Henry Fonda
(Deceased)
Henry Fonda, theatrical and movie actor, was born at Grand Island, Nebraska on May 16, 1905. The 1946 photo at left is from his role as Wyatt Earp in "My Darling Clementine".
He graduated from Central High School in Omaha, Neb., then majored in journalism at the University of Minnesota. Fonda worked at two jobs to support himself and wound up flunking out of college.
Returning to Omaha, Henry was out of work and out of luck. However, a friend of the Fonda family, Dorothy Brando (Marlon Brando's momma), suggested that he go down to the local Community Playhouse and "help out". He thought he was going down there to build sets, but wound up on stage instead of behind it.
By 1934 he had appeared in his first Broadway production, "New Faces," in New York City. And the very next year, in 1935, he moved to Hollywood to act in films. He would make more than 80 movies during his career, many of them now regarded as classics.
He played such diverse movie roles as Tom Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940), Abraham Lincoln in "Young Mr. Lincoln," Wyatt Earp in "My Darling Clementine," and a Navy officer in "Mister Roberts". Fonda last movie, "On Golden Pond," was one in which he starred with Katherine Heburn and his own daughter, Jane. And for that role he won an Oscar in 1981.
Henry Fonda's Western credits include "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" (1936), "Jesse James" (1939), "The Return of Frank James" (1940), "The Ox Box Incident" (1943), "Fort Apache" (1948), "The Tin Star" (1957), "Warlock" (1959), "How the West Was Won" (1962), "The Rounders" (1965), "Welcome to Hard Times" (1967), "Firecreek" (1968), "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1969), "The Cheyenne Social Club" (1970), "The Red Pony" (1973, TV), and "Wanda Nevada" (1979).
Fonda also starred in as Marshal Simon Fry in the TV Western series, "The Deputy," from 1959-61.
Henry Fonda died in 1982 of heart disease. He was 77. He was the father of Jane and Peter Fonda.
CLICK HERE to see the complete filmography of Henry Fonda.
Jane Fonda
Jane Seymour Fonda, actress, was born in New York City on Dec. 21, 1937. Jane began her acting career by appearing in a play with her father in Omaha, Neb., in 1954. By 1960 she had acted on Broadway and made her first movie, "Tall Story".
In 1964 she broke ground, of sorts, when her lover and director Roger Vadim caused her to become one of the first major American actresses to appear nude in a foreign film. The movie was "La Ronde." She and Vadim later married, and he continued to exploit her beauty in a series of sexy films.
In the late 1960's, Jane Fonda became a leader of the "anti-Vietnam War" movement. Her visit to North Vietnam at the height of the war earned her the derisive name, "Hanoi Jane".
She and Vadim divorced, and she married fellow peace activist Tom Hayden. They divorced and in 1984 she married Ted Turner. As of this writing, they are separated.
Her Western films included "Cat Ballou" (1968), "Comes a Horseman" (1978) and "The Electric Horseman" (1979).
CLICK HERE to see the complete filmography of Jane Fonda.
Glenn Ford
Glen Ford, actor, was born Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford. That was in Sainte-Christine, Quebec, Canada on May 1, 1916. He was reared in Santa Monica, California from the time he was eight.
In 1939 young Ford landed a contract with Columbia Studios. However, when World War II broke out he went off and served with the Marines. He also distinguished himself in military service, being the only actor ever to serve with both the Green Berets and the French Foreign Legion.
Ford, at 6'1", first drew wide-spread attention in the movie "Gilda" (1946), opposite Rita Hayworth. That same year his career took another giant step forward when he was cast with Bette Davis in "A Stolen Life."
Glenn Ford's major Western roles included such films as "The Redhead and the Cowboy" (1950), "The Man From the Alamo" (1953), "The Fastest Gun Alive" (1956), "Jubal" (1956), "3:10 to Yuma" (1957), "The Sheepman" (1958), "Cowboy" (1958), "Cimarron" (1960), "The Rounders" (1965; this is one of my favorite cowboy movies--SP), "The Last Challenge" (1967), "Heaven With a Gun" (1959) and "The Sacketts" (1979).
Glenn Ford also starred in two TV series: Cade's County (1971-72) and The Family Holvak (1975).
Glenn Ford's first wife was actress Eleanor Powell. His second wife was Kathryn Hays, and his third wife was Cynthia Hayward. Glenn Ford turned 84 on May 1, 2000. He is living with his son in California and seldom gets out, since he is largely confined to a wheelchair due to a longtime leg injury.
CLICK HERE to see the complete filmography of Glenn Ford.
CLICK HERE to visit the "Official Glenn Ford" web page.
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford played in two episodes of "Gunsmoke" as a young actor, then he co-starred with Gene Wilder in the offbeat Western comedy, "The Frisco Kid".
John Ford
(Deceased)
John Ford, director of many of the classic Western movies, was born on February 1, 1895. He died of cancer on August 31, 1973. His remains are in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA.
Jimmy Stewart, director John Ford, and John Wayne
are shown on the set of the filming of "The Man
Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962)
Frederic Forrest
Frederic Forrest was born in Waxahachie, Texas on December 23, 1936. He went to college at Texas Christian University and then at the University of Oklahoma.
Forrest worked in local theatre in Texas. Then he studied under Stanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg at the "Actor's Studio" in New York City. He played in various theatre groups, then got connected with Hollywood.
His first film was as Tom Black Bull in "When the Legends Die" (1972). He received an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in "The Rose" (1979) with Bette Midler.
More recently, he played an Indian named Blue Duck on the popular "Lonesome Dove" (1989) mini-series. He has also guest starred on the TV series "The Young Riders". He was married to Marilu Henner from 1980 to 1983.
CLICK HERE to see the complete filmography of Frederic Forrest.
Steve Forrest
Steve Forrest, actor, was born as William Forrest Andrews on Sept. 29, 1924, in Hutsville, TX. His brother was actor Dana Andrews.
Anne Baxter & Steve Forrest in a TV still.He appeared in many TV Westerns, including several episodes of "Gunsmoke". His Western films included: "Last of the Commanches" (1952), "Heller in Pink Tights" (1960), and the made-for-TV movie, "Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge" (1987).
CLICK HERE to see the complete filmography of Steve Forrest.
This listing is far from complete and may contain errors.
Therefore, all Western entertainers and/or their agents
are requested to submit recommended changes by
contacting Stan Paregien through his e-mail address.
Love the Lord, all his saints!
The Lord preserves the faithful,
but the proud he pays back in full.
Be strong and take heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.
--- Bible: Psalm 32:23-24
© 2003 by Stan Paregien, Sr.
