Henry Fonda is a famous actor who became the founder of the creative dynasty. This talented person adorned with his presence many famous films: “12 Angry Men”, “Bunches of Wrath”, “Once in the Wild West”, “Wrong Man”. What is known about the life and work of the winner of the Oscar, who managed to star in more than a hundred films?
Henry Fonda: childhood
The future actor was born in Nebraska, and there was a joyful event in May of distant 1905. Henry Fonda is not one of the stars whose life path is predetermined almost from the moment of birth. The boy's family had absolutely nothing to do with the world of cinema. Mother was a housewife, and father owned a small printing house. After the birth of his only son, Henry's parents got two more daughters.
Surprisingly, the future conqueror of female hearts grew up as a shy child, had a keen sense of justice. Because of his desire to defend the truth and protect the weak, Henry Fonda often found himself in difficult situations. The boy did not even think about an acting career. He was going to become a journalist, to fight the prejudices that existed in the world then, to share his observations with people. Of course, he wrote short stories that never found his reader.
Adolescence
By the end of school, the future lyceum became interested in sports, began to attend various sections. The young man was engaged in running, he liked to swim and skate. The guy's family needed money, so even in high school Henry Fonda was forced to get a job. He worked for the longest time in the telephone company, holding the position of assistant manager.
After graduation, the young man began to realize his old dream - to become a reporter. He decided to learn the basics of the profession at the University of Minnesota, easily becoming a student in the journalism department. However, the future actor soon lost interest in journalism. This prompted him to interrupt the educational process and get a position in a credit company.
Choice of profession
Who knows how long his quest for a life path would have lasted had it not been for the intervention of chance. The mother of the young man was a friend of the mother of the famous Marlon Brando. It was thanks to Dorothy that he became an actor of the Henry Fonda. The biography of the star claims that she invited the owner of a pretty appearance to participate in the production of an amateur theater troupe, which she directed at that time. One of the actors could not go on stage, so the woman was forced to look for a replacement.
The first performance, in which Henry played a small role, was the production of "You and Me." Once having ascended the stage, the failed journalist realized that his heart belongs to the theater. Of course, he immediately joined the troupe, began to actively participate in its work. However, the final decision to become an actor of the Fund was made only three years later, as he was not sure of his talent. He quit a credit company and began touring the United States with his theater.
First successes
The first appearance of the actor on Broadway dates from 1929. It was then that the play “The Game of Love and Death” was presented to the attention of the audience, the plot of which was borrowed from the play of Rolland. The role that Henry Foundation then received was naturally insignificant. The young man held the position of an extras until March 1934, when the play “New Faces” changed the situation, in which he first attracted attention.
Rumors about the newcomer's talent reached Hollywood, where producer Walter Wanger invited him. The fee that Henry requested was a thousand dollars a week. A contract was concluded with him, according to which he was obliged to star in two films annually. The foundation really liked such conditions, since he did not have to leave work in his favorite theater.
Finest hour
“The Farmer Marries” is the first film starring Henry Fonda. The filmography of the aspiring actor got this comedy drama in 1935. Surprisingly, the very first film project in which he played one of the key roles gave him the status of a rising star. Spectators and critics were fascinated by his charming smile, clear eyes and confident movements. Fonda was able to create the image of the ideal hero, which American cinema was in dire need of at that time.
Of course, Fonda played not only romantic heroes. He had the opportunity to embody the images of criminals, but most of his negative characters became involuntarily villains, turned out to be victims of injustice. For example, you can recall Eddie Taylor - a character whom Henry played in the drama "You Only Live Once", presented to the audience in 1937. His hero leaves prison, finds work and tries to start living anew, however, insurmountable circumstances again push him on a crooked path.
Bright roles of the 30-40s
The actor of the Henry Foundation considered his painting “Young Mr. Lincoln” to be his great creative success. Not everyone has the opportunity to play one of the most prominent people in the United States. In preparation for the role, he studied many books on the president. The actor embodied the image of Lincoln in 1939.
The Cluster of Wrath tape, whose plot was taken from Steinbeck's self-titled work, gained immense popularity. In this drama, the Foundation once again played one of the central roles. The picture is dedicated to the difficult fate of the Jowd family living in Oklahoma, it examined the problems that many small farmers had to face in the era of the economic crisis. The role gave Henry a nomination for an Oscar.
Fonda - an actor who starred in many Westerns. For example, the audience remembered the painting “The Ox Bow Incident,” in which he embodied the image of Carter the cowboy. The character played by Henry in this tape was ready to defend the triumph of justice at the cost of his own life. Other westerns with his participation were successful: “Jesse James”, “My Dear Clementine”. One cannot fail to mention the witty film “Lady Eva”, in which the actor showed the world that he is capable of brilliantly playing comedic roles.
What else to see
Of course, not all the outstanding films in which Henry Fonda managed to appear are listed above. Films worthy of the attention of fans of a talented actor were also released in the post-war years. For example, one cannot fail to mention the epic “War and Peace” presented to the audience in 1956. In this film, the star of American cinema embodied the image of Pierre Bezukhov. The actor brilliantly played this hero, he did not bother even the lack of external resemblance to the character. Bezukhov in his performance turned out to be an elegant and charming aristocrat.
A lot of time the actor took preparation for the shooting in the film "12 Angry Men", in which he embodied the image of the architect Davis. He carefully thought out the subtleties of the character of his character, who accidentally turned out to be a jury, on which the fate of the defendant depends. Another outstanding film with the actor - “Once Upon a Time in the Wild West”. Henry Fonda played a hitman in this drama ruthless to his victims.
Personal life
This is not to say that the actor was lucky in his personal life. He entered into a legal marriage five times, and two of his spouses laid hands on themselves. He managed to find personal happiness only at the sunset of his life, when he met the young stewardess Shirley Adams. The star had three children, two of them (Jane and Peter) followed in the footsteps of the famous father, choosing an acting profession. It is impossible not to mention the fact that Henry is the grandfather of the famous actress Bridget Foundation.
Henry Fonda, whose photo can be seen in this article, passed away in August 1982. The last picture with his participation was released in 1981.
Interesting Facts
During his lifetime, the actor owned a small farm located in Brentwood. Growing vegetables is a hobby for which he was ready to spend almost all his free time. Being small, his children could not even understand who his father worked, believing that he was a farmer. The celebrity also had more creative hobbies: photography, sculpture, painting. He especially liked to draw. Nowadays, landscapes painted with his hand are very popular among collectors, receive positive reviews from critics.
Henry is the owner of the Bronze Star. This honorary award was presented to the lyceum for military merits during the Second World War. He spent about three years at the front, joining the United States Navy in August 1942. Towards the end of the war, the Foundation rose to the rank of Air Force intelligence officer.