Henry Fonda

Biography

Henry Fonda was an American actor whose stage and screen career lasted five decades, often playing ordinary men. Raised in Nebraska, he began acting at the Omaha Community Playhouse and worked on Broadway before his 1935 film debut. He became a star with Jezebel (1938), Jesse James (1939) and Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), and was nominated for an Academy Award for playing Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940). After wartime naval service he appeared in Westerns such as The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), My Darling Clementine (1946) and Fort Apache (1948), then returned to Broadway, winning a Tony for Mister Roberts. He starred in The Wrong Man (1956) and 12 Angry Men (1957), which he co-produced and for which he won a BAFTA award, and later played a villain in Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). He won the Best Actor Oscar for On Golden Pond (1981).

77years old at death

Born May 16, 1905Grand Island
Died August 12, 1982Los Angeles
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Henry Jaynes Fonda (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 62
Career span: 88 years1936 to 2024

Genres

Drama65%, 40 films
Romance24%, 15 films
Western24%, 15 films
Comedy18%, 11 films
Action13%, 8 films

First and latest

Photos

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First role
Henry Fonda's first professional role was Tornaquinci in The Jest, a play by Sem Benelli. Joshua Logan, a Princeton sophomore who was double-cast in the production, gave him the part of an old Italian with long white hair and a beard.
A role that slipped away
Fonda turned down the role of the Man with No Name in Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy, and the part went to Clint Eastwood.
Behind the camera
In 1957, Fonda produced a movie for the first time, 12 Angry Men, and he also starred in it. Reginald Rose wrote the teleplay and script, Sidney Lumet directed, and the low-budget production took 17 days, mostly in one jury room.
Big break
Henry Fonda got his first film break in 1935, when 20th Century Fox cast him as Janet Gaynor's leading man in The Farmer Takes a Wife. He played the same part he had originated on Broadway, where it had brought him recognition.
Behind the award
Fonda won a 1948 Tony Award for originating the title role in Mister Roberts on Broadway, wearing his own officer's cap.

Henry Fonda movies on Netflix

Henry Fonda for President2024IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
La Classe américaine1993IMDb rating 7.8as Hugues
On Golden Pond1981IMDb rating 7.6as Norman Thayer Jr.
The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg1980IMDb rating 6.9as Self - Series Host
City on Fire1979IMDb rating 4.5as Fire Chief Albert Risley
Meteor1979IMDb rating 5.1as The President
Wanda Nevada1979IMDb rating 5.5as Old Prospector
Fedora1978IMDb rating 6.8as President of the Academy
The Swarm1978IMDb rating 4.5as Dr. Walter Krim
Rollercoaster1977IMDb rating 6.3as Simon Davenport
Tentacles1977IMDb rating 3.8as Mr. Whitehead, President of Trojan Construction
Bernice Bobs Her Hair1976IMDb rating 6.9as Self - Presenter
Midway1976IMDb rating 6.8as Adm. Chester W. Nimitz
The Serpent1973IMDb rating 6.2as Allan Davies
Sometimes a Great Notion1971IMDb rating 6.9as Henry Stamper
The Cheyenne Social Club1970IMDb rating 6.8as Harley Sullivan
There Was a Crooked Man...1970IMDb rating 6.8as Woodward W. Lopeman
Firecreek1968IMDb rating 6.8as Bob Larkin
Madigan1968IMDb rating 6.5as Commissioner Anthony X. Russell
Once Upon a Time in the West1968IMDb rating 8.5as Frank
The Boston Strangler1968IMDb rating 7.0as John S. Bottomly
Yours, Mine and Ours1968IMDb rating 7.1as Frank Beardsley
Stranger on the Run1967IMDb rating 6.3as Ben Chamberlain
A Big Hand for the Little Lady1966IMDb rating 7.3as Meredith
Battle of the Bulge1965IMDb rating 6.8as Lt. Col. Dan Kiley
In Harm's Way1965IMDb rating 7.3as CINCPAC II
The Rounders1965IMDb rating 6.1as Marion 'Howdy' Lewis
Fail Safe1964IMDb rating 8.0as The President
Sex and the Single Girl1964IMDb rating 6.4as Frank Broderick
The Best Man1964IMDb rating 7.6as William Russell
Spencer's Mountain1963IMDb rating 7.0as Clay Spencer
Advise & Consent1962IMDb rating 7.7as Robert Leffingwell
How the West Was Won1962IMDb rating 7.1as Jethro Stuart
The Longest Day1962IMDb rating 7.7as Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
Warlock1959IMDb rating 7.1as Clay Blaisedell
Stage Struck1958IMDb rating 5.9as Lewis Easton
12 Angry Men1957IMDb rating 9.0as Juror 8
The Tin Star1957IMDb rating 7.3as Morgan 'Morg' Hickman
The Wrong Man1956IMDb rating 7.4as Christopher Emanuel 'Manny' Balestrero
War and Peace1956IMDb rating 6.7as Pierre Bezukhov
Mister Roberts1955IMDb rating 7.6as Lt. j.g. Douglas A. Roberts
Fort Apache1948IMDb rating 7.4as Lt. Col. Owen Thursday
Daisy Kenyon1947IMDb rating 6.8as Peter Lapham
The Fugitive1947IMDb rating 6.3as A Fugitive
The Long Night1947IMDb rating 6.5as Joe Adams
My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7as Wyatt Earp
The Ox-Bow Incident1943IMDb rating 8.0as Gil Carter
Tales of Manhattan1942IMDb rating 7.3as George
The Battle of Midway1942IMDb rating 6.1as Narrator
The Big Street1942IMDb rating 6.4as Little Pinks
The Lady Eve1941IMDb rating 7.7as Charles
You Belong to Me1941IMDb rating 5.8as Peter Kirk
The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1as Tom Joad
The Return of Frank James1940IMDb rating 6.6as Frank James
Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0as Gilbert Martin
Jesse James1939IMDb rating 7.0as Frank James
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell1939IMDb rating 6.9as Thomas Watson
Young Mr. Lincoln1939IMDb rating 7.5as Abraham Lincoln
Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4as Preston Dillard
The Mad Miss Manton1938IMDb rating 6.7as Peter Ames
You Only Live Once1937IMDb rating 7.2as Eddie Taylor
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine1936IMDb rating 6.8as Dave Tolliver

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Once Upon a Time in the West1968 Westernas Frank
IMDb rating 8.5388K votes
12 Angry Men1957 Crime, Dramaas Juror 8
IMDb rating 9.01.0M votes
The Grapes of Wrath1940as Tom Joad
IMDb rating 8.1108K votes
On Golden Pond1981as Norman Thayer Jr.
IMDb rating 7.638K votes
The Longest Day1962as Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
IMDb rating 7.764K votes
The Wrong Man1956as Christopher Emanuel 'Manny' Balestrero
IMDb rating 7.435K votes
My Darling Clementine1946as Wyatt Earp
IMDb rating 7.729K votes
Fail Safe1964as The President
IMDb rating 8.028K votes

Most often with

John Ford directed nine of these films, Sidney Lumet three and Otto Preminger three. Ward Bond appears in eight of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Ward Bond

Richard Widmark

Jane Darwell

John Carradine

John Wayne

Burgess Meredith

John FordDirector, 9 films

Sidney LumetDirector, 3 films

Otto PremingerDirector, 3 films

Films together

Ward Bond8 films together, 1937 to 1955
Ward Bond's page
- Mister Roberts1955IMDb rating 7.6Fonda as Lt. j.g. Douglas A. RobertsBond as Chief Petty Officer Dowdy
- Fort Apache1948IMDb rating 7.4Fonda as Lt. Col. Owen ThursdayBond as Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke
- The Fugitive1947IMDb rating 6.3Fonda as A FugitiveBond as James Calvert, aka 'El Gringo'
- My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7Fonda as Wyatt EarpBond as Morgan Earp
- The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1Fonda as Tom JoadBond as Policeman
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Fonda as Gilbert MartinBond as Adam Hartman
- Young Mr. Lincoln1939IMDb rating 7.5Fonda as Abraham LincolnBond as John Palmer Cass
- You Only Live Once1937IMDb rating 7.2Fonda as Eddie TaylorBond as Casey - Guard
Richard Widmark5 films together, 1959 to 1978
Richard Widmark's page
- The Swarm1978IMDb rating 4.5Fonda as Dr. Walter KrimWidmark as General Slater
- Rollercoaster1977IMDb rating 6.3Fonda as Simon DavenportWidmark as Agent Hoyt
- Madigan1968IMDb rating 6.5Fonda as Commissioner Anthony X. RussellWidmark as Det. Daniel Madigan
- How the West Was Won1962IMDb rating 7.1Fonda as Jethro StuartWidmark as Mike King
- Warlock1959IMDb rating 7.1Fonda as Clay BlaisedellWidmark as Johnny Gannon
Jane Darwell5 films together, 1939 to 1946
Jane Darwell's page
- My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7Fonda as Wyatt EarpDarwell as Kate Nelson
- The Ox-Bow Incident1943IMDb rating 8.0Fonda as Gil CarterDarwell as Ma Grier
- The Battle of Midway1942IMDb rating 6.1Fonda as NarratorDarwell as Narrator
- The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1Fonda as Tom JoadDarwell as Ma Joad
- Jesse James1939IMDb rating 7.0Fonda as Frank JamesDarwell as Mrs. Samuels
John Carradine4 films together, 1939 to 1940
John Carradine's page
- The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1Fonda as Tom JoadCarradine as Jim Casy
- The Return of Frank James1940IMDb rating 6.6Fonda as Frank JamesCarradine as Bob Ford
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Fonda as Gilbert MartinCarradine as Caldwell
- Jesse James1939IMDb rating 7.0Fonda as Frank JamesCarradine as Bob Ford
John Wayne4 films together, 1948 to 1965
John Wayne's page
- In Harm's Way1965IMDb rating 7.3Fonda as CINCPAC IIWayne as Rock
- How the West Was Won1962IMDb rating 7.1Fonda as Jethro StuartWayne as Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
- The Longest Day1962IMDb rating 7.7Fonda as Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.Wayne as Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort
- Fort Apache1948IMDb rating 7.4Fonda as Lt. Col. Owen ThursdayWayne as Capt. Kirby York
Burgess Meredith4 films together, 1962 to 1970
Burgess Meredith's page
- There Was a Crooked Man...1970IMDb rating 6.8Fonda as Woodward W. LopemanMeredith as The Missouri Kid
- A Big Hand for the Little Lady1966IMDb rating 7.3Fonda as MeredithMeredith as Doc Scully
- In Harm's Way1965IMDb rating 7.3Fonda as CINCPAC IIMeredith as Commander Egan Powell
- Advise & Consent1962IMDb rating 7.7Fonda as Robert LeffingwellMeredith as Herbert Gelman
John FordDirector, 9 films, 1939 to 1962
All films by John Ford
- How the West Was Won1962IMDb rating 7.1Fonda as Jethro Stuart
- Mister Roberts1955IMDb rating 7.6Fonda as Lt. j.g. Douglas A. Roberts
- Fort Apache1948IMDb rating 7.4Fonda as Lt. Col. Owen Thursday
- The Fugitive1947IMDb rating 6.3Fonda as A Fugitive
- My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7Fonda as Wyatt Earp
- The Battle of Midway1942IMDb rating 6.1Fonda as Narrator
- The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1Fonda as Tom Joad
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Fonda as Gilbert Martin
- Young Mr. Lincoln1939IMDb rating 7.5Fonda as Abraham Lincoln
Sidney LumetDirector, 3 films, 1957 to 1964
All films by Sidney Lumet
- Fail Safe1964IMDb rating 8.0Fonda as The President
- Stage Struck1958IMDb rating 5.9Fonda as Lewis Easton
- 12 Angry Men1957IMDb rating 9.0Fonda as Juror 8
Otto PremingerDirector, 3 films, 1947 to 1965
All films by Otto Preminger
- In Harm's Way1965IMDb rating 7.3Fonda as CINCPAC II
- Advise & Consent1962IMDb rating 7.7Fonda as Robert Leffingwell
- Daisy Kenyon1947IMDb rating 6.8Fonda as Peter Lapham
Also four films together3 more actors
- John QualenFirecreek (1968), A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966), The Fugitive (1947) and The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
- Dana AndrewsBattle of the Bulge (1965), In Harm's Way (1965), Daisy Kenyon (1947) and The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
- Russell SimpsonThe Tin Star (1957), My Darling Clementine (1946), The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Henry Fonda's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$360 million

21 of the 62 films have a worldwide figure.

21Worldwide figure
4US gross only
4Never in cinemas
33Figure not found

Top grosser

On Golden Pond1981Norman Thayer Jr.$119 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 90% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
On Golden Pond1981as Norman Thayer Jr.
$119M33.2% of the total
2
Midway1976as Adm. Chester W. Nimitz
$100M27.8% of the total
3
The Longest Day1962as Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
$50M13.9% of the total
4
Meteor1979as The President
$13M3.5% of the total
5
War and Peace1956as Pierre Bezukhov
$12M3.3% of the total
6
Battle of the Bulge1965as Lt. Col. Dan Kiley
$11M3.1% of the total
7
In Harm's Way1965as CINCPAC II
$9.0M2.5% of the total
8
Rollercoaster1977as Simon Davenport
$8.2M2.3% of the total

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), $5.4 million

My Darling Clementine (1946), $2.8 million

The Grapes of Wrath (1940), $1.6 million

$37.4 millionfrom the other 13 films with a worldwide figure, 10% of the total

Awards

Eleven awards and honors from 1948 to 1982, five of them major.

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Henry Fonda's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1982	Best Actor	On Golden Pond	Won
1981	Honorary Award		Honorary
BAFTA
1958	Best Foreign Actor	12 Angry Men	Won
Tony Awards
1948	Best Actor in a Play		Won
Grammy Awards
	Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording		Won
Other honors
1979	Kennedy Center Honors		Won
1978	AFI Life Achievement Award		Won
	Bronze Star Medal		Won
	David di Donatello Award for Lifetime Achievement		Won
	Eagle Scout		Won
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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