Henry Fonda

From Philosopedia

Henry Fonda"' (16 May 1905 - 12 August 1982)

Fonda, the Nebraska-born 6' 1.5" Academy Award-winning actor, is claimed by the Church of Christ, Scientist. However, his Fonda: My Life states that Shirlee, his fifth wife, called him a doubter and an agnostic, not an atheist. His daughter Jane, however, has often stated that her father was an atheist and that her brother Peter is an agnostic.

Fonda's Career

Fonda appeared on Broadway and in numerous films.

He started his acting career with the Omaha Community Playhouse in a troupe led by Dorothy Brando (Marlon's mother). He then moved to the Cape Cod University Players, then on to Broadway, where he worked from 1926 to 1934, then left for Hollywood.

In 1931, Fonda married Margret Sullavan, an actress. They divorced the following year, after which she married director William Wyler, then producer-agent Leland Hayward, and, despite becoming nearly deaf, continued a stage career until suicidally taking an overdose of barbituarates when 49. Brooke Hayward has described her mother's life in a book called Haywire.

Fonda's first major roles in Broadway include New Faces of America and The Farmer Takes a Wife. The latter play was transferred to the screen in 1935 and became the start-up of Fonda's lifelong Hollywood career.

The following year he married Frances Seymour Fonda, with whom he had two children: Jane and Peter Fonda, who would also become screen stars.

He is particularly remembered for his roles as Abe Lincoln in Young Mr. Lincoln (1939); as Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), for which he received an Academy Award Nomination; and as Norman Thayer in On Golden Pond (1981), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1982.

Henry Fonda is considered one of Hollywood's old-time legends and was friend and contemporary of James Stewart, John Ford, and Joshua Logan. His movie career spanned almost 50 years, complemented by performances in American theater and on television.

His marriage in 1950 to Susan Blanchard lasted until 1956, when they divorced after having one child.

The marriage to Afdera Franchetti in 1957 ended in a 1961 divorce.

His marriage in 1965 to Shirlee Maye Adams, 28 years younger than he was at the time, lasted until his death, at which time she kept Fonda as her married name.

Fonda, with wife Shirlee and daughter Jane at his side, died at his Los Angeles home after suffering from both heart disease and prostate cancer. On Augut 7th he had been admitted to Cedars Sinai Hospital for the last time, having previously installed a pacemaker. He previously had directed that there should be no funeral service, and his body was immediately cremated.

According to his son, Peter,

• James Garner and his wife Lois stopped by the Fonda family’s estate to pay their respects. While Lois stayed with Shirlee, Garner wandered into the gatehouse to visit Peter and both men lit up a joint. They were inhaling when suddenly Jane walked in, clearly upset. She had discovered that Shirlee was keeping Henry’s ashes under her bed. All three were horrified. In their stoned state, Peter and James devised a plot to sneak into the house and liberate Henry. But as they were trying to figure a way to break into the house, Jane returned and announced Shirlee had moved the ashes to a better spot.

Fonda's Legacy

Fonda is widely recognized as one of Hollywood's greats of the classic era. On his 100th birthday, 16 May 2005, Turner Classic Movies honored him with a marathon of his films.

Also, the U. S. Post Office honored him with a stamp.