Henry Fonda

Biography:

Henry Fonda was a much-revered American actor who enjoyed a stellar acting career spanning over five decades in films, plays, and television series. Born on May 16, 1905, in Grand Island, Nebraska, Henry began his career on stage before going to Hollywood in the 1930s. He established himself as an actor known for playing principled, average men in situations involving ethical dilemmas. Some of his most acclaimed works include the films Jezebel (1938), Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), The Ox-Bow Incident (1942), 12 Angry Men (1957), and Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).

Henry Fonda was nominated for three Academy Awards in his entire career. While his acting career won him two competitive Oscar nominations, his third was an honorary one. Fonda won his only competitive Academy Award as Best Actor in the movie On Golden Pond in 1981, which was to be his last performance on screen. Prior to that, he was given an Honorary Academy Award in 1980 (awarded in early 1981) for his extraordinary contributions to the art of movies. Among his most admired performances is that of Juror No. 8 in 12 Angry Men, which was also recognized by an Oscar nomination for producing the Best Picture.

In addition, Fonda also got his first acting Oscar nomination for his performance in The Grapes of Wrath. Fonda acted even at an advanced age and won many accolades for his contributions to American movies. He passed away on August 12, 1982, in Los Angeles, California.