The Hall of Great Western Performers Western Heritage Award

Husband and Father

Fonda was married five times, first to actress Margaret Sullavan, followed by socialite Frances Ford Seymour, socialite and theater producer Susan Blanchard, Italian Baroness Afdera Franchetti, and finally to his soulmate, former model, Shirlee Adams, who was with him until his death. Fonda had three children, actors Jane and Peter Fonda, and an adopted daughter.

Henry Fonda died on Aug. 12, 1982, from heart disease.