Born: 16 May 1905 · Died: 12 August 1982 · Age at death: 77
How old was Henry Fonda when he died?
Henry Fonda died aged 77. He was born on 16 May 1905 and died on 12 August 1982.
Oscar-winning actor known for roles in classic Westerns and dramas
Did you know?He was close friends with James Stewart for decades despite the two men having famously opposite political views.
Quick facts
Date of birth16 May 1905
Date of death12 August 1982
Age at death77
Cause of deathHeart disease
NationalityAmerican
BirthplaceGrand Island, United States
Occupationfilm actor, television actor, naval officer
Editor's Take:
Henry Fonda embodied quiet American decency on screen. He played men of conscience in The Grapes of Wrath and 12 Angry Men. Sergio Leone cast him against type as a cold-blooded villain, and Fonda proved he could chill audiences too. He was a shy man who said acting let him escape himself. His Oscar came near the end of his life, in a film with his daughter Jane. He remains one of Hollywood's most respected leading men.
Key Milestones
1935: Makes his film debut
1940: Stars in The Grapes of Wrath
1957: Stars in 12 Angry Men
1982: Wins the Oscar for On Golden Pond
Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor whose career spanned five decades on Broadway and in Hollywood. Known for his work on screen and stage, he often portrayed characters who embodied an everyman image.
