Looking Back at Jane Fonda's Life and Career in Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

01of 24Jane Fonda’s Early DaysArchive Photos/GettyJane Fonda, the daughter of actorHenry Fonda, began her career as a comedic actress and grew to take on serious roles that would earn her Academy Awards. The young model living in New York City, who studied acting under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio, went on to have a six-decade-long career and wasrecognized at the 2021 Golden Globesfor her outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.Here she is as June Ryder in her first feature film,Tall Story,in 1959. She won a Golden Globe Award for the role and has since been nominated 14 more times, winning seven statuettes total.

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Jane Fonda’s Early Days

Archive Photos/Getty

Jane Fonda, the daughter of actorHenry Fonda, began her career as a comedic actress and grew to take on serious roles that would earn her Academy Awards. The young model living in New York City, who studied acting under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio, went on to have a six-decade-long career and wasrecognized at the 2021 Golden Globesfor her outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.

Here she is as June Ryder in her first feature film,Tall Story,in 1959. She won a Golden Globe Award for the role and has since been nominated 14 more times, winning seven statuettes total.

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Soon a Star

She tackled the role of Isabel Haverstick, alongside Anthony Franciosa, in the filmPeriod of Adjustmentin 1962.

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Lift to Fame

FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty

04of 24Way Out WestFilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via GettyFonda played Catherine “Cat” Ballou, who returns to her homeland with Clay Boone (Michael Callan) after her father is killed for refusing to sell his ranch to a corporation, in the 1965 WesternCat Ballou.

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Way Out West

Fonda played Catherine “Cat” Ballou, who returns to her homeland with Clay Boone (Michael Callan) after her father is killed for refusing to sell his ranch to a corporation, in the 1965 WesternCat Ballou.

05of 24Starting a FamilyKeystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via GettyDuring her early success, Fonda married French movie producer and director Roger Vadim on Aug. 14, 1965, in Las Vegas. They were together until 1973 and in that time, welcomed a daughter named Vanessa.

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Starting a Family

Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty

During her early success, Fonda married French movie producer and director Roger Vadim on Aug. 14, 1965, in Las Vegas. They were together until 1973 and in that time, welcomed a daughter named Vanessa.

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Out of This World

Marisa Rastellini/Mondadori via Getty

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Legends in Character

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

08of 24Sharing a SceneMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer/GettyThe actress in bed with a youngDonald Sutherlandin their filmKlutein 1971.

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Sharing a Scene

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty

The actress in bed with a youngDonald Sutherlandin their filmKlutein 1971.

09of 24Acting AccoladesBettmann/GettyFonda’s role as Bree Daniels inKlutewon her an Oscar for Best Actress in 1972.Here she is, standing proudly next to Philip D' Antoni and Gene Hackman, who both won that night as well for their film,The French Connection.

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Acting Accolades

Bettmann/Getty

Fonda’s role as Bree Daniels inKlutewon her an Oscar for Best Actress in 1972.

Here she is, standing proudly next to Philip D' Antoni and Gene Hackman, who both won that night as well for their film,The French Connection.

10of 24Having FunFilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via GettyJane Harper (Fonda) realizes it’s over for her and her husband’s lavish life inFun with Dick and Jane, which was released in 1977.

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Having Fun

Jane Harper (Fonda) realizes it’s over for her and her husband’s lavish life inFun with Dick and Jane, which was released in 1977.

11of 24A Family GrowsGeorge Rose/GettyAfter her eight-year marriage to Roger Vadim, the actress married activist Tom Hayden in 1973, and the two had a son, Troy Garity (left, with half-sister Vanessa). The pair remained husband and wife for 17 years.One year after their split, in 1991, Fonda married Ted Turner, the founder of CNN. They were together 10 years.

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A Family Grows

George Rose/Getty

After her eight-year marriage to Roger Vadim, the actress married activist Tom Hayden in 1973, and the two had a son, Troy Garity (left, with half-sister Vanessa). The pair remained husband and wife for 17 years.

One year after their split, in 1991, Fonda married Ted Turner, the founder of CNN. They were together 10 years.

12of 24Another Winning PartHerbert Dorfman/Corbis via GettyFonda sported short curly hair to play Sally Hyde alongside a youngJon Voightin 1978’sComing Home. The role earned her a second Oscar win; she’s been nominated seven times.

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Another Winning Part

Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty

Fonda sported short curly hair to play Sally Hyde alongside a youngJon Voightin 1978’sComing Home. The role earned her a second Oscar win; she’s been nominated seven times.

13of 24Fonda For GoodJane Fonda demonstrates during “Fire Drill Friday” climate change protest on December 6, 2019, in Washington, D.C.John Lamparski/Getty ImagesOff-screen, the actress has always been known for her activism. She was an early supporter of the Civil Rights movement and openly backed the Black Panthers. Later, she drew criticism for her own criticism of the Vietnam War, a move that affected her career for some time.

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Fonda For Good

Jane Fonda demonstrates during “Fire Drill Friday” climate change protest on December 6, 2019, in Washington, D.C.John Lamparski/Getty Images

Off-screen, the actress has always been known for her activism. She was an early supporter of the Civil Rights movement and openly backed the Black Panthers. Later, she drew criticism for her own criticism of the Vietnam War, a move that affected her career for some time.

14of 24Making a Living20th Century-Fox/GettyThe ultimate A-list threesome,Dolly Parton,Lily Tomlinand Fonda, turned the tables on their awful boss in the 1980 filmNine to Five.

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Making a Living

20th Century-Fox/Getty

The ultimate A-list threesome,Dolly Parton,Lily Tomlinand Fonda, turned the tables on their awful boss in the 1980 filmNine to Five.

15of 24Family BusinessJohn Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via GettyIn 1981, Fonda starred inOn Golden Pondalongside her father, Henry, and actress Katharine Hepburn. The actress opened up toThe Hollywood Reporterin 2011 about the memorable experience.“ProducingOn Golden Pondand giving the Oscar to my father five months before he died was very special,” she said.

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Family Business

John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty

In 1981, Fonda starred inOn Golden Pondalongside her father, Henry, and actress Katharine Hepburn. The actress opened up toThe Hollywood Reporterin 2011 about the memorable experience.

“ProducingOn Golden Pondand giving the Oscar to my father five months before he died was very special,” she said.

16of 24Exercise EmpireReed Saxon/AP/ShutterstockIn addition to her burgeoning acting career, Fonda took over fitness in the 1980s once she releasedJane Fonda’s Workouton VHS. It went on to sell more than 17 million copies, one of the highest-selling tapes of all time.

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Exercise Empire

Reed Saxon/AP/Shutterstock

In addition to her burgeoning acting career, Fonda took over fitness in the 1980s once she releasedJane Fonda’s Workouton VHS. It went on to sell more than 17 million copies, one of the highest-selling tapes of all time.

17of 24Writing Her StoryRick Diamond/GettyIn 2005, Fonda released a tell-all book about her past relationships with others and with herself. Her memoir,My Life So Far, dives deep into the actress' fraught family life growing up, her struggles with bulimia, her professional journey and romantic experiences.Several years later, in 2017, Fonda spoke withTown & Countryabout themeaning of “being perfect,“a concept with which her memoir grappled.“I felt so much of my life that I was two people. There was this person everyone saw, and there was another person who lived outside of me, alongside me, who had been delegated all of the imperfect stuff,” she said. “To become whole, you reach around and pull all those shadows in and they join your light—you put it all together inside your skin. And you accept that, yes, I’m flawed, but my intentions are good, and I will never be perfect, but I will continue to evolve toward that.”

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Writing Her Story

Rick Diamond/Getty

In 2005, Fonda released a tell-all book about her past relationships with others and with herself. Her memoir,My Life So Far, dives deep into the actress' fraught family life growing up, her struggles with bulimia, her professional journey and romantic experiences.

Several years later, in 2017, Fonda spoke withTown & Countryabout themeaning of “being perfect,“a concept with which her memoir grappled.

“I felt so much of my life that I was two people. There was this person everyone saw, and there was another person who lived outside of me, alongside me, who had been delegated all of the imperfect stuff,” she said. “To become whole, you reach around and pull all those shadows in and they join your light—you put it all together inside your skin. And you accept that, yes, I’m flawed, but my intentions are good, and I will never be perfect, but I will continue to evolve toward that.”

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Back On Screen

Snap Stills/Shutterstock

19of 24Looking BackTommaso Boddi/WireImageIn yet another display of her open honesty, theGrace and Frankiestar spoke about her life in her own HBO documentary,Jane Fonda in Five Acts. In the autobiographical production, she reflects on her life’s highs and lows, including herplastic surgery operationsand hermother’s suicidewhen Fonda was only 12.

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Looking Back

Tommaso Boddi/WireImage

In yet another display of her open honesty, theGrace and Frankiestar spoke about her life in her own HBO documentary,Jane Fonda in Five Acts. In the autobiographical production, she reflects on her life’s highs and lows, including herplastic surgery operationsand hermother’s suicidewhen Fonda was only 12.

20of 24Fab FourMelissa Moseley/NetflixFor seven seasons, Fonda starred in the Netflix comedyGrace and Frankie, alongside Sam Waterson, Lily Tomlin andMartin Sheen. She received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations and one Emmy nomination for her work on the series, which ended in 2022.

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Fab Four

Melissa Moseley/Netflix

For seven seasons, Fonda starred in the Netflix comedyGrace and Frankie, alongside Sam Waterson, Lily Tomlin andMartin Sheen. She received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations and one Emmy nomination for her work on the series, which ended in 2022.

21of 24Green-Minded Movie StarPaul Morigi/GettyThough the award-winning star has always fought for change, her environmentalist efforts kicked into a higher gear over the past five years. She has attended numerousclimate protests, written an environmentally conscious book calledWhat Can I Do?: The Truth About Climate Change and How to Fix Itand launched her own projects for the cause.In 2019, Fonda collaborated with Greenpeace to startFire Drill Fridays, a weekly rally amplifying the climate-concerned voices of experts, activists and celebrities. When the pandemic hit shortly after her D.C.-based event series began, Fonda maintained that she would continue tohold the meetings virtually.“I never imagined protesting in front of my computer, but right now it’s just as important,” she wrote in an essaypublished in PEOPLE. “We mustn’t allow our government to help corporations, especially the fossil-fuel industry, instead of its citizens. Fighting for the climate can create countless jobs, reallocate funds to invest in clean, renewable energy and end our dependence on oil.“She just recently brought them back.

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Green-Minded Movie Star

Paul Morigi/Getty

Though the award-winning star has always fought for change, her environmentalist efforts kicked into a higher gear over the past five years. She has attended numerousclimate protests, written an environmentally conscious book calledWhat Can I Do?: The Truth About Climate Change and How to Fix Itand launched her own projects for the cause.

In 2019, Fonda collaborated with Greenpeace to startFire Drill Fridays, a weekly rally amplifying the climate-concerned voices of experts, activists and celebrities. When the pandemic hit shortly after her D.C.-based event series began, Fonda maintained that she would continue tohold the meetings virtually.

“I never imagined protesting in front of my computer, but right now it’s just as important,” she wrote in an essaypublished in PEOPLE. “We mustn’t allow our government to help corporations, especially the fossil-fuel industry, instead of its citizens. Fighting for the climate can create countless jobs, reallocate funds to invest in clean, renewable energy and end our dependence on oil.”

She just recently brought them back.

22of 24Woman of HonorJane Fonda.NBCIn 2021, the Golden Globes gave special recognition to Fonda when she received theCecil B. DeMille Award. After a star-powered introduction featuring messages fromKerry Washington,Laverne Cox,Brie Larson,Tina Feyand Amy Poehler, the actress accepted the award, expressing that she was “so moved to receive this honor.“In her speech, Fonda highlighted the significance of diversity on big and small screens.“In turbulent, crisis-torn times like these, storytelling have always been essential. You see, stories have a way that can change our hearts and our minds and help us see each other in a new light — to have empathy and to recognize that for all of our diversity that we are all humans first,” she said, adding that recent productions likeSmall Axe,Ma Rainey’s Black BottomandOne Night in Miami"deepened [her] empathy for what being Black has meant.”

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Woman of Honor

Jane Fonda.NBC

In 2021, the Golden Globes gave special recognition to Fonda when she received theCecil B. DeMille Award. After a star-powered introduction featuring messages fromKerry Washington,Laverne Cox,Brie Larson,Tina Feyand Amy Poehler, the actress accepted the award, expressing that she was “so moved to receive this honor.”

In her speech, Fonda highlighted the significance of diversity on big and small screens.

“In turbulent, crisis-torn times like these, storytelling have always been essential. You see, stories have a way that can change our hearts and our minds and help us see each other in a new light — to have empathy and to recognize that for all of our diversity that we are all humans first,” she said, adding that recent productions likeSmall Axe,Ma Rainey’s Black BottomandOne Night in Miami"deepened [her] empathy for what being Black has meant.”

23of 24Surviving & ThrivingCharley Gallay/Getty ImagesThroughout the years, Fonda has talked openly about her health issues. Most recently, in September 2022, the actress revealed that she wasdiagnosed cancer againafter havingnon-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.But Fonda had good news to share a few months later in December, when she learned that her cancer wasin remission.“I am feeling so blessed, so fortunate,” she wrote on Instagram. “I thank all of you who prayed and sent good thoughts my way. I am confident that it played a role in the good news.”

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Surviving & Thriving

Charley Gallay/Getty Images

Throughout the years, Fonda has talked openly about her health issues. Most recently, in September 2022, the actress revealed that she wasdiagnosed cancer againafter havingnon-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

But Fonda had good news to share a few months later in December, when she learned that her cancer wasin remission.

“I am feeling so blessed, so fortunate,” she wrote on Instagram. “I thank all of you who prayed and sent good thoughts my way. I am confident that it played a role in the good news.”

24of 24Party For ChangeMoses Robinson/GettyTo commemorate her milestone 85th birthday, Fonda hosted a party benefiting the adolescent health organization she founded in 1995, theGeorgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential. Ahead of the celebration, the activisttold PEOPLEabout her reasons for creating the GCAPP, which provides appropriate sex education to Georgia youth. On a trip to the southern state in 1994, she met a 14-year-old girl who was already a mother of two.“I realized that whatever we do, we have to, in the work, give young people a sense that they will have a future,” Fonda said. “And that they needed to stay out of trouble that would compromise that future.”

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Party For Change

Moses Robinson/Getty

To commemorate her milestone 85th birthday, Fonda hosted a party benefiting the adolescent health organization she founded in 1995, theGeorgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential. Ahead of the celebration, the activisttold PEOPLEabout her reasons for creating the GCAPP, which provides appropriate sex education to Georgia youth. On a trip to the southern state in 1994, she met a 14-year-old girl who was already a mother of two.

“I realized that whatever we do, we have to, in the work, give young people a sense that they will have a future,” Fonda said. “And that they needed to stay out of trouble that would compromise that future.”

source: people.com