Henry Fonda's remarkable life began in Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska, where he was born to Herberta Elma (Jaynes) and William Brace Fonda, a commercial printer and proprietor of the W. B. Fonda Printing Company. His distant ancestors were Italians who fled their country and settled in upstate New York, founding a community with the Fonda name.
Growing up, Henry developed an early interest in journalism and helped in his father's printing business. After high school, he worked part-time for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and later as a physical education instructor. At six feet one, he was a natural for basketball.
In 1925, Henry began his acting career with a role in the Omaha Playhouse's production of "Merton of the Movies." Despite initial resistance from his parents, he continued to pursue his passion for acting, eventually joining the University Players in New York, where he met future luminaries such as James Stewart and Joshua Logan.
Henry's breakthrough role came in 1935 with the film "The Farmer Takes a Wife," followed by a string of successful movies, including "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," "You Only Live Once," "Jezebel," and "Young Mr. Lincoln." He also worked with director John Ford on "Drums Along the Mohawk" and "The Grapes of Wrath," earning critical acclaim for his portrayal of Tom Joad.
Throughout his career, Henry Fonda was known for his integrity, strength, and quiet authority, projecting these qualities in a wide range of roles, from lawmen to jurors. He rarely appeared in comedies, except for a few notable exceptions, and was also known for his dramatic performances, including his chilling portrayal in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West."
Henry Fonda's final screen role was in "On Golden Pond" (1981),where he was joined by his daughter Jane. He won an Oscar for this performance, following an earlier Honorary Academy Award.
