We Love Henry Fonda Movies! Hollywood’s Favorite Soldier-Turned Actor

henry fonda

Hollywood has been dominated by soldier-turned-actor actors for a long time. However, Henry fonda was the most charming name out of the lot. 

He was a charming young man who spent his life dazzling and contributed blood and sweat to protect freedom and liberty. 

Broadway can never forget Henry Fonda’s name. He was truly one of the first superstars to walk this planet. This magnificent American actor appeared in more than 90 films. He has contributed to the world of cinema immensely. 

His much-celebrated films include Jezebel, Jesse James, The Grapes Of Wrath, and 12 Angry Men. Henry Fonda’s role as the juror in 12 Angry Men is a memorable one. He was also nominated to win the Best Actor Academy Award for his acting in The Grapes Of Wrath. Starting his career in Broadway shows, Henry Fonda soon got into Hollywood in 1935. Here is a clear and simple life biography of Henry Fonda.

Early Life: Who Is Henry Fonda?

Early Life: Who Is Henry Fonda?

Fonda was born on May 16, 1905, in Grand Island, Nebraska, U.S. He has been active through six decades in the film industry and started his career as a Broadway show actor. The stage actor contributed his life to cinema and appeared in around 90 films. 

Henry was quite shy and tended to stay away from girls when he was young. He was good at skating, running, and swimming. He only dreamt of becoming a journalist when he worked with his father in his print plant. After school, Henry Fonda also worked in a phone booth. Among other skills, Fonda was also good at drawing. But, little did he know that he would manifest as a great actor.

He was a journalism student, and he went to the University Of Minnesota. However, he returned from his university in his sophomore year to pursue acting. He started to act at the Omaha Community Playhouse. 

To pursue his career in acting, Fonda Later Moved to the East Coast in 1928 to pursue his acting career. There, he joined a small summer-stock theatre troupe named University Players Guild in Falmouth, Massachusetts. 

His debut in the Broadway Show started with The Game Of Love & Death. However, it took him a few years to get a leading role in a Broadway show. In 1934, his first leading role in a Broadway show came to place. His first leading role was in The Farmer Takes a Wife. 

Later, he moved to Hollywood and started making great films. You can read further to learn more about Henry Fonda movies. 

Henry Fonda Filmography 

Henry Fonda Filmography

Henry started his career in the film industry soon began. He maintained a reserved look, which stopped him from becoming a romantic hero. However, he had an intense persona on the screen, which helped him with crucial roles. 

Fonda was skilled in acting in different Broadway shows, which made it easy for him to adapt to films. He worked in Jezebel with Bette Davis in 1938. Later, other works, like The Lady Eve (1941) and The Big Street (1942), were followed by Barbara Stanwick and Lucille Ball alongside Fonda.

Fondas’ work with the famous director John Ford made quite the buzz during that time. Fonda played remarkable and iconic American characters, such as a young Abraham Lincoln in Young Mr.Lincoln (1939). Then, in The Grapes Of Wrath, Henry Fonda worked on an adaption of a novel by John Steinbeck.

Fonda’s work alongside the director John Ford was quite remarkable. He worked with Ford in his classic film My Darling Clementine(1946). Fonda was appreciated for his role as Sheriff Wyatt Earp. His role as the Lieut. Col. Owen Thursday in Fort Apache (1948) also earned him a good reputation. 

Fonda worked on several projects with John Ford. Another movie he worked on was Drums Along The Mohawk, which came out in 1939. Fonda’s career soon shifted towards a change during the World War. 

Henry Fonda enlisted in World War II and was enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Fonda served for three years in the Navy and was later commissioned in the Air Combat Intelligence as a Lieutenant Junior Grade officer in the Central Pacific. 

Later, he also served in the Naval Reserve for three years before returning to Hollywood.

Later Career 

Later Career 

After his retirement from the war and the Navy, Fonda came back to Hollywood. Initially, he only attended parties and enjoyed his life. Later, he also added around seven films in his post-war career. This is the time when he starred in John Ford’s My Darling Clementine. His last film was Daisy Kenyon in 1947 before his contract with Fox expired.

Fonda started to switch his work from Hollywood to Broadway and then to Hollywood again. He starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Wrong Man in 1956. His last feature film was named On Golden Pond.

Personal Life 

Personal Life

Henry Fonda married five times. Margaret Sullivan, Frances Ford, Susan Blanchard, Afdera Franchetti, Shirlee Mae. Fonda had only three children, and two of them(Jane and Peter Fonda) became renowned in the film industry, becoming actors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some popular questions that people ask about Henry Fonda-

What Did Henry Fonda Died Of?

Henry Fonda died of heart disease. On the day of August 12, 1982, Henry Fonda died of heath disease in the presence of his wife Shirlee Mae and children Jane and Peter.

How Old Was Henry Fonda At His Death?

Henry Fonda died at the age of 77 in Los Angeles due to heart disease in 1974. He has done more than 100 films and Broadway shows and has contributed remarkably to the film industry and Broadway shows.

Hollywood’s Favorite Actor-Soldier, Take A Bow!

Henry Fonda dreamed of becoming a journalist but became a famous actor. His dream shifted towards becoming a soldier in the Navy during the World War. 

However, after serving a remarkable period of his life in the Navy, Fonda returned to the world of film again and acted in several films and on Broadway.

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Shahnawaz Alam

Shahnawaz is a passionate and professional Content writer. He loves to read, write, draw and share his knowledge in different niches like Technology, Cryptocurrency, Travel,Social Media, Social Media Marketing, and Healthcare.