5 Facts About Henry Fonda

 5 Facts About Henry Fonda

1. Henry Fonda was a contract player for 20th Century Fox, but he was often loaned out to other studios. His most notable films were actually made at Warner Bros., including "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940) and "Young Mr. Lincoln" (1939).

2. Despite his successful acting career, Fonda initially struggled with stage fright. In order to overcome it, he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II and served for three years. He later credited his military service for building his confidence.

3. Fonda was strongly politically active and was a vocal supporter of liberal causes. He was known to have supported the civil rights movement, women's rights, and peace movements. However, he was also a registered Republican for most of his life, which surprised many people who associated his political beliefs with the Democratic Party.

4. One of Fonda's most iconic roles was as the titular character in "Mr. Roberts" (1955), for which he won an Academy Award nomination. Surprisingly, he initially turned down the role, considering it too similar to his stage performance. It took the intervention of director John Ford to convince him to take the part.

5. Fonda had a strained relationship with his daughter, actress Jane Fonda, for many years. Their differing political views and Jane's activism during the Vietnam War caused tensions within the family. However, they eventually reconciled and worked together on the film "On Golden Pond" (1981), where they played an estranged father and daughter. This film earned Henry Fonda his first and only Academy Award for Best Actor, making him the oldest winner of the award at the time.