View source for 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.

http://www.afi.com/Images/tvevents/laa/archive/gal_Fonda_Henry_2.jpg
A very young Henry Fonda (Credit afi.com)

==Henry Jaynes Fonda==
===Early life (1905-1924)===
[[#William Brace Fonda|William Brace Fonda]] (b. 1879), 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]] (b. 1879), 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]).  

William and Herberta had two more children: Harriet in 1907/8 and Jayne in 1909/10, both born in Nebraska.  Between 1905 and 1910 the family had moved back to Omaha, where they are enumerated in the Federal Census that year.  Many years later, a newspaper article in which Henry talks about his father states "when he was six months old the family moved to Omaha".  It's not a direct quote from Henry however, so it's unclear what the source is for this fact.

Some biographers have given the impression that William Fonda moved to Omaha and opened a print shop; however, William's occupation in 1900 was "Salesman", and in 1910 it was "Salesman, Advertising Jobber".  In addition, the 1910 enumeration states specifically that he was an employee, not working on his own account. When he registered for the WWI Draft on Sep 1918, William then lists his occupation as self-employed Printer. In 1920 still in Omaha, William Fonda is now a "Proprietor, Commercial Print Shop".  You will notice that in 1920, at age 14, Henry Fonda is listed as an "Office Boy" for a "Stocks and B[onds]" company.

Henry Fonda graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1923.  A newspaper mention of him ten years later ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=4564143&currentResult=3&src=search&firstvisit=true ''The Soda Springs Sun'' (Soda Springs, Idaho), 20 Apr 1934]) states that "during his last two years in high school he worked as a trouble-shooter" [apparently with the telephone or other communications equipment], he then 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."

===1925-1927===
Dorothy Brando (b.~1895), was an amateur actress and the co-founder of the Omaha Community Playhouse.  She was also the mother of [[Marlon Brando]] (b. 1924) and a friend to Henry Fonda's mother Herberta.  She first got Henry Fonda interested in acting, but she was not a part of the cast or crew of his first role Roderick "Ricky" White in the play ''You and I'' at that playhouse, which ran for only four performances in Oct 1925.  It's quite possible that the credit for encouraging Henry Fonda might go to the man who directed him in five of his first six plays there, a man named Gregory Foley.

The first newspaper mention of Henry Fonda I find is Feb 1926 (''Waterloo Evening Courier'', 24 Feb 1926, pg 10), when he appeared at "The Strand" playing the role of Major John Hay, secretary to Abraham Lincoln, who was played by George Billings.  I here correct Biography.com which is probably citing Kevin Sweeney who incorrectly reports that this occurred only in the Summer of 1927.  Answers.com [http://www.answers.com/topic/henry-fonda here] states that Billings and Fonda toured for three months, after which, he returning to Omaha, became "assistant director at the Omaha Community Playhouse."

In April 1926, Henry Fonda 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, it was Gregory Foley who asked Henry Fonda to play the starring role of 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''.

"Dad had a $30-a-week job as a clerk at the Retail Credit Company in Omaha, but [[Marlon Brando]]'s mother a friend of my grandmother's, got him involved in the Omaha Community Playhouse, where dad was offered the part of Merton in the play ''Merton of the Movies''." (''My Life'', page 34)  I think Jane here is rushing through the early chronology, and just focuses in on Merton because Merton was Henry's first '''starring''' role, and so stands out.  The story of the play ''Merton of the Movies'' is that Merton is a terrible actor.  When film producers see how funny his over-acting is, they put him in a comedy but tell him it's a drama.

In Apr 1927, "Greg Foley then offered him a job as the assistant director for the 1927-28 season for a flat salary of $500." ([http://books.google.com/books?id=cXscbDlSt0cC&pg=PA174&dq=quigley+fonda&client=firefox-a&sig=ACfU3U39AcYrmvws1oFAbB65Dv1tHM7a5g#PPA5,M1 Sweeney, p5])

===1928===
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 in a ''New York Times'' article 25 May 1928], announcing their formation.

In May 1928, Fonda was in his last play that season in Omaha, ''Never Can Tell'', he then drove East with a family friend and hooked up with the Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts.  Henry was given the juvenile lead in their production of ''The Barker'' starring Minor Watson, which ran in Jul 1928 for 7 performances.  "Bernie Hanighan, a friend of Fonda's from Omaha...invited Fonda to drive with him to Falmouth...where the University Players were staging plays." ([http://books.google.com/books?id=cXscbDlSt0cC&pg=PA174&dq=quigley+fonda&client=firefox-a&sig=ACfU3U39AcYrmvws1oFAbB65Dv1tHM7a5g#PPA6,M1 Sweeney p6])  He accepted their offer to work with them for $5 a week.

Fonda performed in two plays for the University Players that Summer, but after the season ended, he had to compete with numerous other actors in the crowded New York City market.  He finally found work in December 1928 with the National Junior Theatre in Washington, D.C.

===1929===
In April 1929, Bernie Hanighan, organized a musical ''Close Up'' at Cambridge.  The Junior season was ending and so Fonda came to Cambridge to do this one scene with Margaret Sullavan (cf [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Sullavan "Margaret Sullavan"], Wikipedia).  That's when he fell in love with her.  Jane seems to confuse how and where he met Margaret and pushes it forward into the Summer, "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).

In a 31 May 1931 ''New York Times'' article, this part of Margaret Sullavan's life is summed up by this quote:<blockquote>"...[she went] to the Copley Theatre School in Boston.  A year later, when she came home as the feminine lead in a road company of ''Strictly Dishonorable''....[there came] an evening at Princeton where she replace Margaret Perry as the visiting artiste in a collegiate production of ''Three Artists and a Lady''. [Seeing her here] Mr [Elmer] Harris ventured an offer to Miss Sullavan to appear in her first New York show."</blockquote>
"She appeared as Goldina opposite Fonda in the first production of their second summer stock season in 1929, ''The Devil in the Cheese'', her debut on the professional stage." (Wikipedia, "Margaret Sullavan")

<table><tr><td>http://www.afi.com/Images/tvevents/laa/archive/gal_Fonda_Henry_2.jpg<br>
A very young Henry Fonda (Credit afi.com)</td><td>

Henry Fonda made his Broadway debut as a walk‐on in 1929's ''The Game of Love and Death''.  The entry for [http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=40805 "Henry Fonda"] in the Internet Broadway database states that this play ran from Nov 1929 to Jan 1930 and that he next appeared on Broadway Oct 1932.  I would note of course that the Internet Broadway database is run by a bunch of maroons who want you to snail-mail or fax them corrections!  How last decade!

===1930===
Henry, like many aspiring actors and singers, worked part-time, during this time, as a male model for artists.  In Apr 1930 a book was published listing some of these model's with their measurements and his name was mentioned there.  And right now, a dozen art historians are scrambling through dusty paintings and water-stained photographs to find a naked 25-year-old Henry Fonda....
</td></tr></table>

At this time, the Omaha Community Playhouse made him an offer of a round-trip ticket and the opportunity to guest-star in any play he chose ([http://books.google.com/books?id=cXscbDlSt0cC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA7,M1 Sweeney p7]).  That is how, in Apr 1930, he is enumerated, living in the household of his parents back in Omaha as an unemployed actor, and single.  Kevin Sweeney [http://books.google.com/books?id=cXscbDlSt0cC&pg=PA174&dq=quigley+fonda&client=firefox-a&sig=ACfU3U39AcYrmvws1oFAbB65Dv1tHM7a5g#PPA171,M1 says that April 1930] he was back in Omaha in the play ''A Kiss for Cinderella''.  That Summer he reprised the role, this time opposite Margaret Sullavan for the University Players in West Falmouth, Mass.

Arrrrrrghhhh!  I hate it when this happens.  [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=22968994&currentResult=1&src=search Here] on NewspaperArchive.com we see a page from the ''Syracuse Herald'' (Syracuse, New York), and newspaper archive has it indexed at 9 Jul 1930, page 31.  This is '''one''' of the pages I was using as evidence that Henry and Margaret had married earlier than reported.  OK.  Now, the first thing I notice is that the image of this page actually says "Page Sixteen", not page 31.  The date on the page is blurred '''just enough''' that it could be 1930 or 1936.  I'm starting to get a bad feeling here.  Slowly flipping back I notice something odd.  Every page, even-numbered in the index appears to say "1930", but every page odd-numbered in the index appears to say "1936"!  Gah!  Smacks forehead, NewspaperArchive has merged two different sets of pages into one run!  '''So''' apparently this announcement of a new film ''Reno in the Fall'' co-starring Henry Fonda opposite Margaret Sullavan, and calling him her "ex-husband" is supposed to be dated 9 Jul 1936.  '''So much''' for my great new revelation.

Henry Fonda loved this part evidently, playing yet again the Prince in ''A Kiss for Cinderella'' in Nov 1930 opposite Suzanne Pollard (stage name "Shirley Horton"), daughter of the Governor of Virginia ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=50005553&currentResult=3&src=search&firstvisit=true Kingsport Times (Kingsport, Tennessee), 30 Nov 1930, page 8]).  Note that Kevin Sweeney ignores this appearance.

===1931===
Margaret Sullavan's career now took off while Henry's was still on the slow burner.  Margaret had "gone on the road as an understudy in a play called ''Strictly Dishonorable''" ([http://books.google.com/books?id=cXscbDlSt0cC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA8,M1 Sweeney p8]). Margaret Sullavan then appeared at the Booth Theatre beginning 20 May 1931 in the title role in ''A Modern Virgin'', which ran for 45 performances.  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.

Kevin Sweeney states that during 1931, Henry appeared in ''The Straw Hat'' in Aug in West Falmouth. (So what was Henry doing from Dec 1930 to Aug 1931?)  Sweeney goes on to say that then the Players went to Baltimore where they performed ''Death Takes a Holiday'' next, and then in December ''The Ghost Train''.  These last two, Sweeney says were "with Margaret Sullavan."  This off-season extension was supposedly a financial disaster, which led to the break-up of the troupe, at least for that season.  But this was the first season where they had such an extended playing time.

<table><tr><td>The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart_(actor) Wikipedia biography of Jimmy Stewart] citing Houghton (1951) and also Eliot (2006) states that Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan married on Christmas Day 1931 in Baltimore where the University Players were for an 18-week Winter season, but by the following Summer of 1932 their marriage had ended.  I've now found a contemporary newspaper announcement that they did marry on Christmas Day, 1931, but the place is not specified. Sweeney [http://books.google.com/books?id=cXscbDlSt0cC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA8,M1 states on page 8] that they married "in the dining room of the Kernan Hotel in Baltimore.  He was 26, she was 20"  Henry's daughter Jane says, "After a year and a half of courting her, he proposed and they married. They lived in Greenwich Village, New York City, but the marriage only lasted about four months." Sweeney says "as lovers they fought ceaselessly...as husband and wife they fought even more" (page 8)  By Feb or Mar, they had separated according to Sweeney, Henry announced he would not be returning to the Players and moved into a "flea-bitten hotel below 42nd Street".</td><td>http://s3.amazonaws.com/findagrave/photos/2001/222/fondahenry.jpg</td></tr></table>

===1932===
Margaret's career was climbing higher.  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.

Jane Fonda states that just after Henry and Margaret separated, Margaret had taken up with producer Jed Harris. "Dad would stand outside her window, knowing Harris was inside with her."<blockquote>"That just destroyed me," he said a lifetime later to Howard Teichmann. "Never in my life have I felt so betrayed, so rejected, so alone."</blockquote> Could "Jed Harris" and Elmer Harris be the same person?

Meanwhile for Henry Fonda, work was non-existent.  Even though he had said he wouldn't, he tried to go back to the University Players, but Joshua Logan had already replaced him with a Princeton architectural graduate named [[Jimmy Stewart]].  Fonda was forced to take a menial summer job in Surrey, Maine.  (So what did Fonda do for money between say Feb and June of 1932?  I haven't found anything yet.)

At this same time, Henry's future wife, socialite Frances (Seymour) Brokaw who had married George Tuttle Brokaw on 10 Jan 1931 as her first husband ([http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=8&did=98311048&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1219103463&clientId=54310 ''New York Times'', 11 Jan 1931]) was "...living in splendor as Mrs Brokaw, in a mansion with a moat on Fifth Avenue..." (''My Life'', p 36).  The exact address being 1 East 79th Street. A photo of George appears [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=15&did=94616463&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1219103463&clientId=54310 here].

It has been reported that it was 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]), but this is both true and false.  Some sources state that Stewart was also a member of the University Players, starting that Summer, which is true.  But Stewart replaced Fonda, they did not work together.  Jimmy Stewart was in Massachusetts for the Summer of 1932, and Henry Fonda was in Maine.  They were not roomming together in New York City, with or without Joshua Logan.  And when they all did room together, it wasn't at the Madison Square Hotel.

I do not think Fonda appeared in the Theatre Unit's "Carry Nation" at West Falmouth, Massachusetts.  The article in the [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=194&did=100848240&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218770453&clientId=54310 New York Times, (5 Sep 1932, "Summer Theatres Still Testing Plays"]) does not mention him in the cast.  The play shortly afterward moved to Broadway.

And in fact in Sep 1932, in another play that Sweeney missed, Henry Fonda played the part of Inspector Enderby in ''Michael and Mary'' ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=55696065&currentResult=5&src=search&firstvisit=true ''Portsmouth Herald'' (Portsmouth, NH) 6 Sep 1932]), which must have had a short run as the following month he was appearing on Broadway as Eustace in ''I Love You Wednesday'' which opened 11 Oct 1932, closing that December after 63 performances.  This must have appeared to Henry as a new high-water mark, he previously having only been in short-runs.  Two other notable members of this cast were [[Humphrey Bogart]] and [[Arline Francis]].

Henry's appearance in ''I Love You Wednesday'' proves that he could not have been in the Broadway run of ''Carry Nation'' as that started 29 Oct at the Biltmore and ended in November after 30 performances.  However Jimmy Stewart was in this play, evidently his Broadway debut, so he must have been living in New York City at that time. 

Jane says of this general period, but which I will place exactly here, "For a while he shared a two-room apartment on the West side with Josh Logan, Jimmy Stewart and radio actor Myron McCormick." (''My Life'', p 36)  Sweeney on page 9 agrees, stating that "Fonda moved into a two-room apartment on West 64th Street with Logan, Myron McCormick and...Jimmy Stewart".

So what I think is that he ''may'' have been roommates with Stewart starting in the Fall or Winter of 1932, not the just-ended Summer.  Fall was when all the summer stock actors moved back into New York City looking for the big score and living on rice and water.  The University Players, now called the "Theatre Unit" however were perhaps doing a tad better, moving Carry Nation to Broadway for 30 performances.

===1933===
Henry Fonda next played Winter stock in East Orange, New Jersey.  He then had a role in the Broadway play ''Forsaking All Others'' which opened 1 Mar 1933, but closed quickly even with star Tallulah Bankhead.  Desperate for work he took a job as a florist's assistant.  "His mood wasn't helped by the news that his ex-wife had just been cast in a Hollywood film ''Just Yesterday'' (1933) ([http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0313265712/102-9279843-7223326?ie=UTF8&tag=countyh-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0313265712 Sweeney, page 9])

Sweeney reports that during this year, Fonda worked on the sets of many productions for the Westchester Playhouse in Mount Kisco, where his ex-wife Margaret Sullavan was the "leading lady".  At the end of this Summer is when Fonda, returning to New York, rented two rooms at the Madison Square Hotal, with his now best-friend Jimmy Stewart.

A 5 Dec 1933 article in the ''New York Times'' mentions that Henry Fonda is rehearsing in the play ''Love Story''.  Sweeney states that this play had Jane Wyatt, but closed after only four shows, and before reaching Broadway. Also on 5 Dec 1933, the play ''All Good Americans'' with Hope Williams and Fred Keating, opened on Broadway.  Although Fonda's name is not listed in the extensive cast list given both [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=31&did=105826643&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1219191840&clientId=54310 here in the New York Times] and [http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=11804 here at the Internet Broadway Database], Fonda mentions it in his autobiography.  It's just possible, that after ''Love Story'' closed prematurely, that Fonda was then given a part in ''All Good Americans''.

===1934===
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. (''New York Times'', 15 Jun 1934).  Because of this, his multiple roles in ''New Faces'', still then running, were distributed among four other actors. (''New York Times'', 22 Jun 1934).  You will notice that Margaret's role here was a reprisal of her role back in 1931 for the University Players.

Now Henry Fonda was going to enter the movies.  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, Louella Parsons 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''" ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=45596791&currentResult=7&src=search&firstvisit=true ''The Fresno Bee Republican'', 14 Aug 1934, page 4]).  However, if Fonda was in the film, he wasn't credited (see [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025674/fullcredits#cast IMDb, cast list]).  And a later column by Louella Parsons, states that he had signed with Walter Wagner [sic] to "make two pictures a year starting with the summer months of 1935." ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=40782721&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=0 ''Charleston Gazette'', 2 Sep 1934, page 24])

Fonda returned to New York, where he played opposite Geoffrey Kerr in ''The Swan'' the same play Fonda was in, back in 1926. Kerr's wife June Walker had been cast in a new Broadway play, but they still needed a leading man.  The playwright and producer attended a production of ''The Swan'' and invited Fonda to read for the part, and then gave it to him at $200 a week. "Henry Fonda, Broadway actor who will be seen this season [the Winter of 1934] in 'Rome Haul'" (erroneously called Rome "Hall").  Evidently this title was the title of the book by Walter Edmonds, and the Broadway 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]).  At this time, Henry's mother fell, broke her leg and developed a blood clot which killed her in October. "I felt so bad that she didn't live to see me move ahead", he said in his biography. "...his father died two years later", states Sweeney.

<table><tr><td>http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/images/biographies/main/122_bio_homepage_main.jpg</td><td>The play ''The Farmer Takes A Wife'', 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]).  The entry at the [http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=40805 Internet Broadway database] states that this play ran on Broadway from Oct 1934 to Jan 1935.  It had however premiered in Washington.</td></tr></table>

When the play ended it was, in 1935, made into a movie, co-starring Fonda opposite Janet Gaynor, making Noel Thornton 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 evidently caused a bit of a stir in some corners. Henry received one fan letter with a courteously enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope but with a presumptuous request:<blockquote>Dear Mr Fonda: I am one of Miss Sullivan's [sic] most ardent worshippers, in fact, I'm in love with her.  I see by the papers that you are her former husband.  Will you introduce me when you arrive to Hollywood?  Or, better still, write me a letter of introduction to her?" ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=10119914&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=4 ''Mansfield News Journal'' (Mansfield, Ohio), 5 Nov 1934, pg 6])</blockquote>

Margaret Sullavan and Jed Harris didn't marry, even though the gossip was they might, her next marriage was to director William Wyler.  Wyler was directing her in a film they were making at the time. Since there was '''no gossip''' that they were even romantically linked,  the marriage was a complete surprise. They "eloped" to Yuma, Arizona to get married by a Justice of the Peace with only a few witnesses. In the Nov 1934 article mentioning that Margaret had just re-married, they state that Fonda and she had divorced "two years ago".

===1935===
In January 1935, Fonda's name is attached to a group calling itself the "Stage Associates", and claiming to be the current incarnation of the old University Players.  The article in the New York Times also mentions that they "came to New York as the Theatre Unit" and were associated with Arthur Beckhard in the production of ''Carry Nation''.  "Offices have been opened in the St James Theatre" ([http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=44&did=93664484&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218768438&clientId=54310 ''New York Times'', 8 Jan 1935, pg 27]). In this article, we finally see Fonda and Stewart linked.  It is however unclear whether the "Stage Associates" actually produced anything.

[[Lucille Ball]]'s biographer Warren G. Harris in his book ''Lucy & Desi'' relates a story of how Lucy dated Henry Fonda for one date, double-dating with Ginger Rogers and Jimmy Stewart.  He states that Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart were then sharing a house in Brentwood and that the double-date was in-part to dispel any potential gossip that they might be gay lovers.  Rumours had already been swirling around Cary Grant and Randolph Scott.  However Warren seems to place this reported double-date in 1937/8 which is not possible.  It can only have taken place in 1935 or the early part of 1936, as my detailed chronology makes clear.  Henry Fonda himself mentions this episode at ''Dean Martin's Roast of Lucille Ball'', which you can watch [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uxSQdd08Q8&feature=related here on YouTube] (scroll to time 6:25).

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 as "Dave Tolliver" worked in ''The Trail of the Lonesome Pine'' starring Sylvia Sidney and Fred MacMurray, but the film didn't open until Feb 1936.

<table><tr><td>Ron Oliver at the [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028401/ IMDb entry for this movie] gives the synopsis: "In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia...a young woman discovers love, but no respite from the violent feud which has torn apart two families.

"Full of good performances & boasting excellent production values courtesy of Paramount Studios, this fine drama brings to its viewers a not-so-subtle message of peace & tolerance. The vividly depicted consequences of mindless, violent behavior give the film a real punch.

"The film's romantic triangle consists of barefoot mountain lass Sylvia Sidney, her decent, uncomplicated cousin Henry Fonda, and mining executive Fred MacMurray, who, as a newcomer to the backwoods, rebels against the traditions of violence & revenge he finds there. All three deliver compelling performances, with a slight advantage going to the gentlemen, as their roles do not require as much shrill, fickle behavior as does Miss Sidney's."</td><td>http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KE3FTXE0L._SL500_AA280_.jpg<br>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/0783215088?tag=countyh-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0783215088&adid=0Y6SKGJJ2GQE9GW43KCE& Buy it at Amazon]</td></tr></table>

In Oct 1935 it was announced that Henry Fonda had been engaged for two months to 21-year-old singer and star of ''Anything Goes'' Shirley Ross and "wedding plans are being made" ([http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=48805611&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=8 Middlesboro Daily News (Middlesboro, Kentucky), 31 Oct 1931, page 4])

===1936===
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 here]).  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 here]).

<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 that 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, Korda being one of the directors with United Artists.

In an article dated 7 Jul 1936 Walter Wanger was announcing that "next June" he hoped to start production on his first Italian picture, probably with Henry Fonda (NYT, 7 Jul 1936).  It is not clear whether this "probably with Henry Fonda" is a direct quote from Wanger, or the opinion of the columnist.</td><td>http://www.nndb.com/people/496/000026418/henry-fonda.jpg<br>(Credit NNDB.com)</td></tr></table>

Henry met his next wife Frances Seymour in London in Jun/Jul 1936 where she was vacationing from New York, and while she was visiting the set of ''Wings of the Morning'', in which he was starring.  On [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=214&did=88689550&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218582714&clientId=54310 24 Aug 1936 the ''New York Times''] is reporting the engagement of "Mrs Frances Seymour Brokaw of 646 Park Avenue... to Henry Fonda noted screen star.  Mrs Brokaw is now in Paris.  She has been traveling with Miss Fay Devereux Keith, of this city, who is engaged to Mrs. Brokaw's brother Ford de Villers Seymour.  Mrs Brokaw and Mr Fonda met for the first time in London this June.  They became engaged in Germany...."  A glamourous picture of Frances appears on the next day [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=215&did=87983707&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218583435&clientId=54310 here].

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 (b 10 Oct 1931) from her prior marriage to George Tuttle Brokaw (1879-1935) (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 "and on one occasion producer of musical comedy" ([http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=112&did=95896342&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1219102070&clientId=54310 ''New York Times'', 29 Mar 1929]).  George, many years her senior, had died of a heart attack on 28 May 1935, at the Hartford Retreat in Hartford, Connecticut where he had been a patient for a year.  His obituary mentions that his father had left a "net estate of $12,318,569 of which Mr Brokaw's share was $1,947,302" (see [http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=15&did=94616463&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1219103463&clientId=54310 here]).  George Brokaw had previously been married to Ann Clare Booth in Aug 1923, they divorced and Clare later married Henry Robinson Luce, and as "Clare Booth Luce" became quite famous, as an editor, playwright, journalist, and congresswoman.  George and Ann had one daughter Ann born 21 Apr 1926.  George's second wife Frances was the executrix and residuary heir.  At the time of his death in 1935, she is stated to be living at "60 East 67th Street".  Frances Seymour Brokaw was allowed to spend $1,000 per month for the maintenance of their daughter Frances.  The child at the time of her father's death inherited an annual income of $31,000 plus interest in property worth five million ([http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=3&did=93500118&SrchMode=1&sid=5&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1219104532&clientId=54310 see here]).

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 a [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 ''New York Times'' 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]).

===1937===
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, and went to the same school. This would have been perhaps in the late 1940s or early 1950s.  Jane includes a photograph in her book showing her, Brooke Hayward and another girl on bunkbeds at a summer camp.  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]] (b. 1939).  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 the time of this film, were already divorced.  Watch two minutes of Jezebel [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XGivFuMQos here on YouTube].

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 Broadway for a brief run in ''Blow Ye Winds''.  He would not again return to Broadway for 11 years.

===1938-1948===
<table border=2><tr><td>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.  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.  Also that same year, Henry Fonda played the title role in 1939's ''Young Mr. Lincoln''. Watch two minutes [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0n6NAXBlC0 here on YouTube]. 

In 1940 Henry received his first Oscar nomination playing in arguably his best-known role, as Tom Joad in the 1940 20th-Century Fox film ''The Grapes of Wrath'' based on the novel by Steinbeck.  Watch this entire movie on YouTube, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sywcp7DUlAQ Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMUkbULE1rk Part 2], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ0MO8tfzbc Part 3], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS_qK7wH99w Part 4], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhNz0yMp8Y8 Part 5], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAsAmzZ7dus Part 6], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_uSJ64-xmU&feature=related Part 7], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtcFtdCAaBQ Part 8], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OivSBVLaUz0 Part 9], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LBKctsNpwo Part 10], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWkVJ21H6_w Part 11], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At0Qn88MypE Part 12], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJmOis7kPXE Part 13].</td><td>http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514GNJP58EL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DJZ8R?ie=UTF8&tag=countyh-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0000DJZ8R Buy The Grapes of Wrath<br>Now at Amazon]</td></tr></table>

<table><tr><td>http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wjhonson/Famous/TheBigStreet1.JPG<br>Henry Fonda in ''The Big Street''</td><td>To get the role of Tom Joad, 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]]''. Lucille Ball plays a hard, snobby, gold-digging, nightclub singer.  Henry Fonda plays a busboy deeply in love with her.  When Lucy tries to leave the man she's been dating, he pushes her down the stairs and she is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of the picture.  Now destitute, she must rely on Fonda who takes care of her.  The singing of "Who Knows" is not Lucy's voice, it was dubbed in by Martha Mears.  As one of the supporting cast in this movie notice [[Agnes Moorehead]].  You can watch the entire movie, in nine parts, on Youtube.  You can also read my detailed synopsis of the movie [[The Big Street|here]].  Henry first appears at time 2:52. Watch [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRlDpNAFDfI Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwx9qP2MyTM Part 2], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2mGtnErklo Part 3], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-aCLeEwYE0 Part 4], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJJtAJYMlvw Part 5], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwZelh9rQv0 Part 6], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzSZN9Ey2VM Part 7], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIexCunpEyU Part 8], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5Hy_Ip8eI8 Part 9].
</td></tr></table>

<table><tr><td>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''.  Watch several minutes [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WXwO7Hqluo here on YouTube].  In 1948 Henry returned to Broadway starring in ''Mister Roberts'' for it's multi-year run, ending sometime in 1950.  He would reprise this role for the 1955 film version.</td><td>http://www.hotmoviesale.com/dvds/27209/1/Henry-Fonda-The-Signature-Collection.jpg<br>(Credit HotMovieSale.com)</td></tr></table>

===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, possibly this occurred in 1951.  Henry Fonda and Susan Blanchard divorced in 1956.  Peter Fonda refers to Susan Blanchard, in his book as "Mom2".

On Broadway, Henry played businessman Charles Gray in 1951's ''Point of No Return'', which ran into 1952.  He was the prosecuting attorney Lt. Greenwald in 1954's ''The Caine Mutiny Court‐Martial''.
</td><td>http://www.freerangephotography.co.uk/MMDgenealogy-p/hammerstein_o___dorothy.jpg<br>Henry Fonda and Susan Blanchard<br>(Credit FreeRangePhotography.co.uk)</td></tr></table>

<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 1956 he was in ''The Wrong Man''. (You can rent [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EC2J1Q/102-9279843-7223326?ie=UTF8&tag=countyh-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B001EC2J1Q ''The Wrong Man'' here].) In 1957 he was in ''12 Angry Men''.  Watch it on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52y55e3LpDQ Part 1], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK7Njq8YpNI Part 2], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM4nQXgfm4E Part 3], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIUDSSW9pPU Part 4], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fVozSOfH30 Part 5], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3lng0o4s-4 Part 6], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYq4DlKpJVQ Part 7], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD3ab6xNn4c Part 8], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEff7rnjhl4 Part 9], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rtCXsVTt6o Part 10].

Fonda married his fourth wife, "Countess" Afdera Franchetti, on 10 Mar 1957. They divorced in 1962.  Peter states that he and Afdera disliked each other on-sight, and 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 or family title.

Henry Fonda was again on-Broadway 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'', which ran into 1961.  In 1962 he was in the play ''A Gift of Time''.

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'' which ran into 1966.</td>
</tr></table>

===Later Career===
<table><tr><td>
Henry Fonda worked again with [[Lucille Ball]] in 1968's film ''Yours, Mine and Ours''.  Again he returned to Broadway for 1969's ''Our Town'', and for the 1974 one-man show ''Clarence Darrow'', which ran into 1975.  Shortly afterwards he played Adm. Chester Nimitz in the 1976 film ''Midway''.  In 1978 he appeared again on Broadway, 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.

Henry Fonda died of heart failure 12 Aug 1982 in [[Los Angeles County, California]].</td><td>http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AGZ0XWFVL._SL500_AA280_.jpg<br>VHS cover sleeve<br>''Yours, Mine and Ours''<br>(Credit Amazon.com)</td></tr></table>

===Primary documents for 1===
*[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&dbid=50003&iid=NEWS-OH-NE_JO.1975_06_15_0083&r=an&rc=1923,1967,2155,2017;2188,1967,2254,2017;2288,1967,2487,2017&fn=&ln=Record+William+B+Fonda&st=d&ssrc=&pid=511392851 "Henry Fonda on William B Fonda"], 15 Jun 1975, ''News Journal'' (Mansfield, Ohio) : "The elder Fonda born in the mid-1880s, died in 1935.  In 1905, when Henry was six months old, William and his wife Herberta moved from Grand Island, Neb., to Omaha, Neb., and set up a print shop"
*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=&gsln=Fonda&sx=&f7=&f9=&f10=&f18__n=&f20=nebraska&rg_81004011__date=&rs_81004011__date=0&f23=&f17=&f16=&rg_f19__date=&rs_f19__date=0&_8000C002=&f21=&_80008002=&f22=&_80018002=&gskw=&prox=1&db=1910uscenindex&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=11&recid=44813824&recoff=3+18+19 1910 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska] : "William B Fonda, head, MW, 31, married first time, 6 years ago, b NE/NY/NY, employee, rents home; Herberta J, wife, FW, 30, married first time, 6 years ago, b WI/WI/NY; Henry J, son, MW, 4, b NE; Harriet M, daughter, FW, 3, b NE; Herberta, daughter, FW, 6/12, b NE; Minnie STOUT, servant, FW, 22, single, b IA"
*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=&gsln=Fonda&sx=&f8=&f9=&f10=&f20=Nebraska&rg_fa5__date=&rs_fa5__date=0&f16__n=&rg_f19__date=&rs_f19__date=0&f18=&fa20=&f21=&fa18=&f22=&fa14=&gskw=&prox=1&db=1920usfedcen&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=17&recid=51390463&recoff=3+18+19 1920 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska] : "William B Fonda, head, Owns Home, MW, 40, married, NE/NY/NY, Prop., Comm Print Shop; Herberta J Fonda, wife, FW, 40, married, WI/WI/NY, no occupation; Henry J Fonda, son, MW, 14, NE/NE/WI, Office Boy, Stocks & B; Harriett M Fonda, daughter, FW, 12, NE/NE/WI; Jayne H Fonda, daughter, FW, 10, NE/NE/WI"
*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=93266224&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=9 ''Waterloo Evening Courier'', 24 Feb 1926], page 13, "Lincoln of Stage Sinks All of Self in Soul He Plays"
*[http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=6224&path=Nebraska.Douglas.Omaha.114.28&fn=Henry%20J&ln=Fonda&st=r&pid=106894000&rc=&zp=75 1930 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska] 9 Apr 1930 "William B Fonda, head, owns home, worth $7000, married, white, age 51, married first at 24, NE/NY/NY, Sales Department, Oil Burner Company; Herberta J, wife, female, white, age 49, married first at 22, WI/WI/NY, no occupation; Henry J, son, male, white, age 24, single, NE/NE/WI, actor, stage, unemployed (see line 9 Unemployment Schedule); Jane, daughter, female, white, age 20, single, NE/NE/WI, stenographer, election commission"
*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=44759880&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=6 ''Fresno Bee'' (Fresno, California), 25 Apr 1930, pg 36], referring to a book of artists models and including the name of Henry Fonda
*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=24285833&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=23 ''The Port Arthur News'' (Port Arthur, Texas), 22 Jan 1932], "Margaret Sullavan (a's not i's Mr. Printer), whose performance here left the reviewers in a pashy mood was welded on Xmas day to Henry Fonder [sic] of the University players, Baltimore."
*[http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=7488&path=1934.06.04.Carinthia.13&fn=Margaret&ln=Sullavan&st=r&pid=2017186583&rc=&zp=75 4 Jun 1934], top secret evidence
*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=10119914&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=4 ''Mansfield News Journal'' (Mansfield, Ohio), 5 Nov 1934, pg 6]
*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=5916740&currentResult=1&src=search&firstvisit=true ''Oshkosh Daily Northwestern'', 26 Nov 1934, pg 13], "Hollywood Roundup", United Press, that Margaret Sullivan [sic] and Willam Wyler were married  at Yuma, Arizona "yesterday", Miss Sullivan gave her age as 25, and Wyler as 32
*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=22968994&currentResult=1&src=search ''Syracuse Herald'' (Syracuse, NY), 9 Jul 1936, pg 16] (erroneously indexed as 1930 and as page 31) : "Syracuse's Ralph Murphy will direct 'Reno in the Fall' for Universal; Margaret Sullavan and her ex-husband Henry Fonda, will be co-starred"
*[http://scplweb.santacruzpl.org:2249/pqdweb?index=214&did=88689550&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1218582714&clientId=54310 ''New York Times'', 24 Aug 1936, page 12], "Mrs G T Brokaw, Fiancee of Actor"
*[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]
*''California Voter Registration, 1900-1968''
**[http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=1249&path=Los+Angeles+County.1936.Roll+39.ALL.865&fn=henry&ln=Fonda&st=g&pid=1280002559&rc=1013,801,1061,815;1075,801,1125,818&zp=50 1936 Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, Precinct 1674], Henry J Fonda, 233 N Carmelita av, Actor, DS (political party "Declined to State")
**[http://content.ancestry.com/browse/view.aspx?dbid=1249&iid=losangelescounty_50-0947&rc=942,1403,992,1417;1007,1403,1058,1419&pid=1928032398&ssrc=&fn=henry&ln=Fonda&st=g 1940 Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, Precinct 1680], "Henry Fonda, 255 Chadbourne av, actor, DS; Mrs Frances Seymour Fonda, 255 Chadbourne av, housewife, DS" 
**[http://content.ancestry.com/browse/view.aspx?dbid=1249&iid=losangelescounty_56-0981&rc=955,1427,1005,1440;1022,1427,1073,1443&pid=2284291518&ssrc=&fn=Henry&ln=Fonda&st=g 1942 Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, Precinct 1673A] "Henry Fonda, 255 Chadbourne av, actor, DS; Mrs Frances Seymour Fonda, 255 Chadbourne av, housewife, DS"
**[http://content.ancestry.com/browse/view.aspx?dbid=1249&iid=losangelescounty_68-0533&rc=612,959,662,973;680,959,731,975&pid=3136010353&ssrc=&fn=Henry&ln=Fonda&st=g 1946 Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, Precinct 1872] "Henry J Fonda, 600 Tigertail rd, Democrat; Mrs Frances S Fonda, 600 Tigertail rd, Democrat"
**[http://content.ancestry.com/browse/view.aspx?dbid=1249&iid=losangelescounty_74-0541&rc=678,796,728,810;747,796,798,812&pid=3565933057&ssrc=&fn=Henry&ln=Fonda&st=g 1948 Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, Precinct 1872] "Henry J Fonda, 600 Tigertail rd, Democrat; Mrs Frances S Fonda, 600 Tigertail rd, Democrat"
**[http://content.ancestry.com/browse/view.aspx?dbid=1249&iid=losangelescounty_81-0403&rc=666,656,716,669;732,656,783,672&pid=4033342930&ssrc=&fn=Henry&ln=Fonda&st=g 1950 Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, Precinct 1873A] "Henry J Fonda, 600 Tigertail av, Democrat; Mrs Frances S Fonda, 600 Tigertail av, Democrat"
*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=6985023&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=4 1955] (writen, but refers back to childhood)
*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=114970741&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=3 Obit of Henry Fonda]
*''Jane Fonda : My Life So Far'', by Jane Fonda.  Random House, New York. 2006. ISBN 0812975766
*''Don't Tell Dad : A Memoir'', by Peter Fonda. Hyperion, New York. 1998. ISBN 0786861118

===Secondary sources for 1===
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0313265712/102-9279843-7223326?ie=UTF8&tag=countyh-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0313265712 ''Henry Fonda: A Bio-bibliography''], by Kevin Sweeney. Published by Greenwood Publishing Group, 1992, 296 pages
*[http://www.answers.com/topic/henry-fonda "Henry Fonda"] on Answers.com citing:
**''Who2'', written and edited by R.F. Holznagel and Paul Hehn, Who2, LLC, http://www.who2.com/henryfonda.html
**American Theatre Guide, All Movie Guide, Brittanica, Wikipedia, et. al.
*[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/212404/Henry-Fonda "Henry Fonda"] at Brittanica Online Encyclopedia stating that he was born at "Grand Island, Nebraska"

===See Also===
*[[Connections:Alice Ghostley to Montgomery Clift|"Alice Ghostley to Montgomery Clift"]]

===Further reading===
*''Fonda: My Story'', by Henry Fonda with Howard Teichman, 1981
*''Henry Fonda: His Life and Work'', by Norm Goldstein, 1982
*''The Fondas'', Gerald Cole and Wes Farrell, (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1984).
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=rkFJAAAAMAAJ&q=%22University+Players%22&dq=%22University+Players%22&client=firefox-a ''But not forgotten : The Adventure of the University Players''], by Norris Houghton;  University Players Guild. Publisher:	New York : Wm. Sloane Associates, 1951. OCLC: 30014571
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=IqUR9zWAGv0C&q=JOSH:++MY+UP+AND+DOWN,+IN+AND+OUT+LIFE&dq=JOSH:++MY+UP+AND+DOWN,+IN+AND+OUT+LIFE&client=firefox-a&pgis=1 ''Josh, My Up and Down, in and Out Life''], By Joshua Logan. Published by Delacorte Press, 1976 ISBN 0440042356, 9780440042358 408 pages

==William Brace Fonda==
William Brace Fonda was born 12 Feb 1879 in Nebraska to Ten Eyck Fonda and his wife Harriet, who had moved there from their native New York.  In 1900 he was enumerated living with his parents in Omaha City, as a Salesman. He married Herberta Jaynes on 10 Jun 1903, probably in or near Omaha where they were both living.

They moved to Grand Island, Nebraska by 1904 where they rented a house and where their eldest son Henry Fonda was born in 1905.  But, by 1910 the family is living back in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska.

Herberta (Jaynes) Fonda died in 1934 "at her home in Omaha", and William Fonda died about 1935, probably in Omaha.

===Primary documents for 2===
*[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7602&iid=NET623_925-0369&fn=Ten+Eycr+h&ln=Fonda&st=r&ssrc=&pid=32703986 1900 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska]
*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=&gsln=Fonda&sx=&f7=&f9=&f10=&f18__n=&f20=nebraska&rg_81004011__date=&rs_81004011__date=0&f23=&f17=&f16=&rg_f19__date=&rs_f19__date=0&_8000C002=&f21=&_80008002=&f22=&_80018002=&gskw=&prox=1&db=1910uscenindex&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=11&recid=44813824&recoff=3+18+19 1910 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska]
*[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/default.aspx?htx=View&r=an&dbid=6482&iid=NE-1711763-1810&fn=William+Brace&ln=Fonda&st=r&pid=27543121 ''World War I Draft Registration Cards''] : "William Brace Fonda, 433 N-39 Omaha Douglas Nebr, age 39, born 12 Feb 1879, Printer, Self-Employed, at 306 Patterson Blk? Omaha Nebr; nearest relative Mrs Herberta Fonda, signed W B Fonda; Tall, Slender, L Brown eyes, D Brown hair, no disabilities, registered 12 Sep 1918"
*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=&gsln=Fonda&sx=&f8=&f9=&f10=&f20=Nebraska&rg_fa5__date=&rs_fa5__date=0&f16__n=&rg_f19__date=&rs_f19__date=0&f18=&fa20=&f21=&fa18=&f22=&fa14=&gskw=&prox=1&db=1920usfedcen&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=17&recid=51390463&recoff=3+18+19 1920 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska] : "William B Fonda, head, Owns Home, MW, 40, married, NE/NY/NY, Prop., Comm Print Shop; Herberta J Fonda, wife, FW, 40, married, WI/WI/NY, no occupation; Henry J Fonda, son, MW, 14, NE/NE/WI, Office Boy, Stocks & B; Harriett M Fonda, daughter, FW, 12, NE/NE/WI; Jayne H Fonda, daughter, FW, 10, NE/NE/WI"
*[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&dbid=50003&iid=NEWS-OH-NE_JO.1975_06_15_0083&r=an&rc=1923,1967,2155,2017;2188,1967,2254,2017;2288,1967,2487,2017&fn=&ln=Record+William+B+Fonda&st=d&ssrc=&pid=511392851 "Henry Fonda on William B Fonda"], 15 Jun 1975, ''News Journal'' (Mansfield, Ohio) : "The elder Fonda born in the mid-1880s, died in 1935.  In 1905, when Henry was six months old, William and his wife Herberta moved from Grand Island, Neb., to Omaha, Neb., and set up a printshop

==Herberta Jaynes==
Herberta Jaynes was born 26 Jun 1879 in St. Croix County, [[Wisconsin]], but by 1898 the family had moved to Omaha, Nebraska.  She married William Brace Fonda on 10 Jun 1903 probably in or near Omaha.

The family lived briefly in Grand Island, but by 1910 they are back living in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska.

Herberta (Jaynes) Fonda died in 5 Oct 1934, at her home in Omaha.

===Primary documents for 3===
*[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/vitalrecords/index.asp?id=2748538&record_type=b ''Wisconsin Genealogy Index''], birth certificate index entry for Elma H Jaynes
*[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&dbid=8099&iid=NEWS-NE-TH_NE_ST_JO.1898_12_25_0010&r=an&rc=1292,2854,1419,2883;1435,2854,1546,2883&fn=herberta&ln=jaynes&st=d&ssrc=&pid=471229450 "Social and Personal"], Dec 25, 1898, ''The Nebraska State Journal'' (Lincoln, Nebraska) :"Miss Alice Fuller will spend this week in Omaha as the guest of Miss Herberta Jaynes." - transcription courtesy of  Will Johnson, wjhonson@aol.com, Professional Genealogist, from the original image on Ancestry
*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=36618544&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=1 ''The Lincoln Evening News'', 18 Aug 1900], "Miss Herberta Jaynes receives scholarship"
*[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=35527638&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=3 9 Jun 1903]
*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=&gsln=Fonda&sx=&f7=&f9=&f10=&f18__n=&f20=nebraska&rg_81004011__date=&rs_81004011__date=0&f23=&f17=&f16=&rg_f19__date=&rs_f19__date=0&_8000C002=&f21=&_80008002=&f22=&_80018002=&gskw=&prox=1&db=1910uscenindex&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=11&recid=44813824&recoff=3+18+19 1910 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska]
*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=&gsln=Fonda&sx=&f8=&f9=&f10=&f20=Nebraska&rg_fa5__date=&rs_fa5__date=0&f16__n=&rg_f19__date=&rs_f19__date=0&f18=&fa20=&f21=&fa18=&f22=&fa14=&gskw=&prox=1&db=1920usfedcen&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=17&recid=51390463&recoff=3+18+19 1920 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska] : "William B Fonda, head, Owns Home, MW, 40, married, NE/NY/NY, Prop., Comm Print Shop; Herberta J Fonda, wife, FW, 40, married, WI/WI/NY, no occupation; Henry J Fonda, son, MW, 14, NE/NE/WI, Office Boy, Stocks & B; Harriett M Fonda, daughter, FW, 12, NE/NE/WI; Jayne H Fonda, daughter, FW, 10, NE/NE/WI"
*[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=view&dbid=8098&iid=NEWS-NE-TH_LI_ST.1934_10_08_0004&r=an&rc=1325,4817,1555,4867;1584,4817,1756,4867&fn=herberta&ln=jaynes&st=d&ssrc=&pid=490020868 Obit, "Herberta Jaynes Fonda"], 8 Oct 1934, ''The Lincoln Star'' (Lincoln, Nebraska) :<blockquote>Services at Omaha for Herberta Jaynes Fonda &mdash; Funeral services for Mrs. Herberta Jaynes Fonda were held in Omaha Monday afternoon.  Mrs. Fonda was a schoolmate of Mrs. E.C. Hardy at the University of Nebraska.  She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.  Mrs. Fonda died Oct. 5 at her home in Omaha.  She was 55 years old.  Surviving besides her husband, William B., are two daughters, Mrs. John B. Peacock of Omaha and Mrs. John Schoentgen of Council Bluffs, and a son, Harry Fonda of New York City.  Mrs Schoentgen attended the university in 1927.</blockquote> - transcription courtesy of  Will Johnson, [mailto:wjhonson@aol.com wjhonson@aol.com], Professional Genealogist, from the original image on Ancestry

==Ten Eyck Fonda==
Ten Eyck Fonda was born Dec 1839 in [[New York]] to native New York parents.  He married, about 1864 to Harriet somebody also a New York native.  They stayed in New York until at least 1871 when their son Ten Eyck Jr was born there, but by 1879 they had moved to Nebraska where their next surviving son William was born.  Out of their six children, four were yet living in 1900 when they are enumerated in Omaha where Ten Eyck Fonda is a Railroad Ticket Agent.

Ten Eyck and Harriet are yet living in Omaha in 1920 so it's probable that they both died there.

===Primary documents for 4===
*[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7602&iid=NET623_925-0369&fn=Ten+Eycr+h&ln=Fonda&st=r&ssrc=&pid=32703986 1900 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska]
*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=&gsln=Fonda&sx=&f8=Nebraska&f9=&f10=&f20=New+York&rg_fa5__date=&rs_fa5__date=0&f16__n=&rg_f19__date=&rs_f19__date=0&f18=&fa20=&f21=&fa18=&f22=&fa14=&gskw=&prox=1&db=1920usfedcen&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=5&recid=51291860&recoff=4+19+20+21+22+24 1920 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska]

===Secondary sources for 4===
*[http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=amfonda&id=ind00200 "TenEyck Hilton Fonda"] in 'Fonda Family Genealogy', by Albert Mark, [mailto:mark@fonda.org mark@fonda.org], db amfonda at Rootsweb's WorldConnect Project

==Harriet M==
===Primary documents for 5===
*[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=View&r=an&dbid=7602&iid=NET623_925-0369&fn=Ten+Eycr+h&ln=Fonda&st=r&ssrc=&pid=32703986 1900 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska]
*[http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&rank=0&gsfn=&gsln=Fonda&sx=&f8=Nebraska&f9=&f10=&f20=New+York&rg_fa5__date=&rs_fa5__date=0&f16__n=&rg_f19__date=&rs_f19__date=0&f18=&fa20=&f21=&fa18=&f22=&fa14=&gskw=&prox=1&db=1920usfedcen&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs-d&fh=5&recid=51291860&recoff=4+19+20+21+22+24 1920 Census of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska]

[[Category:Famous Men]]
[[Category:New York]]
[[Category:Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Nebraska]]
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:Movies and Television]]