Henry Jaynes Fonda

'''Henry Jaynes Fonda''' (1905-82), American Actor

This page is written and copyright 2008 by Will Johnson, Freelance biographer, [mailto:wjhonson@aol.com wjhonson@aol.com].

This page is not finished, and is still very rough. I'm making constant changes to it as I uncover more material. Should you have corrections, additions, deletions, chocolate eclairs, effusive praise, or vicious catty comments, please email me.

===Early life (1905-1926)===

[[#William Brace Fonda|William Brace Fonda]], Henry's father was enumerated in the Federal Census in 1900 living, as a single man, in Omaha, Douglas County, [[Nebraska]] with his own parents, and listed there as a salesman.  On 10 Jun 1903, William Fonda married [[#Herberta Jaynes|Herberta Jaynes]], probably in or near Omaha, Nebraska.  Moving to Grand Island, Hall County, [[Nebraska]], they rented a house from Grand Island banker George Bell in 1904 and it was in that house that their eldest child Henry Fonda was born 16 May 1905.  They only lived there for six more months.  The house, marked as Henry Fonda's birthplace, was in 1966 relocated after Henry paid to have it moved from downtown, ten miles to the location at the Stuhr Museum ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=114970741&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=3 ''Seguin Gazette Enterprise'' (Seguin, Texas), 13 Aug 1982, page 3]).   

Henry Fonda graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1923.  A much later newspaper mention of him [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=4564143&currentResult=3&src=search&firstvisit=true here] states that he went to the University of Minnesota and got a degree, his thesis being on communication systems. Another source states that he had been studying journalism but dropped out after about two years.  A much later newspaper article ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=80955793&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0 "The Fondas", by Richard L Coe, Jan 1972]) states that he "...thought of himself as a future newspaperman.  Hank went to the University of Minnesota as a journalism major, but dropped out from exhaustion from jobs he took to pay his way through school."

Dorothy Brando, was an amateur actress and the co-founder of the Omaha Community Playhouse.  She was also the mother of [[Marlon Brando]] and a friend to Henry Fonda's mother.  She first got Henry Fonda interested in acting, his first role being Roderick "Ricky" White in the play ''You and I'' at that playhouse, which ran for only four performances in Oct 1925.  The following April he was "a pirate" in ''Captain Applejack'' which ran for four performances.  In May he was "a footman" in ''The Swan'' which ran for four performances.

 

In Oct 1926, in his first starring role, he was Merton in ''Merton of the Movies''.  That December, he was "Tilly" the musical clown in ''He Who Gets Slapped'' which ran for four performances.  Richard Coe goes on to state that Henry once starred opposite Dorothy Brando in O'Neills ''Beyond the Horizon''.

In his early twenties, "...he hitched a ride to Cape Cod with a family friend and soon hooked up with the University Players, a summer stock repertory company in Falmouth, Massachusetts." (''My Life'', p. 35)  Rather then just the overly vague "his early twenties" we can pinpoint this exactly to 1928, but no earlier or later, so he was 23.  And contrary to Wikipedia's nonsense, the first mention of these particular "University Players" (the name was rather generic) is [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=31&did=91516715&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218694805&clientId=54310 here].  Please pay close attention to the mention of the name "Bartlett Quigley".

"When [[Margaret Sullavan]] was invited to join the University Players the following summer in Falmouth, she stole his shy Nebraska heart.  Their romance bloomed until Sullavan went off to star in a Broadway play." (''My Story'', p. 36).  Margaret's Wikipedia biography [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Sullavan here] states that both Henry and she were in the 1929 "undergraduate musical" ''Close Up''. Since this was presumably while school was in session, it must have been in the Spring of that year.  It doesn't seem likely that Henry was performing as a member of the college, so perhaps this play had outside actors as well.  Margaret was then invited to join the University Players.  It is also possible that the Wikipedia entry is confused and that Fonda was not in that play, but only met Margaret, as his daughter Jane states, when she joined the summer stock a few months later.

In Apr 1930, he is enumerated, living in the household of his parents back in Omaha as an unemployed actor, and single.  Was he really going back and forth? Out to Massachusetts or New York when someone called, then back home so he didn't starve?  If so, he wouldn't be the first actor to start his career in this way.

Henry played the Prince in ''Cinderella'' in Nov 1930 opposite Suzanne Pollard (stage name "Shirley Horton"), daughter of the Governor of Virginia (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=50005553&currentResult=3&src=search&firstvisit=true here]).

===1931-1933===

Margaret Sullavan appeared at the Booth Theatre beginning 20 May 1931 in the title role in ''A Modern Virgin''.  On 17 Jul 1931 a ''New York Times'' article states that she "will appear" next week in the leading role of Coquette "in a production by the University Players of West Falmouth, Massachusetts".  But shortly afterward on 29 Jul 1931 they were announcing that ''A Modern Virgin'' would now tour to Brighton Beach, Asbury Park, and then Chicago on 17 Aug.  On 29 Oct it was announced that in the week of 9 Nov she would appear at the Booth Theater, in a play called ''If Love Were All''.  Meanwhile the New York Times took absolutely no notice of Henry Fonda.

On 14 Mar 1932, the ''New York Times'' states that Margaret Sullavan "has been engaged" as a member of the cast of ''Happy Landing'' which will open 28 Mar.  On 4 May the ''New York Times'' states that Margaret Sullavan "who recently closed" in ''Happy Landing'' has been engaged for the leading role in ''Coast-to-Coast'' at Broad Street Theatre, Newark. On 24 May 1932 the NYT announced that ''The Boy Friend'' was set to open 6 Jun on Broadway and the cast was to include Margaret Sullavan.  Meanwhile the New York Times still took no notice of Henry Fonda.

It was reportedly in this Summer of 1932 that Henry met and was the roommate of fellow-actor [[Jimmy Stewart]], at the Madison Square Hotel "while both worked on Broadway" ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=114970741&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=3 Seguin Gazette Enterprise (Seguin, Texas), 13 Aug 1982, page 3]).  Some sources state that Stewart was also a member of the University Players, starting that Summer.  Whether or not Stewart worked on Broadway at that time, needs more research.

Meanwhile, Henry's future wife, socialite Frances (Seymour) Brokaw who had married George Brokaw Jan 1931 was "...living in splendor as Mrs Brokaw, in a mansion with a moat on Fifth Avenue..." (''My Life'', p 36).  In Sep 1932 he played the part of Inspector Enderby in ''Michael and Mary'' (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=55696065&currentResult=5&src=search&firstvisit=true here]), which must have had a short run as the following month he was appearing on Broadway in ''I Love You Wednesday'' which opened 11 Oct 1932.  He then had a role in the 1933 Broadway play ''Forsaking All Others'', and reportedly also this year in ''All Good Americans''.  Finally, a 5 Dec 1933 article in the ''New York Times'' mentions that he is rehearsing in the play ''Love Story'', but it's not clear that he actually appeared.

Henry Fonda co-starred with [[Imogene Coca]] in director [[Leonard Sillman]]'s ''New Faces of 1934'' which opened March 1934.([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=38771701&currentResult=2&src=search&firstvisit=true ''Dunkirk Evening Observer'' (Dunkirk, New York), 19 Apr 1934, page 5]). This was the first of director Sillman's annual revues, each called ''New Faces''.  Note the interesting tidbit, that one of the potential backers who came to watch the auditions was none other than [[Libby Holmon]] later to be well-known in regards to her relationship with [[Montgomery Clift]].  Libby you will recall was the torch-singer who married a wealthy man who died such an interesting death that Libby went on trial for it.

Henry had evidently pulled himself together enough by 1934 that he was able to be in a play with Margaret.  The New York Times reporting that Henry Fonda "will appear" opposite Margaret Sullavan in the play ''Coquette'' at the Westchester Playhouse in Mount Kisco, New York for the week 2 Jul 1934. (NYT, 15 Jun 1934).  Because of this, his multiple roles in ''New Faces'', still then running, were distributed among four other actors. (NYT, 22 Jun 1934).  You will notice that Margaret's role here was a reprisal of her role back in 1931 for the University Players.

At this time "Leland Hayward, who was on the brink of becoming the top talent agent in the country, signed him up and convinced a reluctant Fonda to go to Hollywood for $1,000 a week." (''My Life'', p 37).   

On 14 Aug 1934, a columnist is reporting that Henry was then on the Universal lot and had "signed with Walter Wagner [sic], to play an important part in ''The President Vanishes''" (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=45596791&currentResult=7&src=search&firstvisit=true here]).  And [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=40782721&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0 on 2 Sep 1934], another column states that he signed with Walter Wagner [sic] to "make two pictures a year starting with the summer months of 1935."

But note that "Henry Fonda, Broadway actor who will be seen this season [the Winter of 1934] in 'Rome Haul'" (erroneously called Rome "Hall"), which probably means he was still then in New York.

<table><tr><td>http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/images/biographies/main/122_bio_homepage_main.jpg</td><td>Evidently this title was the title of the book by Walter Edmonds, and the play was re-named ''The Farmer Takes a Wife'' (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=49072003&currentResult=21&src=search&firstvisit=true here]).  The play appeared on Broadway at the end of 1934, running into 1935, and tells the story of Molly Harkins, a pretty girl who works as a cook on a boat, moving from town to town.  She meets Dan Harrow, a rough, simple man who wants to settle down as a farmer.  He has to convince her to marry him and farm.  Henry Fonda plays the man, and June Walker the woman (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=23032494&currentResult=22&src=search&firstvisit=true here]).</td></tr></table>

Noel Thornton was a bit psychic when he stated,<blockquote>"Indeed young Fonda is so good in the early part of the show that he undoubtedly will be transferred to the movie colony in jig time to become the newest of the leading men for Norma Shearer, Constance Bennett or Miriam Hopkins."</blockquote>

Margaret Sullavan and Jed Harris didn't marry, even though the gossip was they might, her next marriage was to director William Wyler.  He was directing her in her current film and there was '''no gossip''' that they were even romantically linked. So the marriage was a complete surprise, they "eloped" to Yuma, Arizona to get married. In the Nov 1934 article mentioning that Margaret had just re-married, they state that Fonda and she had divorced "two years ago".

In Jul 1935, the New York Times is reporting that Henry Fonda is under contact with "Walter Wanger, Paramount producer" and working at the Fox studios in a new version of ''Way Down East''.  Also in 1935, Henry Fonda worked in ''The Trail of the Lonesome Pine'' with Sylvia Sidney and Fred MacMurray, but the film didn't open until Feb 1936.

In Oct 1935 it was announced [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=48805611&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=8 here] that he had been engaged for two months to 21-year-old singer and star of ''Anything Goes'' Shirley Ross and "wedding plans are being made."

Margaret Sullavan's "... marriage headed to the divorce court today" (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=48805611&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=8 here] where "today" is 27 Feb 1936). By Mar 1936 it's reported that she had obtained a "mail-order divorce" from Chihuahua, Mexico (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=6494756&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=7]).  A newspaper report at that time, stated that speculation that she and Henry Fonda might re-marry led her, when asked, only to say "maybe".  A follow-up piece stated that this report was very upsetting to her, that she had never said any such thing (see [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=37004376&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=13]).

<table><tr><td>Louella Parsons was reporting on 24 May 1936 [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=37005202&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=3 here] that "Chatter in Hollywood" was the Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan would remarry as soon as her divorce from William Wyler was finalized. (So evidently that Chihuahua divorce wasn't true.) She there states that 'Henry has said again and again that any time she wants to say "Yes" will suit him.'  So if Louella is accurate, it certainly would appear that Henry was carrying a torch for Margaret.

"Henry Fonda sailed for England last night on the Normandie to appear with Annabella, the French actress, in ''Wings of the Morning'', which New World will make in Technicolor for release by Twentieth Century-Fox." ([http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=196&did=88674105&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=7&retrieveGroup=0&VType=PQD&VInst=PROD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218580871&clientId=54310 ''New York Times'', 18 Jun 1936]).  On 15 Jul 1936 [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=199&did=87962669&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=7&retrieveGroup=0&VType=PQD&VInst=PROD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218581506&clientId=54310 an article in the New York Times] is stating that Henry is then on the set in Denham, England (near London), Alexander Korda's London Film Company, he being one of the directors for United Artists.

On his return from London in Sep 1936 to New York, he lists his address as "233 North Carmetina, West Los Angeles", he also on this slip lists his birthplace as "Grand Island, Nebraska".  Soon after their return to New York, they were married.  Frances was a wealthy widow with a young daughter Frances "Pan" Brokaw from her prior marriage to George Tuttle Brokaw (see [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=218&did=88694858&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=7&retrieveGroup=0&VType=PQD&VInst=PROD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218583638&clientId=54310 here]), a retired lawyer and sportsman, many years her senior, who had died in May 1935.  Frances' family on both sides came from some sort of high-society as her engagement announcement makes clear.  Henry was to spend a few days in New York, and on [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=219&did=87989590&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=7&retrieveGroup=0&VType=PQD&VInst=PROD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218583654&clientId=54310 9 Sep 1936 the ''New York Times''] is reporting that Walter P. Chrysler Jr (the founder of Chrysler Corporation) gave a reception for the engaged-couple at the Waldorf-Astoria.  The article mentions the names of about 40 people who were present.  The next day, the New York Times is reporting that they obtained a marriage license at the Municipal Building (New York City) and that they would be married within a few days.  A long article about his travel in Europe is [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=222&did=85420860&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=7&retrieveGroup=0&VType=PQD&VInst=PROD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218584075&clientId=54310 here].  They were to be married, per [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=225&did=88696250&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=7&retrieveGroup=0&VType=PQD&VInst=PROD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218584362&clientId=54310 this article] on the 16 Sep 1936 in Christ Church, at Park Avenue and Sixtieth, New York City.  Then the marriage took place and was announced yet again! (See [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=226&did=93529126&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=7&retrieveGroup=0&VType=PQD&VInst=PROD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218584385&clientId=54310 here]).  Her sister Miss Marjory Capell Seymour was her maid-of-honor, and Joshua Logan was the best man.  The ushers were Leland Hayward and H. Roger Seymour, another brother of the bride.  "They will make their home in Beverly Hills."  This article is where we learn that her first husband George Brokaw died in May 1935.  Unlike a few other cases such as [[Elizabeth Montgomery]] and her father [[Elizabeth Montgomery#Robert Montgomery|Robert Montgomery]], the marriage of "the former Mrs Frances Ford Seymour Brokaw to Henry Fonda, the movie actor" did not cause her to be expelled from the ''Social Register''.  She still appeared in the relevant issue, with the marriage recorded under her name. (See [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=240&did=88085649&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218584775&clientId=54310 here]).

In late 1936, or early 1937, Margaret Sullavan married her last husband, Fonda's agent Leland Hayward and "lived just down the street" in California, this according to the autobiography of daughter Jane Fonda.  Jane goes on to state, that at a later time, after the Fonda's had moved to Connecticut, the Haywards also moved to that same area and the children were all friends with each other. This would have been perhaps in the late 1940s or early 1950s.  Margaret Sullavan eventually committed suicide in the 1960's.  Her daughter Brooke Hayward (b 1937) wrote a book ''Haywire'' about her parents Margaret and Leland Hayward.

Henry Fonda and Frances Seymour were the parents of actors [[Jane Fonda]] (b. 21 Dec 1937) and [[Peter Fonda]].  Even though the family was living in California, Frances decided to fly to New York to have each of her children Jane and later Peter.  So Jane was born in New York City while Henry was filming ''Jezebel'' with [[Bette Davis]].  William Wyler, the director of Jezebel, was none other than the next husband of Henry's ex-wife Margaret Sullavan.  William and Margaret had married at the end of 1934, but by this film were already divorced.

Henry had had it written into his contract that if his wife gave birth while they were shooting ''Jezebel'', he could fly back to New York to be with them.  Jane comments in her biography, how her father stated that he took dozens of pictures while there at the hospital, and that she has them.  She wistfully comments that in none of these pictures is there one of her mother holding her.

Henry in 1937 returned again to the stage for a brief run in ''Blow Ye Winds''.

===1938-1948===

The year 1938, saw Henry's appearence in ''Spawn of the North'' starring George Raft and Dorothy Lamour.  You will of course remember George Raft because of the role he played in the relationship between [[Lucille Ball]] and Desi Arnaz.

<table><tr><td>http://www.hotmoviesale.com/dvds/27209/1/Henry-Fonda-The-Signature-Collection.jpg<br>(Credit HotMovieSale.com)</td><td>

In 1939 Henry "had a leading role" in ''The Story of Alexander Graham Bell'' also starring Don Ameche and Loretta Young.  In newspaper articles, at this time, is where we find the appropos mention that Henry had written a thesis on communication systems while he was in college.

Henry Fonda played the title role in 1939's ''Young Mr. Lincoln''. In 1940 Henry received his first Oscar nomination playing in arguably his best-known role, as Tom Joad in the 1940 film ''The Grapes of Wrath'' based on the novel by Steinbeck.  To get this role, he had agreed to a seven-year contract which compelled him to play in the romantic-comedy ''The Lady Eve'' in 1941 with [[Barbara Stanwyck]].  In 1942 he was in ''The Male Animal'', and also that year co-starred opposite [[Lucille Ball]] in ''The Big Street''.  Lucy's direction was "play the bitchiest bitch who ever was."  It's so different from her remembered character that you're forced to watch.  It's this Lucy that makes this a movie-to-see, even though it's not her best work and it's a bit off-kilter.  Henry plays a man deeply in love with her, who she doesn't notice, thinking him beneath her station, even though he comes to her rescue several times.  Also as one of the supporting cast in this movie was [[Agnes Moorehead]].

</td></tr></table>

During WWII Henry Fonda served in the Navy, even though he was exempt.  For this he received a Bronze Star.  In 1946 he played Wyatt Earp in ''My Darling Clementine''.  In 1948 Henry returned to Broadway starring in ''Mister Roberts'' for it's multi-year run.  He would reprise his role seven years later in the film version.

===1949-1965===

<table><tr><td> Jane Fonda states that Henry was a man of dark moods and that they "...lived in constant awareness of the minefield we had to tread so as not to trigger his rage." (''My Life'', p 35).  On 14 Oct 1950 his then-wife Frances Seymour killed herself by slitting her throat while in a mental hospital.

Three months later, in Dec 1950, Henry married the much-younger Susan Blanchard, and went on their honeymoon to the Caribbean, returning Jan 1951. Henry and Susan adopted a baby named Amy. Henry and Susan divorced in 1956.  Peter refers to Susan, in his book as "Mom2".

On stage Henry played businessman Charles Gray in 1951's ''Point of No Return''.  He was the prosecuting attorney Lt. Greenwald in 1954's ''The Caine Mutiny Court‐Martial''.

<table><tr><td>http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/d/d0/250px-Fonda.henry.12am.JPG<br>Henry Fonda in 1957's ''12 Angry Men''<br>(Credit Answers.com)</td>

<td>In 1955 Henry Fonda returned to film starring in that year's ''Mister Roberts'' with [[Jack Lemmon]].  In 1957 he was in ''12 Angry Men''.  Fonda married his fourth wife, "Countess" Afdera Franchetti, on 10 Mar 1957. They divorced in 1962. Peter states that although Afdera liked to style herself "Countess" because her father was a Count, that the title given to her father was given to him alone, for his life, and not an inheritable one.

He was again on-stage as lawyer Jerry Ryan in 1958's ''Two for the Seesaw''. He played John, in 1959 in ''Silent Night, Lonely Night''.  And he was drama critic Parker Ballantine in 1960's ''Critic's Choice''.

Fonda married for the fifth and final time to model and stewardess Shirlee Adams, in 1965, and that same year played on-stage the conservative executive Jim Bolton in ''Generation''.</td>

===Later Career===

Henry Fonda worked again with [[Lucille Ball]] in 1968's film ''Yours, Mine and Ours''.  Again he returned to the stage for the 1974 one-man show ''Clarence Darrow''.  But shortly after played Adm. Chester Nimitz in the 1976 film ''Midway''.  In 1978 he appeared as liberal Supreme Court Justice Daniel Snow in ''First Monday in October''.

His first Best Actor Oscar did not come until 1981 for ''On Golden Pond'' co-starring [[Katherine Hepburn]] as his wife, and his real-life daughter [[Jane Fonda]] playing his movie daughter.

*[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7488&iid=NYT715_5860-0051&fn=Henry&ln=Fonda&st=r&ssrc=&pid=21298558 4 Sep 1936]

*[http://books.google.com/books?id=cXscbDlSt0cC&pg=PA174&dq=quigley+fonda&client=firefox-a&sig=ACfU3U39AcYrmvws1oFAbB65Dv1tHM7a5g#PPA165,M1 Bibliography of all of Henry Fonda's appearances]