Henry Fonda

Date of Birth: May 16, 1905

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: August 12, 1982

Biography

Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor who had a career spanning five decades in Hollywood. Born on May 16, 1905, in Grand Island, Nebraska, Fonda became one of the most respected actors of his time, noted for his natural and subtle acting style. He initially pursued journalism but switched to acting after being inspired by a play he saw at the Omaha Community Playhouse. He moved to New York, where he found work in Broadway productions before making his film debut in 1935. Fonda’s film career took off with roles in “The Grapes of Wrath” (1940), for which he received his first Academy Award nomination, and classics such as “12 Angry Men” (1957) and “On Golden Pond” (1981), for which he finally won an Oscar. He was known for his portrayals of decent, thoughtful, and upright men, often representing the moral center of his films. Beyond his acting career, Fonda was also a dedicated family man and the patriarch of an acting dynasty that includes his children Jane Fonda and Peter Fonda, and granddaughter Bridget Fonda.

5 Interesting Facts about Henry Fonda

1. Henry Fonda served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was awarded a Bronze Star for his bravery.

2. He was an avid amateur beekeeper and found the hobby to be a relaxing escape from the pressures of Hollywood.

3. Fonda was known for his collaborations with director John Ford, appearing in seven of his films, including “The Grapes of Wrath.”

4. He was a close friend of fellow actor James Stewart, and their friendship spanned over 50 years.

5. Fonda was posthumously awarded the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award in 1978.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Henry Fonda

1. “I’ve been close to Bette Davis for thirty-eight years – and I have the cigarette burns to prove it.”

2. “I hope you won’t walk out of this movie and say, ‘That was a great performance,’ but rather, ‘That was a great story.’”

3. “My whole career, I’ve been doing things that I thought were important.”

4. “I don’t want to just be remembered as an actor who played Mr. Good Guy.”

5. “It has to do with seeing something in a new way, in a different light, and it seems to me that that’s what makes it art.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the time of his death in 1982, Henry Fonda’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million.

Children

Henry Fonda had three children: Jane Fonda, Peter Fonda, and Amy Fishman (his adopted daughter with his fifth wife, Shirlee Mae Adams). Jane Fonda and Peter Fonda both became successful actors in their own right, with Jane winning multiple Academy Awards and Peter known for his role in “Easy Rider.”