Henry Fonda

Henry Fonda

Acting
Born 1905-05-16 - Died 1982-08-12Grand Island, Nebraska, USA

Biography

Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor who had a career that spanned five decades in Hollywood. Fonda cultivated a strong, appealing screen image in several films now considered to be classics, earning one Academy Award for Best Actor on two nominations. Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor and made his Hollywood film debut in 1935. His film career began to gain momentum with roles such as Bette Davis's fiancee in her Academy Award-winning performance in Jezebel (1938), brother Frank in Jesse James (1939), and the future President in Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), directed by John Ford. His early career peaked with his Academy Award-nominated performance as Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, about an Oklahoma family who moved to California during the Dust Bowl 1930s. This film is widely considered to be among the greatest American films. In 1941 he starred opposite Barbara Stanwyck in the screwball comedy classic The Lady Eve. Book-ending his service in WWII were his starring roles in two highly regarded westerns: The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) and My Darling Clementine (1946), the latter directed by John Ford, and he also starred in Ford's western Fort Apache (1948). After a seven-year break from films, during which Fonda focused on stage productions, he returned with the WWII war-boat ensemble Mister Roberts (1955). In 1957 he starred as Juror No.8, the hold-out juror, in 12 Angry Men. Fonda, who was also co-producer, won the BAFTA for Best Foreign Actor. Later in his career, Fonda moved into darker roles, such as the villain in the epic Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), underrated and a box office disappointment at its time of release, but now regarded as one of the best westerns of all time. He also played in lighter-hearted fare such as Yours, Mine and Ours with Lucille Ball, but also often played important military figures, such as a Colonel in Battle of the Bulge (1965), and Admiral Nimitz in Midway (1976). He finally won the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 54th Academy Awards for his final film role in On Golden Pond (1981), which also starred Katharine Hepburn and his daughter Jane Fonda, but was too ill to attend the ceremony. He died from heart disease a few months later.

Movies (167)

12 Angry Men
8.6

12 Angry Men

1957Movie8.6
Sex and the Single Girl
6.6

Sex and the Single Girl

1964Movie6.6
Once Upon a Time in the West
8.3

Once Upon a Time in the West

1968Movie8.3
The Longest Day
7.6

The Longest Day

1962Movie7.6
Midway
6.6

Midway

1976Movie6.6
How the West Was Won
7.0

How the West Was Won

1962Movie7.0
The Grapes of Wrath
7.8

The Grapes of Wrath

1940Movie7.8
War and Peace
6.6

War and Peace

1956Movie6.6
My Name Is Nobody
7.3

My Name Is Nobody

1973Movie7.3
On Golden Pond
7.3

On Golden Pond

1981Movie7.3
In Harm's Way
6.6

In Harm's Way

1965Movie6.6
Warlock
6.8

Warlock

1959Movie6.8
La Classe américaine
7.6

La Classe américaine

1993Movie7.6
Meteor
5.2

Meteor

1979Movie5.2
The Swarm
5.0

The Swarm

1978Movie5.0
The Ox-Bow Incident
7.7

The Ox-Bow Incident

1943Movie7.7
Advise & Consent
7.2

Advise & Consent

1962Movie7.2
Fail Safe
7.8

Fail Safe

1964Movie7.8
Directed by John Ford
7.0

Directed by John Ford

1971Movie7.0
The Lady Eve
7.3

The Lady Eve

1941Movie7.3
Fort Apache
7.0

Fort Apache

1948Movie7.0
Young Mr. Lincoln
7.2

Young Mr. Lincoln

1939Movie7.2
The Wrong Man
7.1

The Wrong Man

1956Movie7.1
There Was a Crooked Man...
6.8

There Was a Crooked Man...

1970Movie6.8
The Boston Strangler
6.6

The Boston Strangler

1968Movie6.6
The Best Man
7.3

The Best Man

1964Movie7.3
Spencer's Mountain
6.8

Spencer's Mountain

1963Movie6.8
Yours, Mine and Ours
6.9

Yours, Mine and Ours

1968Movie6.9
My Darling Clementine
7.5

My Darling Clementine

1946Movie7.5
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line
7.7

Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line

1997Movie7.7
Battle of the Bulge
6.9

Battle of the Bulge

1965Movie6.9
Jezebel
7.0

Jezebel

1938Movie7.0
Let Us Live
6.8

Let Us Live

1939Movie6.8
The Long Night
5.8

The Long Night

1947Movie5.8
Too Late the Hero
6.4

Too Late the Hero

1970Movie6.4
Sometimes a Great Notion
6.9

Sometimes a Great Notion

1971Movie6.9
A Big Hand for the Little Lady
7.1

A Big Hand for the Little Lady

1966Movie7.1
Jesse James
6.5

Jesse James

1939Movie6.5
The Rounders
5.5

The Rounders

1965Movie5.5
The Tin Star
7.0

The Tin Star

1957Movie7.0
The Serpent
6.1

The Serpent

1973Movie6.1
Firecreek
6.2

Firecreek

1968Movie6.2
Rollercoaster
6.0

Rollercoaster

1977Movie6.0
Slim
6.5

Slim

1937Movie6.5
Rings on Her Fingers
6.8

Rings on Her Fingers

1942Movie6.8
The Mad Miss Manton
6.4

The Mad Miss Manton

1938Movie6.4
On Our Merry Way
5.7

On Our Merry Way

1948Movie5.7
That Certain Woman
5.6

That Certain Woman

1937Movie5.6
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
8.2

The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

1988Movie8.2
You Only Live Once
7.1

You Only Live Once

1937Movie7.1
Madigan
6.2

Madigan

1968Movie6.2
Fedora
6.7

Fedora

1978Movie6.7
City on Fire
5.1

City on Fire

1979Movie5.1
The Return of Frank James
6.3

The Return of Frank James

1940Movie6.3
Mister Roberts
7.0

Mister Roberts

1955Movie7.0
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Making '12 Angry Men'

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Making '12 Angry Men'

2008Movie
Drums Along the Mohawk
6.5

Drums Along the Mohawk

1939Movie6.5
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
4.0

The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's

1980Movie4.0
Lillian Russell
6.6

Lillian Russell

1940Movie6.6
Breakdowns of 1938
5.8

Breakdowns of 1938

1938Movie5.8
Benjy
6.2

Benjy

1951Movie6.2
The Biggest Battle
4.7

The Biggest Battle

1978Movie4.7
Tentacles
4.6

Tentacles

1977Movie4.6
Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth
7.5

Jay Sebring… Cutting to the Truth

2020Movie7.5
The Fabulous Fifties
6.0

The Fabulous Fifties

1960Movie6.0
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell
6.3

The Story of Alexander Graham Bell

1939Movie6.3
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
6.5

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

1936Movie6.5
Welcome to Hard Times
5.3

Welcome to Hard Times

1967Movie5.3
The Last Four Days
6.3

The Last Four Days

1974Movie6.3
Going Hollywood: The '30s
9.0

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984Movie9.0
I Met My Love Again
6.0

I Met My Love Again

1938Movie6.0
Way Down East
4.5

Way Down East

1935Movie4.5
The Cheyenne Social Club
6.3

The Cheyenne Social Club

1970Movie6.3
The Male Animal
4.5

The Male Animal

1942Movie4.5
Daisy Kenyon
6.6

Daisy Kenyon

1947Movie6.6
Tales of Manhattan
6.4

Tales of Manhattan

1942Movie6.4
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To
8.5

Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To

1990Movie8.5
Stranger on the Run
5.7

Stranger on the Run

1967Movie5.7
The Fugitive
6.0

The Fugitive

1947Movie6.0
John Ford: The Man Who Invented America
5.9

John Ford: The Man Who Invented America

2019Movie5.9
The Big Street
5.8

The Big Street

1942Movie5.8
Wanda Nevada
5.8

Wanda Nevada

1979Movie5.8
Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire
6.5

Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire

1991Movie6.5
Stage Struck
6.0

Stage Struck

1958Movie6.0
Henry Fonda for President
7.0

Henry Fonda for President

2025Movie7.0
I Dream Too Much
5.4

I Dream Too Much

1935Movie5.4
Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur
4.0

Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur

1976Movie4.0
Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker
8.0

Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker

1991Movie8.0
The Battle of Midway
5.9

The Battle of Midway

1942Movie5.9
Pictura
10.0

Pictura

1951Movie10.0
The Fondas: A Cinematic Dynasty
8.0

The Fondas: A Cinematic Dynasty

2023Movie8.0
An Impression of John Steinbeck: Writer
5.7

An Impression of John Steinbeck: Writer

1969Movie5.7
Gideon's Trumpet
6.5

Gideon's Trumpet

1980Movie6.5
Spanish Western
6.4

Spanish Western

2015Movie6.4
The Farmer Takes a Wife
6.2

The Farmer Takes a Wife

1935Movie6.2
Spawn of the North
6.0

Spawn of the North

1938Movie6.0
The American West of John Ford
6.5

The American West of John Ford

1971Movie6.5
Citizen Jane Fonda
7.2

Citizen Jane Fonda

2020Movie7.2
The Making of Midway
9.0

The Making of Midway

2001Movie9.0
The Dirty Game
6.0

The Dirty Game

1965Movie6.0
Fonda on Fonda
7.0

Fonda on Fonda

1992Movie7.0
Hollywood: The Selznick Years
4.4

Hollywood: The Selznick Years

1961Movie4.4
The Red Pony
10.0

The Red Pony

1973Movie10.0
The Petrified Forest
6.8

The Petrified Forest

1955Movie6.8
A Special Sesame Street Christmas
6.7

A Special Sesame Street Christmas

1978Movie6.7
The Golden Honeymoon
6.0

The Golden Honeymoon

1980Movie6.0
The Alpha Caper
6.0

The Alpha Caper

1973Movie6.0
The Displaced Person
7.0

The Displaced Person

1977Movie7.0
The Great Smokey Roadblock
5.7

The Great Smokey Roadblock

1978Movie5.7
John Ford & Monument Valley
1.0

John Ford & Monument Valley

2013Movie1.0
Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
7.7

Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia

2013Movie7.7
The Oldest Living Graduate
4.0

The Oldest Living Graduate

1980Movie4.0
Let Poland Be Poland

Let Poland Be Poland

1982Movie
Spendthrift
6.0

Spendthrift

1936Movie6.0
Bernice Bobs Her Hair
5.3

Bernice Bobs Her Hair

1976Movie5.3
Clarence Darrow
9.5

Clarence Darrow

1974Movie9.5
Immortal Sergeant
6.2

Immortal Sergeant

1943Movie6.2
The Wages of Sin
7.5

The Wages of Sin

2003Movie7.5
You Belong to Me
6.1

You Belong to Me

1941Movie6.1
Wild Geese Calling
6.5

Wild Geese Calling

1941Movie6.5
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
9.0

Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults

1999Movie9.0
Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still
7.2

Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still

1974Movie7.2
I'm a Fool
6.0

I'm a Fool

1977Movie6.0
The Sky Is Gray
7.0

The Sky Is Gray

1980Movie7.0
Inside 'the Swarm'
8.0

Inside 'the Swarm'

1978Movie8.0
Something to Do with Death
6.3

Something to Do with Death

2003Movie6.3
Barn Burning
5.4

Barn Burning

1980Movie5.4
Chad Hanna
7.0

Chad Hanna

1940Movie7.0
Wings of the Morning
6.2

Wings of the Morning

1937Movie6.2
The Moon's Our Home
6.9

The Moon's Our Home

1936Movie6.9
The Man Who Understood Women
3.9

The Man Who Understood Women

1959Movie3.9
The Blue Hotel
5.3

The Blue Hotel

1977Movie5.3
Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero
7.0

Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero

1997Movie7.0
Jigsaw
5.0

Jigsaw

1949Movie5.0
The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg
6.0

The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg

1980Movie6.0
'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War

'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War

2020Movie
Ash Wednesday
5.5

Ash Wednesday

1973Movie5.5
Blockade
5.8

Blockade

1938Movie5.8
The Music School
7.0

The Music School

1974Movie7.0
Soldier's Home
6.0

Soldier's Home

1977Movie6.0
The Magnificent Dope
7.3

The Magnificent Dope

1942Movie7.3
Paul's Case
4.0

Paul's Case

1980Movie4.0
Home to Stay
5.3

Home to Stay

1978Movie5.3
Summer Solstice
5.0

Summer Solstice

1981Movie5.0
The Jilting of Granny Weatherall
4.0

The Jilting of Granny Weatherall

1980Movie4.0
Sacco and Vanzetti
7.0

Sacco and Vanzetti

2006Movie7.0
Loving Against Time: the Making of On Golden Pond

Loving Against Time: the Making of On Golden Pond

Movie
Parker Adderson, Philosopher
7.0

Parker Adderson, Philosopher

1974Movie7.0
Rappaccini's Daughter
7.3

Rappaccini's Daughter

1980Movie7.3
Guilt Trip: Hitchcock and 'The Wrong Man'
7.3

Guilt Trip: Hitchcock and 'The Wrong Man'

2004Movie7.3
Jezebel: Legend of the South
7.0

Jezebel: Legend of the South

2006Movie7.0
The Man Who Loved Bears
4.0

The Man Who Loved Bears

1979Movie4.0
Parkinson: Meet Henry Fonda
4.0

Parkinson: Meet Henry Fonda

1975Movie4.0
To Save a Soldier
7.0

To Save a Soldier

1966Movie7.0
The Greatest Man in the World
7.0

The Greatest Man in the World

1981Movie7.0
Underground Doctors
6.0

Underground Doctors

1977Movie6.0
An Opera of Violence
6.8

An Opera of Violence

2003Movie6.8
President Kennedy's Birthday Salute
7.8

President Kennedy's Birthday Salute

1962Movie7.8
A Space to Grow
6.2

A Space to Grow

1968Movie6.2
The Really Big Family
6.5

The Really Big Family

1966Movie6.5
The Real Miss America

The Real Miss America

1952Movie
Henry James' The Jolly Corner
6.5

Henry James' The Jolly Corner

1975Movie6.5
Pat Paulsen for President
4.0

Pat Paulsen for President

1968Movie4.0
Hollywood: The Great Stars
4.0

Hollywood: The Great Stars

1963Movie4.0
Hollywood: The Fabulous Era

Hollywood: The Fabulous Era

1962Movie
Born to Buck
7.0

Born to Buck

1966Movie7.0
It's Everybody's War
5.9

It's Everybody's War

1942Movie5.9

TV Shows (32)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Golden Globe Awards
7.0

Golden Globe Awards

1944Series7.0
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

1956Series
Film '72
5.1

Film '72

1971Series5.1
What's My Line?
7.0

What's My Line?

1950Series7.0
Spécial cinéma
9.5

Spécial cinéma

1974Series9.5
The Dick Cavett Show
6.8

The Dick Cavett Show

1968Series6.8
Dinah!
7.0

Dinah!

1974Series7.0
All in the Family
7.8

All in the Family

1971Series7.8
The Ed Sullivan Show
6.8

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948Series6.8
People's Choice Awards
9.2

People's Choice Awards

1975Series9.2
The Steve Allen Show
6.2

The Steve Allen Show

1956Series6.2
The Doris Day Show
6.2

The Doris Day Show

1968Series6.2
The Deputy
6.5

The Deputy

1959Series6.5
Family
7.2

Family

1976Series7.2
The Bell Telephone Hour
8.0

The Bell Telephone Hour

1959Series8.0
The Kennedy Center Honors
7.4

The Kennedy Center Honors

1978Series7.4
The Bill Cosby Show
5.5

The Bill Cosby Show

1969Series5.5
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
5.4

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

1973Series5.4
V.I.P. Schaukel
8.0

V.I.P. Schaukel

1971Series8.0
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
6.3

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973Series6.3
Roots: The Next Generations
7.5

Roots: The Next Generations

1979Series7.5
Captains and the Kings
8.8

Captains and the Kings

1976Series8.8
Cadet Rousselle

Cadet Rousselle

1971Series
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8
The Smith Family
7.3

The Smith Family

1971Series7.3
Laugh-In
6.6

Laugh-In

1977Series6.6
The Star and the Story
7.5

The Star and the Story

1955Series7.5
Hallmark Hall of Fame
8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951Series8.8
The World About Us
7.8

The World About Us

1967Series7.8