Henry Fonda
“The quiet conscience of American film, whose plainspoken decency anchored a half-century of roles.”
In 1981, after more than four decades and a hundred films without an Academy Award, Henry Fonda finally won the Best Actor Oscar for 'On Golden Pond,' playing an aging man confronting mortality opposite his daughter Jane. Too ill to attend, he received the award months before his death in 1982.
Nebraska Native
Born in Grand Island, Nebraska, Fonda got his start at the Omaha Community Playhouse, encouraged by family friend Dorothy Brando. He built a stage reputation before heading to Hollywood in the mid-1930s.
Man of Integrity
Fonda specialized in characters of quiet conviction, from Tom Joad and Abraham Lincoln to the lone dissenting juror in '12 Angry Men.' His understated, naturalistic style influenced generations of actors.
A Career-Capping Honor
Despite his stature, Fonda waited decades for Oscar recognition, finally winning for 'On Golden Pond' opposite daughter Jane. The emotional victory came just months before his death in 1982.
Career Timeline
- 1905Born in Grand Island, Nebraska
- 1926Joins the Omaha Community Playhouse
- 1935Film debut in 'The Farmer Takes a Wife'
- 1939Plays the lead in 'Young Mr. Lincoln'
- 1940Oscar-nominated as Tom Joad in 'Grapes of Wrath'
- 1943Stars in 'The Ox-Bow Incident'
- 1946Plays Wyatt Earp in 'My Darling Clementine'
- 1957Produces and stars in '12 Angry Men'
- 1968Plays villain in 'Once Upon a Time in the West'
- 1981Wins Best Actor Oscar for 'On Golden Pond'
- 1982Dies in Los Angeles
Biggest Hits
- His children Jane and Peter Fonda both became major stars, founding a Hollywood acting dynasty.
- He was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 1981, the year before he won the competitive award.
The Moment You Remember
In a sweltering jury room, one juror quietly votes not guilty against eleven certain men, and Henry Fonda makes patient, principled doubt feel like the most courageous act in the world.
Portrait: 20th Century Fox studio publicity still · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons